FILIPINO BIOLOGISTS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS

1. Magdalena C. Cantoria, Ph.D. Botany

With pharmacy and botany as a background, Dr. Cantoria's inquiries dealt especially on the
morphology, physiology and biochemistry of drug plants. She has done underlying studies on the
pharmacognosy of agar, rauwolfia, datura, mint and Piper species.
2. Angel C. Alcala, Ph.D. Biological Sciences
His marine science publications comprise about 80 papers on coral reef fish, marine reserves,
long-term effects of protection on marine biodiversity such as corals and top predatory fish. Most
of these papers have been published in peer review, international journals and books.
3. Veronica F. Chan, Ph.D. Microbiology
As one of the innovators in Philippine virology and immunology, Dr. Chan, under the direction of
Dr. William McD. Hammon was responsible for the first separation of dengue viruses types 3 and
4 as the causative factor of hemorrhagic fever.
4. Salcedo L. Eduardo, Ph.D. Veterinary and Medical Parasitology
Dr. Eduardo is recognized for his outstanding researches on parasites of livestock groups with a
focus on the basic features of helminthology. His works were an important contribution in the
project of safe control activities in conservation, agriculture management and public health.
5. Emil Q. Javier, Ph.D. Plant Breeding and Genetics
His expertise is in agronomy, especially the production, seed creation and management of
tropical grasses and legumes, and the usage and grazing administration of indigenous Imperata
grassland.
6. Gisela Padilla-Concepcion, Ph.D. Chemistry
Dr. Padilla-Concepcion, has made important efforts and achievements in the discipline of marine
natural chemical substances as team leader of diverse research programs to discover original
marine substances with anticancer, antibacterial, anti-tuberculosis, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory
and immune-suppressant properties.
7. Edgardo D. Gomez, Ph.D. Marine Biology
Dr. Gomez is acknowledged for his superior contributions to science in particular his
investigations into marine ecosystems which became the grounds for management of and the
conservation system of rules for the country's marine resources. Most noteworthy among his
researches have been on coral reef ecology and conservation, reestablishment of giant clam
stocks, and marine science capability improvement.
8. Eduardo A. Quisumbing, Ph.D. Plant Taxonomy, Systematics and Morphology
A world-class botanist, Dr. Quisumbing is an innovator in the examination of Philippine medicinal
plants where he made extraordinary contributions. His book "Medicinal Plants in Philippines" is
the precursor of all researches on medicative plants in the country.
9. Carmen C. Velasquez, Ph.D. Parasitology
Dr. Velasquez's scientific contributions include thirty-two new species and one new genus of
digenetic trematodes from Philippine food fishes, two from birds and five from mammals. This has
been published in international periodicals and acknowledged in a number of journals throughout
the world.
10. Asuncion K. Raymundo, Ph.D. Microbial Genetics/Biotechnology
A ground-breaker in micro-organism genetics and and the use of biotechnology in agriculture in
the Philippines, Dr. Raymundo is a diligent researcher. She is a prolific writer, having published
over 100 technical articles in official journals and international publications.

11. Joventino D. Soriano, Ph.D. Cytogenetics and Mutations Research

Dr. Soriano is accepted for his advanced studies on plant cytogenetics and mutations and
research which have been published in international journals. By using radiation and chemical
mutagens. Dr. Soriano advanced the interpretation of the mutation process.
12. Gavino C. Trono, Ph. D. Marine Botany, Seaweed Biodiversity, Taxonomy, Ecology and Culture
With success, he developed pond and open-water culture and practical applications and
management of stocks of economically all-important seaweed varieties of the Philippines which
benefited seaweed farmers in coastal regions. The two-volume books entitled "Field Guide and
Atlas of the Seaweed Resources of the Philippines" are the most definitive books on seaweed of
the Philippines.
13. Rhodora V. Azanza, Ph.D. Botany
Dr. Azanza has made significant contributions and accomplishments in the field of biology and
ecology of destructive micro-algae, specifically her innovating studies on toxic dinoflagellate
species responsible for Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning in the Philippines.
14. Clare R. Baltazar, Ph.D. Systematic Entomology
Her numerous works on Philippine insects particularly on Philippine Hymenoptera are very
significant to science for they lay the basis for future biological control in the Philippines. Her book
"Philippine Insects" is the first definitive text on Philippine insects.
15. Filomena F. Campos, Ph.D. Plant Breeding / Cytogenetics
Dr. Campos is acknowledged for her works on cotton research in the Philippines leading to the
improvement of a collection of technology on cotton production accomplished in a comparatively
short period of three years
16. Gregorio T. Velasquez, Ph.D. Phycology
Dr. Velasquez was an innovator in Philippine phycology. He conducted the first intense survey of
the local Myxophyceae or blue-green algae and dedicated more than thirty years of successful
work to the study of Philippine algae, receiving worldwide recognition.
17. Prescillano M. Zamora, Ph. D. Plant Anatomy-Morphology
Dr. Zamora is acknowledged for his efforts in researching plant anatomy-morphology,
pteridophyte biology, and the preservation of environment and natural resources policy research.
His examinations on the categorization of Philippine ferns brought about the discovery of more
species of the group.