Dr. Caesar A.

Saloma
BACKGROUND:

Dr. Caesar A. Saloma is a professor of physics at the National Institute of Physics (NIP) in the University
of the Philippines Diliman (UPD). He was Dean of the College of Science (CS) at UPD from June 2006
until March 2011. He also served as NIP Director from June 2000 to May 2006 (two terms).
Saloma obtained his BS, MS and PhD degrees in Physics from UPD in 1981, 1984 and 1989, respec-
tively. The CS is the primary producer of new scientific knowledge as well as PhD and MS graduates in
the basic and applied sciences and mathematics in the Philippines today. It operates the National Science
Complex of the Philippines established by former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo through
Executive Order No. 583 issued on December 8, 2006.
Saloma spent his childhood in Baclayon, Bohol and attended high school at the Immaculate Heart of
Mary Seminary in nearby Tagbilaran City.
He is included in the Marquis Who’s Who in Science and Engineering 2011-2012 (11th Edition).
In 2004, Saloma received the Galileo Galilei Award from the International Commission for Optics in
recognition of his significant contributions in the field of optics that were accomplished under
comparatively unfavorable conditions. He is the first scientist from an ASEAN member country to
receive the Galileo Award.
In 2008, he received the triennial ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and Technologist Award from the
ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology during the 8th ASEAN Science and Technology Week in
Manila.

CONTRIBUTIONS AND AWARDS:

Saloma was recognized for his contributions to photonics and signal processing that were accomplished
with colleagues and students at the NIP.
Saloma led the development of a method to generate high-contrast images of semiconductor sites via one
photon optical beam-induced current imaging and confocal reflectance microscopy. The project received
a US patent (No. 7,235,988) on June 26, 2007.
He has published more than 100 papers in leading photonics, applied physics and multidisciplinary
journals in the US and Europe. His efforts resulted in the development of novel and cost-effective/non-
invasive method in optical signal recovery, retrieval and identifying microscopic defects in integrated
circuits (IC) enabling the accurate identification of circuit defects by producing a high-contrast image
map that distinguishes semiconductor, metal and dielectric sites from each other.
His fields of interest include confocal laser scanning microscopy, interferometry, signal and image
processing, neural networks, and complex adaptive systems. Aside from developing new optical
microscopy techniques, Saloma is also interested in the development of efficient models for describing
the dynamics of real-world systems that involve a large number of interacting agents.
Saloma was elected to the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines (NAST) in July
2005. The NAST is the highest recognition body of the Philippine government on science and technology.
It also provides advice to the Philippine President and the Cabinet on matters related to science and
technology.
He is a recipient of other awards and recognition such as the NAST Outstanding Young Scientist
(Applied Physics) in 1992, the NAST-Third World Academy of Science (TWAS) Prize in Physics in
1997, the Gawad Chanselor para sa Natatanging Guro (Outstanding Teacher) in 2006 and several Gawad
Chanselor para sa Pinakamahusay na Mananaliksik (Best Researcher in S&T) from UPD. He was
appointed to the highest rank of Scientist III by the UP System in 2006 (only three were issued) and
renewed in 2009 (only two were issued). He also received the 2007 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding
Teacher Award on September 7, 2007.
Saloma was awarded the 1999 Outstanding R&D Award in Basic Research (Eduardo Quisumbing Medal
) by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for his work (with F. Domingo) on image com-
pression of video and confocal images [Applied Optics 38, pp. 3735–3744 (1999)]. He was included in
the “50 Men and Women of Science” list released by the DOST for its 50th anniversary celebration as a
government department in June 2008.
He received the Lingkod Bayan Award—the Presidential Award for Outstanding Public Service—from
Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in a ceremony held at the Malacañang Palace on
September 19, 2008. The award is the highest recognition given to a Philippine government employee for
outstanding performance.
He was elected Inaugural Fellow of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas (Physics Society of the Philippines)
on October 23, 2008 during the 26th SPP Physics Congress in Baguio City.
Saloma received the 2010 Outstanding Science Administrator Award (Dioscoro L. Umali Medal) from
the DOST and NAST in recognition of his commitment, leadership, dedication and outstanding service as
scientist, teacher and administrator.
His vital role in the establishment and ongoing completion of the National Science Complex was par-
ticularly noted.
He was elevated to senior member status by the Board of Directors of the Optical Society of America in
November 2010.
On March 2, 2011, he was elected Chancellor of UPD by the UP Board of Regents. He will serve for a
period of three years.
On May 15, he was named one of the 15 Asian Scientists to Watch by Asian Scientist.
 Edgardo D. Gomez, Ph. D.
- (born November 7, 1938) is a Filipino biologist who was conferred the rank of National Scientist
of the Philippines in 2014.[1][2] He is a professor emeritus for marine biology at the University of
the Philippines Marine Science Institute.

Education and career

Gomez obtained his bachelor's degree in education, major in English and Social Science (summa cum
laude) from De La Salle University, his master's degree in Biology as a Fulbright Travel Grantee from St.
Mary's University of Minnesota and doctorate degree in Marine Biology from University of California,
San Diego.[3] He was the founding director of the Marine Science Institute at the University of the
Philippines upon his return in 1973 after his doctorate studies.
Contributions
As an archipelago with vast marine resources, Gomez saw the need to protect Philippine resources in
particular to coral reefs. He led the world’s first national-scale assessment of damage to coral reefs
leading to international conservation initiatives such as replanting of corals.[1][4] He also pioneered giant
clam (Tridacna gigas) breeding stationed in Bolinaoand other protective areas for coastal communities of
the Philippines.[1][5]
Additionally, he took part in creating the baseline map of the Philippine, and he provided information to
the Philippine government for its reference in talks over the territorial disputes in the Spratly Islands.[1] In
2007, he pioneered the study on ocean acidification caused by increased levels of absorbed carbon
dioxide in the ocean.[4]
Gomez was conferred the rank of National Scientist of the Philippines in 2014 by Benigno Aquino III,
the President of the Philippines. This award has been made to just over thirty leading scientists and this
gives them a pension of life as well as a seat at important national ceremonies. The confirmation
ceremony took place at the Rizal Hall of the Malacañan Palace and it was awarded for his research and
conservation efforts in invertebrate biology and ecology on 12 August 2014.[1]
Awards and recognition
National Scientist of the Philippines for Marine Biology in 2014
Pew Marine Conservation Fellow in 2001
Presidential Lingkod Bayan Awardee in 2000
Academician by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in 1993
The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Award for Science (Marine Biology) in 1992[5]
Laureate in the United Nation's Environmental Programme's (UNEP) Global 500 Roll of Honour in 1989