Famous Philippine Scientists

Here's a short list of famous Philippine scientists, their bios and what their contribution is. These Filipino scientists and their coleagues abound but aren't given the proper acknowledgement that they deserve. It's rare for a scientist in the Philippines to be famous outside the academic circle.

Also, go check out the following. Remember the main link is at the bottom of this post. The ones here are just related links:

Link 1: Here's a more comprehensive list of Philippine Scientists, their field of specialization and the year they were honored with the title of National Scientist of the Philippines.

Link 2: Check this for a famous Philippine Physicist. I never did know until now that a Physicist from the Philippines had an integral part in the space program.

Link 3: Here's a link on famous Philippine inventions and it's inventors.

Link 4: This one has an additional list of Filipino Scientists.

Link 5: A fun quiz to find out more about Philippine Scientists and what they're famous for. Go check it out.


Now, posted below is from the DOST site that was taken down. I pasted the whole thing for those who needed it can easily access it:

Filipinos have long been known for their resourcefulness and inventiveness – from the creation by Amado Flores of the now -ubiquitous fluorescent bulb to the invention of the popular board game Salpakan or Games of the Generals by Sofronio Pasola. The creativity and resourcefulness of the Filipino inventor knows no bounds.

Here are some living Filipino inventors and their contributions to the march of science and technology in the Philippines and globally. Here are five of the many Filipino scientists and inventors affiliated with the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) who have put the Philippines on the scientific world map.

Gregorio Y. Zara, D.Sc. Physics — His important achievements include: the invention of the two-way television telephone, the discovery of electrical kinetic resistance known as the Zara effect, the invention of an airplane engine that runs on alcohol instead of aviation fuel and methods by which solar energy can be harnessed. Zara’s airplane engine was successfully tested in a test flight conducted at the Manila International Airport (now the Ninoy Aquino International Airport) on Sept. 30, 1954. For having completed over 40 research papers and making 20 outstanding contributions to science, Zara received many awards, including the Presidential Diploma of Merit. He was conferred the Distinguished Service Medal in 1959 for his pioneering works ands achievements in solar energy research, aeronautics and television. Zara was also given the Presidential Gold Medal and Diploma of Honor for Science and research in 1966; the Cultural Heritage Award for Science Education and Aero Engineering in 1966.

Magdalena C. Cantoria, Ph.D., Botany — With an extensive education in the fields of pharmacy and botany and degrees in these same fields gathered both here and in the United States, Cantoria focused her research efforts on the morphology, physiology and biochemistry of drug plants. She has done basic studies on the pharmacognosy of agar, rauwolfia, datura, mint and Piper species. For her research paper on the morphology and anatomy of rauwolfia vomitoria Afz., Cantoria received the Edwin Leigh Newcomb Award in pharmacognosy given by the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education in 1954. She again received this award in 1962 for her research work on the growth and development of Daturia strasmodium L. She is also the recipient of the Phi Sigma awards for marked distinction in biology in in 1951 and was proclaimed the Most Outstanding Phi Sigman in 1977.

Paulo C. Campos, MD is noted for his work in nuclear medicine. As a health scientist, Campos authored and co-authored 75 scientific publications, some of which have won awards. Three of his works, titled Observation of Some Parameter of Insulin Action, Cr-51 Tagged Red Cell Studies and The Genetic Factor in Endemic Goiter, have won the first prize in Research Award. For his achievements in the field of medical research, Campos was named conferred the Gregorio Y Zara award as an outstanding scientist by the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science (PAAS). He was credited for establishing the first known radioisotope laboratory in the country and the first research laboratory of the University of the Philippines Medicine Department. He also established the Thyroid Clinic of the UP-PGH.

Pedro B. Escuro, Ph.D. Genetics and Plant Breeding — As a scientist Escuro has made significant contributions to rice breeding as plant breeder Professor extension worker and consultant in agricultural projects. He provided leadership in the development, isolation and release of nine Seed Board rice varieties: Milpal 4, HBD-2, Azmil 26 and C-22 (upland) and C-18, C4-63, C4-137, C-168 and C-12 (lowland). Escuro has 18 honors and awards to his name, including two Presidential awards – the Presidential Plaque of Merit for outstanding accomplishments in rice improvement (1967) and the Rizal Pro Patria award for his outstanding contribution to rice breeding and genetics. He also received the University of the Philippines Distinguished Professorial award in agriculture (1973) and D. Sc. honoris causa in 1974, and the 1974 Ayala award in agricultural science.

Jose N. Rodriguez, MD Leprology — He is a renowned Filipino leprologist and researcher who has devoted 53 years of his life to the control of leprosy in the country. As one of the few pioneers in the early fight against leprosy worldwide, Rodriguez proposed a leprosy control program which was adopted by the Philippines and other Asian countries. He has written many scientific articles on leprosy which have been published in various medical journals all over the world and which are considered classic texts in leprosy research. In recognition of his untiring struggle to control and eradicate leprosy in the Philippines, he is the recipient of many honors and awards, including the 1974 Damien Dutton Award.

Source: NAST, The First Decade National Academy of Scienc and Technology, DOST