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14 November 2024, Vienna, Austria – Dr. Jane Gerardo-Abaya, a Filipina Scientist based in Austria, has been honoured with the Pamana Presidential Award for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIO) for 2024. This distinguished recognition is conferred by the Philippine government through the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) on overseas Filipino individuals who, in exemplifying the talent and industry of the Filipino, have brought the country honour and recognition through excellence and distinction in the pursuit of their work or profession.
Dr. Jane Gerardo-Abaya holds a PhD in Applied Geology and Geothermal Hydrology. She finished her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology at the University of the Philippines. She received her PhD in Applied Geology and Geothermal Hydrology from the Universität für Bodenkultur in Vienna, Austria, in 2004. She also worked as a geochemist at the Philippine National Oil Company and senior environmental planning researcher at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Her works on isotope hydrology and water and geothermal energy resources were contributed to the University of the Philippines Diliman’s National Institute of Geological Sciences, where she is an alumna.
She has over 40 years of professional work experience in the fields of environment, geothermal energy, program management, and technical cooperation, both in the Philippines and internationally. She retired as a director for the Asia and Pacific program at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after 30 years of service in an international organization based in Vienna.
Dr Gerardo Abaya’s achievements extend beyond professional accomplishments, as Dr. Gerardo-Abaya remains an ardent supporter of Filipino diaspora communities, promoting cultural preservation, education, and inclusive development. She is currently the President of the Philippine Austrian Cultural and Educational Society (PACES), an association of like-minded members of the Philippine-Austrian community who believe in promoting the study of science and technology as a vehicle for development and progress. PACES was founded by Ambassador Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson to support needy but outstanding Filipino university students through scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Its vision is a sustainable scholarship program in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) leading towards a strong scientific and technical base in the Philippines. (https://www.paces-stem.org)
Some of the awards and accolades Dr. Gerardo Abaya received include the Balik Scientist Award and a research grant from the Department of Science and Technology in 2008, the “Distinguished Service Award” from the IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei in 2008, and the “Superior Achievement Award” from IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano in 2017.
This year’s awards ceremony, scheduled to take place in December, marks yet another milestone in the life of a trailblazing leader whose work serves as an enduring legacy for the Filipino people.
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About the Author
Marizel is the Chairperson of the European Network of Filipino Diaspora-Austria (ENFiD-Austria) and a Board Member of ENFiD, President of the Bikol Society Austria (BSA), 1st Vice President Elect of the United Nations Women’s Guild (UNWG), Founding Member and former President of the Philippine Austrian Cultural and Educational Society (PACES), Adviser and former President of the Vienna International Centre Club Filipino (VIC CF), Auditor for the Vienna International Centre Gastronomy Club (VIC GC), Liaison for the Philippines and Councillor in the European Police Association (EPA), Board Member of the United Nations Correspondents Association Vienna (UNCAV) and a member of the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN), which honoured her with the prestigious “Most Influential Filipina Women in the World” (Global FWN100™) award in 2019.
