Also known as Molly to her peers, Dr. Mallari has been teaching at the University of the Philippines College of Human Kinetics since 1998. She earned her undergraduate degree in BS Food Technology from the UP College of Home Economics, and then went on to complete a Diploma in Physical Education from the College of Human Kinetics in 1999. In 2009, she received her MS in Human Movement Science (Exercise Science). She completed her Ph.D. in Sports Science (Sports Nutrition) at Mahidol University, Thailand, in 2018 with a full scholarship from the University of the Philippines. Since 2021, she has received the UP Diliman Centennial Faculty Grant annually and was also a recipient of the UP Professorial Chair 2022 to 2024 cycle.

She previously competed internationally in dragon boat rowing and participated in club-level badminton competitions. She was also a member of the U.P. Mountaineers and one of the pioneers of artificial rock climbing in the country.

As Chair of the Sports Science Department in her second term, she has worked to streamline administrative processes in accordance with quality assurance guidelines. Her vision includes establishing a fully equipped Exercise Science laboratory that supports the needs of CHK students, varsity athletes, and faculty involved in research.

Her current affiliations include: Sports Nutrition Association of the Philippines (Vice President), Exercise is Medicine Philippines (lecturer and National Advisory Council member), Gatorade Sports Science Institute (advisor), Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, ISPAH member, IAPESGW member, PASOO member and Associate member of the National Research Council of the Philippines. She is an ISAK Level 3 Anthropometrist (2023) and has finished AUN-QA Tier-1 Training (Thailand) and AUN-QA Tier-2 Training (UPD).

Her teaching repertoire includes the following, for undergraduate and graduate classes: Biochemistry of Sport and Exercise, Exercise Physiology, Sports Nutrition, Sport Ergogenic aids, and Research Methods. She has also taught Physical Education classes in camping and badminton.

Dr. Mallari's research focuses on anthropometry, sports nutrition, and hydration in collegiate athletes, as well as physical activity and health in both children and collegiate athletes. She aims to establish a hydration laboratory where she can mentor students in conducting hydration research while also providing support to athletes.

She was the main investigator in research collaborations done with JCS Pharmaceuticals (Genacol/collagen hydrolysate) in 2017, and Nestle (Milo) in 2023.  She also received the PhD Incentive Award from the UPD OVCRD in 2021.

Her publications and research endeavors including full-text copies of her work are available here: www.researchgate.net/profile/Marla_Mallari_Cuerdo

Publications

• Mallari, M. F. T., Santos, L. A. G., Callanta, H. P., Papa, E. L. V., & Valleser, C. W. M. (2024). Effect of morning v. evening training on sweat rate and sweat sodium of competitive ultimate athletes. International Journal of Human Movement and Sports Sciences, 12(3), 586-591. https://doi.org/10.13189/saj.2024.120315

• Mallari, M. F., & Nana, A. (2023). Lactose-free skim milk as a sports drink for female collegiate basketball athletes: A comparison of two drinking strategies. Journal of Exercise and Nutrition, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.53520/jen2023.103150

• Aubert, S., Barnes, J. D., Demchenko, I., Hawthorne, M., Abdeta, C., Abi Nader, P., . . Cagas, J. Y.,...., Mallari, M. F. T.,... Tremblay, M. S. (2022). Global Matrix 4.0 physical activity report card grades for children and adolescents: Results and analyses from 57 countries. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 19(11), 700-728. doi:10.1123/jpah.2022-0456

• Cagas, J. Y., Mallari, M. F. T., Torre, B. A., Kang, M.-G. D. P., Palad, Y. Y., Guisihan, R. M., . . . Capio, C. M. (2022). Results from the Philippines' 2022 report card on physical activity for children and adolescents. Journal of Exercise Science & Fitness, 20(4), 382-390. doi:10.1016/j.jesf.2022.10.001

• Santos, R. A. B., & Mallari, M. F. T. (2021). Relationship of sedentary behavior and body composition of university student-athletes. Malaysian Journal of Movement, Health, & Exercise, 10(2), 70-76. doi: 10.4103/mohe.mohe_26_21

Presentations

• Oh R, Baghestani A, Cagas J,  Chen S, Huang WY, Jeon J, Kim H, LIU Y, Lock M, Loney T, Mallari MFT, Mahendra A, Majed L, Morrison S, Paudel S, Shahril MR, Subedi N, Wang P-Y, Lee E-Y*.  A narrative review on outdoor play in the Asia region: current status, challenges, and opportunities. 2025 Breath of Fresh Air, September 2025, Ottawa, Canada. 

• Mallari, M. F. T. and Valleser, C. W. M. (2024, November 13-15). An investigation into fluid intake, fluid balance, sweat composition of collegiate football athletes. [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Sports and Exercise Science (ICSES). Bangkok, Thailand.

• Mallari, M.F.T. (2024, Sept. 27). Effect of morning v. evening training on sweat rate and sweat sodium of competitive Ultimate athletes. CHK Research Forum, U.P. Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

• Mallari, M.F.T. (2024, Sept. 27) The Effect of choco malt milk supplementation (CMM) plus structured sports on elementary students' physical activity (PA), nutrition, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). CHK Research Forum, U.P. Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines

• Navarro, J. C. B., Mallari, M. F. T., Maghanoy, M. L. A., Callanta, L. F. S., & Valleser, C. W. M. (2024, November 13-15)). The effect of choco malt milk supplementation (CMM) plus structured sports on elementary students’ physical activity (PA), nutrition, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Sports and Exercise Science (ICSES). Bangkok, Thailand.

• Valleser, C. W. M., Mallari, M. F. T., Maghanoy, M. L. A., Callanta, L. F. S., & Navarro, J. C. B. (2024, November 13-15). The effect of structured physical activity and daily choco-malt milk supplementation on the physical fitness of Filipino children. [Conference presentation]. International Conference on Sports and Exercise Science (ICSES). Bangkok, Thailand.

Email: mtmallari@up.edu.ph

ORCID:  https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8571-2693

Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=uMAJK-sAAAAJ&hl=en

Recently, she has conducted and attended several workshops related to the B Sports Science being offered as a new course in other UP campuses. She is also involved in workshops to revise the NAS curriculum.

Over the years, she has been a speaker for several conferences and webinars on Sports Nutrition and Hydration. She has done webinars for Gatorade since 2021 as one of its GSSI advisors. She is a co-founder and vice-president of the Sports Nutrition Association of the Philippines.

She also serves as a reviewer/project proposal evaluator for several international journals and Philippine government-run research institutions.