ピニリ博士は、フィリピン出身で、2013年3月に博士後期課程を修了し博士号を取得されました。在学中は、「熱帯作物保護学研究室に在籍し、アジアに発生するMusa属ウイルスの検出、多様性および制御」をテーマに研究を行いました。現在は、フィリピン大学ロスバニョス校にて研究員として活躍されています。

Dr Marita Sanfuego Pinili

“In every ending there is a new beginning”. As the saying goes, this perhaps reflects who I am now after my three and half – year journey to Japan.

Two years ago (2013), I graduated from my PhD in International Agricultural Development program in NODAI, Laboratory of Tropical Plant Protection, Department of International Agricultural Development under the supervision of Dr. Keiko T. Natsuaki. The said degree program was supported by the Japan Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Scholarship. My research work was basically on detection, molecular characterization of Musa viruses in Asia and development of virus disease control strategies through induced mutation breeding. This research topic gave me the insights of the relevance of plant viruses infecting banana and abaca crops in which the Philippine is one of the major producers worldwide. At the same time this led me to the idea on how we can manage virus diseases of Musa using the specific or various strategies. From this 3-year research journey in the molecular field of plant virology, it brought me into the new knowledge in virus world in a wider horizon. With my limited know-how in molecular techniques when I first arrived in Hogoken, my research experiences made me a better researcher, teacher and now a mentor to my fellow plant pathologists and students. I was able to impart such knowledge and technical skills to them with an ultimate aim of encouraging them and be the younger generation in the field of plant virology.

The experiences that I have learned and the skills that I have acquired in NODAI serve as my benchmark in establishing my chosen career as plant pathologist (in general) in the Philippines. As one of the new junior university researchers at the Institute of Plant Breeding – University of the Philippines Los Baños (IPB-UPLB) and at the same time an affiliate assistant professor, NODAI through Natsuaki sensei together with my research thesis examiners, Dr. Teodora O. Dizon, Dr. Tsutomu Takane and Dr. Hirosuke Shinohara mentored and led me to the right and appropriate career path. The Laboratory of Tropical Plant Protection in NODAI became an extension of our laboratory in IPB-UPLB. As a university researcher who implements research projects such as wilt disease of cucurbits, plant-parasitic nematodes of pineapple and grapes, purple blotch of Allium, downy mildew of corn and the upcoming project on whitefly-transmitted viruses and others, the basic skills to a more sophisticated and sometimes complicated works that I have done in Hogoken are worthy and very useful enough in my current job. Although our laboratory is not as well-equipped as in NODAI, this situation made me more optimistic on how we can improve further our research laboratory by submitting more research proposals for funding and more research collaboration to help us uplift our working condition. These things made me challenge in preparation for being the next senior plant pathologist 5 years from now.

Moreover, within this short period of my research study, this university was able to introduce me to a wider group of audience i.e. the international scientific community. With the prolific research output, I was able to present parts of my study in various scientific meetings within and outside Japan, local and international and have published some of them in refereed and non-refereed journals. This event has open a new opportunity to me to meet other distinguished plant pathologists and able to exchange ideas and learn from them. In other words, NODAI did not limit my competence to interact and share the scientific works to the world. With the exposure to various local and international scientific fora, I am now more confident in organizing and actively participate in national organizations such as the Philippine Phytopathological Society, Inc. in which I am the present Vice-President and hold similar annual scientific meetings and even extension services in our country. Extension works such as Plant Doctors on Wheels and Farmers’ Forum which held annually are just some of the activities wherein I can practice and share my expertise to our local farmers.

In my own perspective, graduation actually did not end my journey in Japan. In fact, until now we have a continuous communication and even strong collaboration with my professor and former students. We exchange ideas, bring new knowledge in our field as plant pathologists and extend our hands whenever needed. Because of this good relationship that we established, I gained experience in coordinating an international training workshop. This training workshop has brought not only research-related undertakings but also cultural knowledge among Asian plant pathologists. Through this chain of events, my accomplishments in Japan have disseminated and continuous to prosper. NODAI opens the door to further enhance my research and even teaching capabilities through future research project collaborations, training workshops and serving as resource person.

Staying in NODAI in not only pure science works in laboratory. Despite of spending most of my time doing research, NODAI have provided wonderful moments which I have brought along with me after graduation. Happy times with Japanese students as well as with my co-foreign students are indeed unforgettable. I was able to explore the rich Japanese culture, from food, customs and traditions, manners and proper treatment of sensei and sempai. Everyday life from riding bicycle, train, bus and bullet train are life-changing and enjoyable. At first, student life was not as easy as you see. But despite of huge language differences, I was able to adapt the daily living in Japan, merely by simple nihongo conversation and gestures and the most important thing having the mutual respect on each other’s belief and ideology. These social experiences made me a better person, more optimistic and perhaps a dreamer.