5 Famous Filipino Chemists and Their Significant Contributions

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Filipino had been always known for their great contributions and achievements throughout the world in all sort of fields, be it in sports, arts, theater, architecture and science. These fellowmen had brought pride and dignity to our country. And in this article, we’re going to name some of the famous Filipino scientist in the field of chemistry, their contributions and research that made an impact to the world of science.

·      Alfredo Santos – is a National Scientist born on August 15, 1900, who devoted his life and career on the study of chemistry of natural harvest and the properties of Philippine medicinal plants. He has finished a lot of work in the isolation and elucidation of the phaeantharine and other alkaloids from Philippine medical plants. Due to his researches, he received outstanding awards including President Magsaysay’s Distinguished Service Star in 1954 and Outstanding Pharmacist Researcher of the Philippine Pharmaceutical Association in the year 1953. He finished his BS degree on Pharmaceutical Chemistry in the University of the Philippines and his doctorate degree in Pharmacy in the University of Santo Tomas in the year 1925.

Alfredo O. Santos

·         Jose O. Juliano – is a famous Filipino scientist born on October 16, 1932, who became famous for his researches in nuclear chemistry and physics. A chemist by profession, he was in charge of grain quality research at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) from the year 1961 to 1993. He was also one of the receivers of the The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award in the year 1959 for his involvement in Nuclear Science and became an affiliate of the American Nuclear Society, American Physical Society and American Chemical Society. He completed his B.S.A., major in Agriculture Chemistry and Mathematics, in the University of the Philippines, his M.S. major in Electrochemistry and Chemical Engineering in the Louisiana State University and his Ph.D. in Nuclear Chemistry and Physics in the University of California in the year 1957.

Jose O. Juliano

·         Julian A. Banzon – is a Filipino chemist born in Balanga, Bataan on March 25, 1908, who researched methods of producing alternative fuels from coconut and sugarcanes. He experimented with the production of ethyl esters fuels from coconut and sugarcanes, and invented a means of extracting residual coconut oil by a chemical process. He finished his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of the Philippines in the year 1930 and his Ph.D. in Biophysical Chemistry from Iowa State University in the year 1940. He became a National Scientist in the year 1986 and received notable awards such as the Distinguished Service Award from the Integrated Chemist of the Philippines Inc. in the year 1980 and Chemist of the Year Award from the Professional Regulation Commission in the year 1978.

Julian A. Banzon

·        Amando Kapauan – is a Filipino chemist and researcher born on July 4, 1931. He was one of the scientist who initiated investigations in the 1970s on heavy metal analysis in our environment and among one of those who first look into the problem of mercury in the environment, and designed the appropriate equipment for mercury analysis in water, fish and soil. He also linked with international groups and taught one of the first environmental chemistry courses in the country. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines in the year 1952 with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and obtained his doctorate degree from the University of Southern California. He was also one of the founders of the Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

·         Anacleto del Rosario – was a leading chemist during the Spanish period and was called as the “Father of Laboratory Science” in the Philippines. As a chemist, Del Rosario partly built the commercial names of the manufacturers of the Ayala distillery where he was successful in producing alcohol from nipa tuba (wine) that was absolutely free of characteristic odor. They exhibited the alcohol at the World’s Fair in Paris in 1881 and won first prize. He also worked as a chemist in the La Rosario distillery and was appointed as a pharmacist member of the Sanitary Commission in the 8^th district of Manila in the year 1882. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Ateneo Municipal de Manila and then enrolled in the University of Santo Tomas and took a course in pharmacy.

Anacleto Del Rosario

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