WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Alice Alma Cambay-Bungay

ALICE THEN & NOW. College days at the UP College of Veterinary Medicine in Diliman; graduation at UP Diliman in 1979; at Washington State University where she is a Fulbright senior scholar; with her loving husband Everest at a batch '79 gathering in Manila; facade of the College of Public Health, UP Manila where Alice is based.

ALICE ALMA CAMBAY-BUNGAY lives in Biñan, Laguna with her husband Everest Bungay, a Senior Assistant Vice President of Federal Phoenix Assurance Co, and daughters, Resalice Anne, 24 a Marketing graduate and Business Administration student, and Raisa Dana Marie, 19, a Computer Science student. Alice is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines at Manila. Currently, Alice is in the United States as a Fulbright senior scholar and visiting lecturer/researcher at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. Her lecture and research work at the veterinary school of Washington State University focus on “Current Trends and Updates in the Study and Diagnoses of Emerging Foodborne Diseases and Zoonoses of Public Health Importance.” Later this year, she will be heading to Heidelberg as an invited researcher sponsored by the German Academic Exchange Program.

After graduation from the UPCVM, Alice took a faculty position in the veterinary school of the Gregorio Araneta University Foundation, then at the Philippine College of Technological Resources, while working as a part time veterinarian. For several years, Alice worked as a senior science research specialist at the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology. In 1997, she earned a Master of Veterinary Studies (Public Health) from Massey University in Palmerston North, New Zealand. She has also completed postgraduate courses in Occupational Health and Safety from the College of Public Health, UP Manila, and in Laboratory Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Alabang, Metro Manila. In addition, she has earned a teacher’s license and a Diplomate in Veterinary Public Health (DVPH) from the Philippine College of Veterinary Public Health. In 1997, Alice joined the faculty of the UP College of Public Health where she is a lecturer of medical microbiology and public health courses, thesis adviser and technical reviewer of research proposals. She also lectures part-time in various institutions including De La Salle Araneta University, University of Perpetual Help System, Emilio Aguinaldo College, San Beda College and the Angeles University Foundation. She has served as principal investigator in several research grants, and has authored or co-authored scientific papers. She serves in numerous academic committees related to research and development, biosafety, laboratory animal care and use, and assessment of food handling. She is also a reviewer for medical, veterinary and pharmacy board exams. During the course of her career, Alice received extensive public health-related training from prestigious institutions in the Philippines, the Unites States, Germany, Japan and Thailand. Diverse areas of training include cancer research, aflatoxigenic fungi, microbial monitoring in laboratory animals, environmental monitoring, detection of foodborne and waterborne pathogens, hemorrhagic E. coli isolation and identification from farm animals, electron microscopy of Yersinia enterocolitica, hazard analysis and critical control point, and laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases. Alice has attended or participated as a lecturer in international scientific meetings held in France, Italy, Thailand and Japan.

Alice received numerous awards and recognition for her work in laboratory animal science, veterinary research, and as an outstanding mentor in microbiology. She provides free veterinary consultation and services to homeowners in her neighborhood. Alice has been involved in community and extension services that benefit various sectors through lectures and the mass media. As a resource person on timely topics such as anthrax in biological warfare, zoonoses, emerging and re-emerging diseases, food and water safety, Alice has appeared on or participated in news and public affairs programs for major television networks GMA 7 and ABS-CBN as well as leading radio stations DZMM and DZRB. Recently, her expertise in Microbiology earned her the APEC consultancy job in the "Capacity Building Seminar on Good Agricultural Practices for Developing APEC Economies” last September 2006 in the Philippines.

Alice’s enthusiasm for gaining and sharing knowledge is driven by the Sanskrit verse: "Knowledge is the best type of wealth. It cannot be taken away from you by the thief, by the government in the form of taxes or by relatives as their fair share. As it has neither shape nor weight, it is not a burden to carry but most of all, it increases everyday by distribution".