Princess Cabotaje, a Filipina scholar based in Sweden, gained recognition for her groundbreaking research aimed at improving the environment. She emerged as one of the top three finalists in the prestigious 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) competition by Coimbra Group in Turku, Finland, and was awarded 1,500 euros (over P94,000). Her Thesis, “Learning from Nature: Turning Air Into Electricity,” delved into the potential of enzymes, called hydrogenases, as a green energy source for the future. Her impactful presentation on social media has been hailed as her “defining moment,” dedicated to “every Filipino dreamer.”
In the caption of her video, she wrote, “I stand on the shoulders of giants. It’s an honor to explain the importance of hydrogenases in a way that can be understood by a wider audience – even the technical crew backstage!”
Cabotaje believes that her paper is the most engaging and interesting for a broad audience because it describes the fascinating process of an enzyme extracting hydrogen from thin air.
She also highlighted its potential for energy conversion. She expressed disbelief at its current feasibility but acknowledged that it may become a reality centuries from now and be integrated into people’s daily lives. She mused that although she won’t be around, it may happen in the future.
She observed that numerous enzymes are yet to be explored and expressed her hope for more scientists, particularly Filipinos, to enter this field. She believes that these enzymes serve as the “best source of inspiration” for developing a hydrogen economy in the future.
From the Philippines to Sweden
Before enrolling in a chemistry PhD program, the 29-year-old completed her bachelor’s degree in chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where she also worked as a research associate. Later, she obtained her master’s degree in the same field at the University of San Carlos. Cabotaje acknowledged that pursuing a doctorate abroad was challenging, as she encountered numerous rejections.
She encountered a challenging journey in obtaining PhD offers, facing numerous rejections. Despite applying to various universities and programs, she only received an acceptance letter from one university – Uppsala, where she is currently studying. Despite being unfamiliar with Filipinos, she expresses gratitude to her supervisor, who took a chance on her.
Enzyme Potential: Exploring a Sustainable Future
Ever since she began her PhD journey, she has been dedicated to excelling in her field—putting in long hours of studying and writing research papers focusing on biochemistry. Her interest in the subject first developed at the Philippine Science High School in Cebu, where she was introduced to chemistry and biology. This exposure eventually sparked her desire to delve deeper into the world of enzymes.
“From then on, I just didn’t stop loving [and] studying different enzymes from food, industrial purposes, to cleaning the environment and trying to get alternative ways of getting our energy from renewable sources of energy, not just from burning fossil fuels,” she explained.
The Pinay scientist mentioned that her interest in enzymes is linked to her “impatient” attitude. She explained, “I think I am generally a very impatient person because I want to see things develop fast, or I wanna see results fast. And I think that kind of reflects my interest in enzymes because enzymes speed up things. A small, slow reaction that could take years and enzyme can capitalize that same reaction in seconds”, adding that what truly motivates her is the real-world impact, especially the potential to help mitigate climate change.
Balancing Work and Life: Princess Cabotaje’s Approach
When questioned about the keys to her career success, Cabotaje emphasized the necessity of maintaining a balanced work-life dynamic.
During college, it was more like, “well, walang tulog,” or studying on weekends. She mentioned that if you stayed up studying instead of sleeping at night, you would be praised for it. It all changed when she studied in Sweden, a country that values rest just as much as work. “I think it’s valid because how can you do the best of your work if you are burned out or you don’t have the mental and physical capacity to do your best job? So, I think I am more of a balanced person now.”
When she is not busy with work or studies, she is a mentor and executive member at GradMAP Philippines. This grassroots organization assists Filipino students with their application materials for master’s or doctorate programs abroad.
Cabotaje ensures she unwinds by dancing thrice a week and playing tennis or badminton. She also enjoys bonding with her cats. Contrary to what some people might think, she believes that balancing work and life enhances her work.
Guidance to Become an International Scholar
When aiming for a scholarship to study abroad, Cabotaje advises that finding something that sparks your interests and inspires you to excel in different ways is essential. She recommends, “Find something that inspires you or is interesting for you because everything else will follow. The purpose of joining this three-minute thesis competition was for me to have fun and try to improve my science [and] communication skills. Being in the finals is just a bonus,” she advised.
Additionally, she highlights the importance of finding the right mentors for you. “Mentors are very important to get feedback or to get wisdom,” she explained.
Moreover, she stresses the significance of believing in yourself. “You’ve heard this many times when you were a kid, but just trust yourself. If you want to do something, if you want to pursue something, go for it, regardless of what other people say. If they say you cannot do it, just ignore them because if that is what you really want, you will get it eventually.”