Binondo, Manila, Philippines
26/05/2026
9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Ramada by Wyndham Central
Background
As dietary patterns continue to evolve, excessive sodium intake among Filipinos remains a growing public health concern and a key risk factor for non-communicable diseases. This one-day symposium brings together distinguished global and local experts and key stakeholders to share diverse perspectives on sodium intake and its implications for health. Through sessions on sodium health and science, consumer insights, and industry perspectives, the symposium aims to bridge science and practice while fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration to address one of today’s key nutrition challenges.
Venue
REGISTRATION
Registration Fee: ₱ 1,500.00
Notes:
• Registration fee is inclusive of registration fee, lunch and snacks.
• No cancellation will be allowed once the registration is confirmed. However, a substitute participant will be accepted.
• Payment Information is available in the registration site below.
Who Should Attend:
Registered Nutritionist-Dietitians, allied health professionals, researchers, academics, government and regulatory officers, industry representatives, science educators and communicators
PROGRAM
08:00 – 09:00 AM (GMT+8) Registration
09:00 – 09:20 AM Welcome Remarks
5:25 – 5:30 PM Closing Remarks / End of Symposium
FEATURED SPEAKERS
Dr. Cecilia A. Jimeno
College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila
Dr. Cecilia A. Jimeno is a renowned Filipino endocrinologist, professor, and researcher, recognized for her expertise in diabetes, metabolism, and thyroid disorders. She currently serves as Associate Dean for Academic Development (ADAD), and as Professor and former Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila. She is also an admitting physician at the University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital in Manila and currently chairs the UP-Manila Research Ethics Board.
A recognized leader in endocrinology, Dr. Jimeno held numerous leadership roles in professional organizations, including serving as Past President of the Philippine College of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (PCEDM). She has been actively engaged in national and regional scientific discussions and is regarded as a key contributor to advancing endocrine care in the Philippines. Her expertise spans internal medicine, with specialization in clinical endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism.
Dr. Jimeno is also a pioneer in the development of clinical practice guidelines in the Philippines, having contributed to and led initiatives on diabetes and thyroid disease management that have helped shape national healthcare standards. Widely recognized for her contributions as an educator and researcher, she has received numerous accolades, including the PCEDM Diamond Award for Leadership, the UPMAS Outstanding Educator Award, and multiple UP Professorial Chair Awards for excellence in teaching, research, and public service.
Her longstanding commitment to advancing medical science, improving patient care, and mentoring future health professionals underscores her significant impact on endocrinology and medical education in the Philippines.
Prof Rachel McLean
Department of Public Health, University of Otago, New Zealand
Professor Rachael McLean is Professor of Public Health at the University of Otago, Dunedin New Zealand. She trained in medicine, has worked in both Primary Care and Public Health Settings, and is a Fellow of the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine. She is an internationally recognized expert in nutritional public health and epidemiology, including research methods and analysis. She has broad expertise in investigating risk factors and interventions for prevention and better management of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. For the past 17 years she has had a particular research focus in dietary sodium assessment and reduction strategies. In this capacity she has advised the World Health Organization, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and the New Zealand Ministry of Health. She has led international collaborations producing systematic reviews comparing different methods of assessment of dietary sodium intake, and these have been referenced in the 2019 USA/Canada Dietary Reference Intakes. She has an established track record of obtaining competitive research grants, and publishing, including with international research collaborations. She has over 100 peer reviewed publications and has written commissioned reports for various government agencies including the New Zealand Ministry of Health, Ministry for Primary Industries, and New Zealand Food Safety Authority.
Prof Andrew Mente
Population Health Research Institute and Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University, Canada
Dr. Andrew Mente received his doctoral degree in Epidemiology from the University of Toronto. He completed postdoctoral training in cardiovascular epidemiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, and is currently a Professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI) and the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) at McMaster University.
Dr. Mente’s research focuses on the role of dietary sodium in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD). His work has contributed to large international studies examining sodium intake in populations globally and its association with cardiovascular outcomes. His research has been published in several landmark journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, JAMA, and the British Medical Journal.
Dr. Mente has also studied dietary nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns in relation to cardiovascular disease and mortality, and has co-led analyses on the role of fats and carbohydrates in cardiovascular disease as part of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) cohort. Recently, he developed a globally applicable healthy diet score using data from the PURE study, which was replicated in 5 independent studies involving participants across 80 countries.
Mr Nico V. Reyes
Rebel Marketing Philippines
Mr Nico Reyes is a strategic communications and public affairs adviser with over two decades of experience helping organizations translate complex public issues and technical information into clear messages that improve public understanding, support informed decisions and choices, and ultimately contribute to positive behavior change.
He is the Co-Founder and President of Rebel Marketing, a strategic advisory consultancy that works with multinational companies, government institutions, and industry organizations on communications strategy, stakeholder engagement, and public policy positioning.
Over the course of his career, he has advised organizations such as GCash, GSK, Sanofi, Nestlé Philippines, Unilever, and USAID, among others, on how to communicate complex issues in ways that are accessible, credible, and relevant to everyday decision-making.
He also contributes to advancing science communication in the Philippines as a member of DOST–PCIEERD’s Technical Panel on Science Communication since 2019 and has recently delivered lectures and workshops for institutions such as DOST–FNRI and the Philippine Navy on communicating scientific and technical information in ways that resonate with everyday audiences.
Ms Germaine A. Reyes
Synergy Market Research and Strategic Consultancy, Philippines
Ms Germaine Reyes is the President and CEO of Synergy Market Research + Strategic Consultancy, a management consulting, research, and data analytics firm. Synergy is the exclusive Philippine partner of YouGov, a globally recognized research and data analytics company.
Ms Reyes is a distinguished leader and pioneer in market research known for driving strategic forward-thinking insights that empower business and marketing professionals, including academe globally.
In 2025, she was personally honored as an Insight250 Award winner - a prestigious global recognition celebrating innovators advancing enterprise intelligence. Notably, she was the only Filipino recipient of this highly acclaimed award. Under her leadership, her firm, Synergy, has been continuously earning international distinctions for its groundbreaking thought leadership.
Prior to setting up Synergy, Ms Reyes held key directorship positions at major global organizations, including The Coca-Cola Company’s Philippines Division, AC Nielsen, and prominent advertising firms such as PAC/BBDO (a subsidiary of BBDO New York) and Avellana & Associates.
She holds both a BS and Master of Statistics degrees from the University of the Philippines, Diliman.
Dr Diane Mendoza-Sarmiento
University of Santo Tomas, Philippines
Dr Diane S. Mendoza-Sarmiento is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the College of Education, University of Santo Tomas, where she also serves as Nutrition Clinic Coordinator and researcher at the Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences. She earned her PhD in Health Research from the University of Santo Tomas as a DOST-SEI scholar and DA-PhilRice fellowship awardee, with doctoral research examining the role of pigmented rice in reducing cardiometabolic risks.
She is active in professional organizations, previously served as a Board Member of the Philippine Association of Nutrition in 2020-2021 and 2024-2025, and currently Secretary of the Philippine Stakeholders of Nutritionist-Dietitians. She is also an associate member of the National Research Council of the Philippines.
Mr. Koichiro Watabe
R&D and Quality Assurance, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation
Mr Koichiro Watabe is currently the Associate Director of R&D and Quality Assurance at Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation. Since joining Ajinomoto Co., Inc., he has played a key role in the development and industrialization of seasonings and processed foods, contributing to projects across Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, and other Asian markets.” 
Dr Mario V Campanzana
Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers, Inc. (PCFMI)
Dr. Mario V. Capanzana is the Executive Director of the Philippine Center for Food and Migration Innovations (PCFMI) and a Technical Consultant of Monde Nissin Corporation. From 2005 to 2020, he was the Director of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), where he led numerous initiatives in food technology and nutrition research.
Dr. Capanzana holds a PhD in Food Science and Technology from the University of New South Wales in Australia, an MSc in Food Technology from Mysore University/CFRI in India, a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Food Science from Hawkesbury Agricultural College, and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from National University in Manila.
His outstanding contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the Civil Service Commission’s Lingkod Bayan Award in 2016 and the Francisco O. Santos Memorial Award from the Philippine Association of Nutrition in 2022. He is also an active member and leader in several professional bodies, including PICHE, PAFT, PAN, and NDAP.
ORGANIZER
COLLABORATOR
CONTACT
If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us through:
Ellaine Javier
ILSI SEA Region Philippine Country Community
Email: ellainejavier@ilsisea.org.sg