In 2006, Dr. Cristina Paule-Mercado graduated with a degree in BS Forestry from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). Now, 18 years later, she works as an associate scientist at the Institute of Hydrobiology of the Biology Center of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS), a national public research institution in the Czech Republic.

Her research focuses on hydrodynamics and water quality of lakes and reservoirs using machine learning and different modeling tools, such as SWAT and CQAL. Currently, she is involved in a project aiming to develop a new approach to identify water scarcity hotspots in Central Europe using isotopic composition, isotope-enabled water balance modeling, citizen science, and machine learning tools.

“So, totally different na siya sa forestry,” Dr. Paule-Mercado noted with a laugh.

(It’s already totally different from forestry.)

Dr. Paule-Mercado has indeed come a long way from where she began. She was the first Filipino to be granted a long-term residence with a scientific research visa to work in the Czech Republic, where she now resides with her husband, mother, and three children. Since 2015, she has published over 30 papers and has been involved in over ten research projects. 

In November 2024, she returned to the Philippines for the first time in over five years, taking the opportunity to visit her relatives and friends in her hometown of Los Baños, Laguna, as well as her in-laws in Batangas sharing her inspiring story.

From forestry to environmental engineering

After graduating from UPLB in 2006, Dr. Paule-Mercado worked at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for four years. In 2010, she received a scholarship at Myongji University, South Korea, for an Integrated MS and PhD in Environmental Engineering.

The transition from forestry to environmental engineering could be challenging, and many might assume it would be difficult for her to adjust. However, she attributes the smooth transition, partly to her UPLB thesis advisor, Dr. Nathaniel Bantayan, who currently serves as the vice chancellor for research and extension of UPLB.

“Ang nangyari kasi sa akin, si Sir Nel, pinapakuha niya ako ng mga elective sa [Computer Science],” she explained. 

(So what happened is, Sir Nel made me take electives for computer science.)

Though programming seemed unrelated to her forestry background, it proved invaluable, providing the foundation for undergraduate thesis, her work at IRRI, and her postgraduate studies in South Korea.

After completing her PhD in 2016, Dr. Paule-Mercado became a postdoctoral fellow in Myongi University’s Department of Environmental Engineering and Energy. 

In 2018, however, she learned that the professor she worked under would be retiring, and would no longer take on new projects. With her contract set to end in January 2019, she began applying for new positions.

“Parang 20 plus application[s] ang ginawa ko sa ResearchGate – mga 20 to 50. Basta, submit lang nang submit.  Pag na-reject, ok lang, marami pa naman dyan na oportunidad.”

(I submitted over 20 applications on ResearchGate, around 20 to 50. I just kept submitting—it was okay with me even if I got rejected. There were always plenty of other opportunities.)

On December 31, 2018, Biology Center CAS posted the opening for a postdoctoral research fellow. Dr. Paule-Mercado applied, and after several rounds of interviews, she was selected for the position. 

“Binigyan nila kami ng feedback – January, February, after 15 days … kung tatanggapin ko ba o hindi. Sabi ko, tatanggapin ko siya kung makasama ko yung family ko… Dalawa pa lang yung anak ko noon, at ang nanay ko. Sabi nila sige, gawan natin ng paraan.

(They gave me feedback around January, February – after 15 days … [asking] whether I would accept [the position] or not. I said I’d accept it if I could bring my family with me… I only had two children at that time, and my mother. And they said, okay, let’s find a way.)

And so, Dr. Paule-Mercado and her family headed to the Czech Republic.

Building not just research, but community

Beyond her research, Dr. Paule-Mercado also found herself leading the community of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW)  in the Czech Republic.

“Wala silang choice daw, ako nalang daw ang mag-lead,” she joked. “Sabi nung iba… makulit daw kasi ako.” (They said they had no choice, that I should just lead them. Some said it was because I was persistent.)

Initially, the OFWs in the Czech Republic were scattered and lacked cohesion. Having been part of the more established Filipino community in South Korea, Dr. Paule-Mercado hoped to foster a similar sense of community in the Czech Republic.

“Kasi pag nasa abroad ka, hindi lang kasi work, work. Kailangan mo din ng support system, lalo na sa mental stress… So at least meron silang friends or direction din somehow.” (Because when you’re abroad, it shouldn’t just be work, work. You also need a support system, especially for mental stress… so at least they can have friends or direction somehow.)

Her efforts began during the baptism of her youngest child in August 2023.  She, along with her husband, communicated with the priest (Fr. Pavel Kasal)  about the possibility of holding an English Holy Mass service. In September 2023, they, together with the České Budějovice (ČB)  liturgy group, took further steps to organize an English-language mass at their local church. 

Previously, they had to travel an hour and a half to Prague to attend an English mass, as their local church only held services in Czech. Through their coordination with Fr. Pavel, the Filipino community (including the CB liturgy group, OFWs, and other residents in South Bohemia), English masses are now held on the last Saturday of every month. Looking ahead, the community plans to further organize and strengthen the Filipino community in South Bohemia.  

Dr. Paule-Mercado, with the ČB liturgy group, has continued her efforts to unite the Filipino community in the Czech Republic and advocate for their needs and concerns.

“Iyon ‘yung parang pinaka-in-return sa community,” Dr. Paule-Mercado said. “Di lang puro sa research, dapat meron ka ding community service. Masaya naman siya na mahirap, kasi mahirap naman talaga i-handle ang mga tao, may iba-ibang perspectives, pero rewarding naman” she said.

(That’s our main [way of giving back] to the community. We’re not just doing research, you should also have community service. So, it’s fulfilling, even though it’s difficult because handling people is really challenging, as they have different perspectives. But it’s rewarding.)

Opportunities and partnerships in the Czech Republic

Dr. Paule-Mercado remarked on the many opportunities available in the Czech Republic for Filipinos pursuing careers in research and academia.

“Napakadaming magagaling na Pinoy, bakit wala or kakaunti ang nag-apply dito?’ … Napakaraming opportunity, pero mas gusto nila dun sa katabing mga bansa, like Switzerland, Germany, Austria. Pero sabi ko, maganda rin naman ang Czech Republic, bakit hindi nila sabukan?”

“There are so many excellent Pinoys, why are there only a few  applying here?  There are many opportunities, but many  prefer going to neighboring countries, like Switzerland, Germany, Austria. But I said, the Czech Republic is also a great  option – why not give it a try?)

So it was just right, she said, that Vice Chancellor Bantayan had reached out to her to propose a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between UPLB and Biology Center CAS. This was one of the reasons she visited UPLB, to discuss the partnership in person with her former advisor.

For those who aspired to take the same journey she had, Dr. Paule-Mercado had this advice: take the risk, and leave your comfort zone.

“Kapag feeling mo na hindi ka na masyadong naggo-grow sa iyong ginagawa, pwede ka naman lumabas sa shell mo,” she said. “Katulad ngayon, lumalabas ako sa shell ko. Hindi ko talaga personality ang mga paganto-ganto [interview]. Kasi … introvert talaga akong tao.”

(When you feel that you are no longer growing in what you’re doing, you can always come out of your shell. For instance, I’m leaving my shell now, it’s not my personality to have these [interviews]. Because… I’m really an introvert.)

Dr. Paule-Mercado’s journey from forestry to hydrobiology in the Czech Republic stands as a testament to perseverance, learning from challenges, and fostering community – no matter where life’s journey may lead. (Jill Parreño)