Earned, Not Given: Inside the Innovation Path of Dr. Dawn Iris Calibo-Senit

Early Beginnings and Educational Background

Dr. Dawn Iris Calibo-Senit’s early life was shaped by hardship, responsibility, and resilience, experiences that strengthened her passion for education, science, and problem-solving for the community. Born in Cotabato and raised in Siquijor, she grew up without a father and was raised solely by her mother. To support her education, she worked for her relatives as early as Grade 4, becoming a working student from elementary school through college.

Growing up in Siquijor, she was surrounded by balikbayans and was influenced by her uncle, Alfred Paculba, who nurtured her interest in science by sending her science learning materials. After completing household chores, she would spend her time reading these, developing her curiosity and love for learning despite limited resources.

In high school, she sparked interest toward technology during the rise of social media and mobile phones in the early 2000s. Without personal access to devices, she relied on library resources to explore emerging technologies.

She initially aspired to pursue Mass Communication, inspired by broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez, but the program was not available in Siquijor and studying in Dumaguete was not an option. This led her to take up a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology at Siquijor State College, where she discovered her passion for software development, management information system, and building technology-based solutions.

After graduation, she initially planned to work in Cebu, but her path changed when she became pregnant at a young age. She chose to remain in Siquijor, where she began working as a part time IT instructor at Siquijor State College (SSC) while raising her child. 

Determined to advance her career, she pursued graduate studies, beginning with a Master in Public Management at Siquijor State College, followed by a Master of Science in Teaching major in Computer Science at the University of Cebu. She later enrolled in a Doctor of Philosophy in Technology Management at Cebu Technological University, but did not complete the program to pursue a scholarship offered by the Commission on Higher Education. She eventually earned her Doctorate in Information Technology from the Technological University of the Philippines Manila in 2019 through a full time study leave under Graduate Studies - Local (SGS-L) of the K to 12 Transition Program.

Life in Manila While on Study Leave

Dr. Senit’s three-year study leave in Manila expanded her exposure to various IT-related projects and academic collaborations. During this period, she served as a research reviewer for several institutions, including Arellano University, Centro Escolar University, allowing her to actively engage with the academic community within the university belt.

Her work later extended to the international stage, where she participated in conferences in Thailand and Singapore and served as a technical panel member in international academic engagements, including Harvard University. She was also a delegate to the first gathering of the Data Analytics Society alongside representatives from Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Notably, Dr. Senit was the only Filipino among the delegates, marking a significant milestone in both her academic journey and personal growth.

Giving back to Siquijor, her career growth and contribution to the community

Dr. Senit eventually returned to Siquijor in 2019, determined to share her experiences and inspire both colleagues and students to see opportunities beyond the island. She observed that the institution had limited research outputs, with few publications and minimal developments in utility models, copyrights, and software innovation. This realization became her motivation to help strengthen the research culture of SSC.

Upon her return, she was entrusted with two key roles, as Dean of the College of Technology and as Research Director. While she took on both responsibilities, the demands of these roles, compounded by the challenges of the pandemic, became overwhelming. After two years, she made the difficult decision to step down as Dean and focus on research.

Dr. Senit recognized that her true passion lies in research, believing that it creates meaningful and far-reaching impact by driving development and bringing science and technology closer to the people.

Advancing a Culture of Research and Innovation of SSC

As Research Director, Dr. Senit led significant advancements that transformed the research landscape of Siquijor State College. From having very limited outputs in the past, the institution has since developed numerous utility models and achieved over a good number of Scopus-indexed publications, with contributions from both faculty and collaborators from other universities. More notably, internal research productivity grew from only one Scopus publication at the start of her tenure to more than 20.

To further strengthen academic outputs, the college invested in essential tools such as Turnitin and statistical software, while also integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its curricular programs to align with current technological advancements. Beyond institutional development, Dr. Senit also played a key role in expanding academic programs, including the launch of the Master in Information Technology and the ongoing application for a Doctor in Information Technology, alongside efforts to bring in qualified faculty.

In parallel with these developments, Dr. Senit emphasizes the importance of strengthening collaboration across research and development (R&D) centers within the institution. She also hopes to work more closely with Dr. Josel Mansueto, a former research director, to further enhance the overall R&D framework. While both share experience in research leadership, their current focus areas differ,  Dr. Josel Mansueto is currently engaged in traditional folk healing aligned with social science and political science, while Dr. Senit’s work is centered on building information systems for agriculture and animal science, still in its early development stage.

In this context, they both recognize the need for stronger technical expertise to fully develop their respective centers. For traditional healing, there is a need for pharmacology and drug discovery experts, while for Siquijor native cattle, agriculture and animal science experts are sought. Dr. Senit often expresses this contrast in a lighthearted way, highlighting the different but complementary challenges they face.

Ultimately, the long-term goal is to integrate all R&D centers into a unified and functional institutional framework. However, this requires resources to ensure sustainability and meaningful impact.

Building the Foundation of Siquijor’s Agri-Innovation

As part of her commitment to giving back to Siquijor, Dr. Senit led the development of several information systems for the provincial government, focusing on the island’s key commodities; cassava, corn, peanut, seaweed  or lato, and Siquijor native cattle. These include the Cassava Information System (CASSAVA-IS), MAIS Information Matrix, Peanut Information System (PEANUT IS), SICAT for Siquijor cattle, and WINDLIMS for seaweed production.

In addition, she developed a system for the DOST Siquijor SETUP program, which automates the evaluation of applications through credit scoring and generates recommendations such as approval, conditional approval, or rejection based on identified deficiencies. This system was formally turned over to DOST Siquijor as part of efforts to modernize and strengthen program implementation through technology.

In Barangay Cangbagsa, Dr. Senit designed and developed the Cangbagsa Digital Information System (CBDIS), a platform that enables efficient tracking of household data, incidents, and other essential barangay services. The system was copyrighted and became the first fully developed model tailored to the needs of the barangay. Building on its success, the system will later be replicated and deployed in other barangays. Dr. Senit takes pride in how the system has significantly improved efficiency and accessibility in delivering barangay services. 

Research on the Siquijor Native Cattle

One of the foundational initiatives of Dr. Senit’s work in agricultural innovation began through a government-funded “Futures Thinking” project supported by Senator Pia Cayetano, which provided an initial ₱2 million grant to identify priority commodities for long-term development in Siquijor. Through mapping and analysis, two priority commodities were identified—cassava and the Siquijor native cattle—which became the core focus of the ISLA agenda aimed at strengthening local industries and promoting island sustainability.

Early studies revealed the strong potential of the Siquijor native cattle, a small spotted breed noted for its excellent meat quality and marbling, with characteristics comparable to wagyu based on expert assessments, including those from University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). Baseline data on population was established, along with socio-economic analysis showing, however, that the breed remains undervalued due to the absence of a stable market and the dominance of larger cattle breeds promoted through national programs such as artificial insemination initiatives.

Despite its potential, the industry faces key challenges: weak market demand, lack of structured value chains, and limited commercialization pathways. Nevertheless, field observations and expert validations highlight its strengths; high resilience, minimal disease incidence, adaptability to diverse environments, and extended reproductive lifespan, with some cattle remaining productive beyond 20 years. These attributes position the breed as both genetically and economically significant for conservation and development.

A major milestone of the project was the establishment of community impact initiatives, including the Catulayan Women’s Association, which began processing Siquijor native cattle milk and producing value-added products such as tapa. However, socio-economic and value chain assessments confirmed that the Siquijor native cattle industry remains largely undeveloped and fragmented.

To address these gaps, ongoing work focuses on phenotyping and genotyping in collaboration with Cebu Technological University and Ubay Stock Farm, which currently holds an overstocked population of around 300 cattle. Due to legal protections restricting the movement of live Siquijor native cattle outside Siquijor, efforts are now underway to facilitate their controlled return for research and conservation purposes.

The current phase of the project also integrates RFID-based tagging and digital profiling of each cattle, linking Dr. Senit’s IT expertise with data management. This system captures data on breeding, health, feeding, and population tracking to support evidence-based forecasting and future industry planning.

Beyond science and technology, the project underscores a deeper challenge, shifting perceptions among farmers. While older raisers value the cattle for cultural and emotional reasons, younger generations tend to favor faster-growing, more profitable breeds. This generational divide highlights the need to re-establish the Siquijor native cattle not only as a cultural heritage but as a viable economic asset.

Ultimately, the initiative aims to transform the Siquijor native cattle into a high-value, premium agricultural product through scientific validation, controlled production, and strategic branding, positioning it as both a heritage breed and a potential flagship agri-tourism identity for the island.

Life beyond research

Outside work, Dr. Senit navigates the demands of being a mother, while her husband, Clifford, works as a seafarer and is often away. She has three children, each with their own growing interests in science and learning.

Her eldest, Anika Mae, is in senior high school at Silliman University under the STEM strand and aspires to become a pharmacologist. She independently pursued the DOST scholarship exam and plans to take the University of the Philippines College Admission Test or UPCAT and other universities offering Pharmacy and related sciences. Her seven-year-old son, Seth Eisenheim, is equally passionate about science, expressing early ambitions to become either a paleontologist or a veterinarian. He frequently visits her workplace and engages with faculty discussions on isopods, corals, and microscopic specimens, reflecting a curiosity she deeply encourages, as these were opportunities she did not have growing up. Her one-year-old son, Thaddeus Dimitri, enjoys spending time by the beach.  

Despite her demanding schedule, she maintains strong family traditions. Sundays are reserved as “Dagat Day,” a non-negotiable family ritual spent by the sea near their home. On rainy days, the family turns to watching documentaries, particularly Animal Planet, which has become their shared interest. More than entertainment, these moments reflect a common curiosity for science and nature, strengthening their bond as a family.

An inspiration to the youth

For the youth, one of the most important messages Dr. Senit would like to share is to finish a degree. She has experienced many challenges from elementary to college, and everything she has achieved today is the result of perseverance and hard work. A degree equips individuals with the necessary qualifications to meet employment standards and access opportunities in their chosen field.

After earning a degree, she emphasizes that learning should never stop. Continuous learning is essential for personal and professional growth. Young people must continuously develop their skills, both soft and technical, especially in areas such as Artificial Intelligence and its applications in video editing, photo editing, game development, and other emerging technologies. Even with a stable job, the future remains uncertain. With the rapid advancement of AI, many traditional roles will change or disappear. Without adaptation and continuous learning, individuals risk becoming irrelevant in the workplace.

Dr. Senit encourages the youth to embrace science, technology, and innovation because these are essential pathways to the future. There is no other direction forward but to continuously learn, adapt, and innovate.