NIGS Professor Dr. Mario Aurelio leads an international group of Geoscientists during the Palawan field excursion of the Southeast Asia Petroleum Exploration Society Regional Convention 2026.

NIGS Professor Dr. Mario Aurelio (front, half-kneeling) led the participants of the Palawan Geological Field Excursion SEAPEX Regional Convention 2026 (SRC 2026) held from 17 to 19 April 2026. Participants came from the UK, US, Australia, Cayman Islands, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. In the background is a Permian Limestone that hosts the Ille Cave in Brgy. New Ibajay, El Nido, Palawan, being studied by archaeologists from the University of the Philippines, in collaboration with international universities. The limestone is part of a Permo-Triassic olistostromic sequence that represents the oldest-known rocks in the Philippines.

Singapore-based Southeast Asia Petroleum Exploration Society (SEAPEX) holds its regional convention alternatingly between its regional members and Singapore. This year, the convention was hosted by the Philippines. The technical conference was held at the Makati Sports Club from 14 to 15 April, while post-conference field trips were held in Batangas, Cavite, and Palawan from 15 to 19 April.