Julian A. Banzon

(1908 - 1988) .

Awarded as National Scientist for Biophysical Chemistry

Julian Banzon distinguished research is about methods of producing alternative fuels from various raw sources

Invented a means of extracting residual coconut oil by a chemical process rather than a physical process.

Experimented with the production of ethyl esters fuels from sugarcane and coconut


He graduated in University of the Philippines on 1930 with a degree of BS Chemistry and in PhD in Biophysical Iowa State University on 1940

 Awards:

•     1980: Distinguished Service Award - Integrated Chemist of the Philippines, Inc.
•     1978: Chemist of the Year Award - Professional Regulation Commission
•     1976: Philsugin Award - Crop Society of the Philippines

Angel Alcala - Filipino Biologist

Angel Chua Alcala

Angel Chua Alcala (b. 1 March 1929) is a Filipino marine biologist who was conferred the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 1992. He has done extensive work on Community Development in conjunction with Marine Development and Ecology, Marine Biogeography, and Marine Life Conservation.

Early life

Angel C. Alcala was born to Porfirio Alcala and Crescenciana Chua on 1 March 1929 in the small coastal village of Caliling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental. The Alcala household was a humble one, but the family had everything it needed as they lived where the products of the sea were bountiful.

Alcala attended high school on a scholarship at Kabankalan Academy. He was active in co-curricular activities as he took part in the school's [[Boy Scouts of the Philippines|Boy Scout troop], and was a member of the school's debate team.

In 1948, Alcala took a pre-medical course at Silliman University in Dumaguete. He was later accepted at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine but chose not to proceed because of his family's financial circumstances. Instead, he continued to study Biology at Silliman University and graduated magna cum laude in 1951.

Alcala's life-long interest in marine ecology started at an early age. His father was a fish farmer who made a living out of taking care of fish ponds that produced a steady supply of milkfish. As the eldest child, Alcala helped his father tend the fish ponds. He and his brothers also spent much of their time going after crabs, shrimp and shellfish and exploring the shallow waters and coral reefs near their home.

Dr. Angel Alcala has devoted more than 30 years studying how to conserve the marine ecosystems throughout Southeast Asia. What make him do this? It’s the fact that the sea is threatened because of the very riches it holds.

Dr. Alcala is an authority on community ecology, biogeography, and the systematic of amphibians and reptiles. He developed the first community-based program that created artificial coral reefs. This program became the model for similar fisheries development programs throughout establishing the Apo, Sumilon, Carbin, an Pamilacan marine reserves in the Philippines, Alcala is also the Director of the Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management.

Having written more than 60 scientific papers, Dr. Alcala believes that marine reserves have a significant role in ensuring fish abundance even in areas beyond the protected sanctuaries. This process, called “spillover,” is the focus of his work with the Pew Institute for Ocean Science. To set up more effective marine sanctuaries local communities and organizations to manage and protect the sanctuaries. Dr. Alcala believes that sustainable development it’s only possible through informed and committed human involvement.

Dr. Alcala has headed the Institute of Marine Biology at the University of the Philippines and was deputy executive director of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development. He has been a visiting researcher at various universities and establishments, including the University of Florida and the Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Alcala has also worked for the Philippine government as secretary of Environment and National Resources, and as chairman of the Commission on Higher Education.

Angel Alcala - Degrees:

• Undergraduate degree Silliman University

• Ph.D. Stanford University

Angel Alcala - Awards:

• 1994 - The Field Museum Founders' Council Award of Merit for contributions to environmental biology

• Magsaysay Award for Public Service

• Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation

Work with Philippine Amphibians & Reptiles:

Angel Alcala has done the most comprehensive studies on Philippine amphibians and reptiles, and minor studies on birds and mammals. His research was done between 1954 to 1999 lead to the addition of fifty new species of amphibians and reptiles.

Jesli A. Lapus

Jesli A. Lapus

Jesli A. Lapus is the Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd)2007-2010. Prior to his cabinet appointment, Lapus was known as a top professional manager in the manufacturing and financial sectors, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a college professor, and a member of the House of Representatives for three consecutive terms, serving from 1998 to 2007.

Lapus was born on September 12, 1949 in Tarlac, Tarlac. He attended the Little Flower Academy (Holy Spirit Academy) in Tarlac for his elementary and secondary education. In 1969, he earned a BS in Accountancy from the St. Louis University in Baguio City, finishing college in three years and subsequently passing the accountancy board exams at the age of 19. He further honed his management skills by enrolling in the Masters in Business Management (MBM) program of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) and graduating in 1973. In 1998, Lapus was conferred a doctorate in public administration (honoris causa) by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).

Lapus also attended several post-graduate studies, excelling each time in the following fields:

Investment Appraisals and Management – Harvard University, United States of America (USA)

Management of Transfer of Technology – INSEAD, France

Project Management – BITS, Sweden

Personal Financial Planning – University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA

Private sector

The management career of Lapus started at a very young age. This earned for him the title, “Management Whiz Kid in the ASEAN,” given by Asian Finance international magazine. At 20, he worked as an auditor and consultant at SyCip, Gorres, Velayo & Company (SGV & Co.). He then became the chief financial officer (CFO) of the Ramcar Group of Companies at age 23, and helped propel Ramcar to become the country's undisputed leader in the battery industry. From 1979 to 1986, Lapus worked as managing director and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Triumph International (Philippines), Inc. He also worked in the banking sector, serving as director of Union Bank of the Philippines from 1988 to 1992.

Lapus also shared his management expertise in the academe. He was among the original core faculty members of AIM's Masters in Development Management program and has taught at the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) and Maryknoll College (now Miriam College). He has also conducted executive training courses in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Executive Branch of Government

Lapus' expertise did not go unnoticed by two former presidents. From 1987 to 1989, he served as undersecretary of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under the administration of President Corazon C. Aquino. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Fund and the Support Services Sector of DAR.

During the administration of President Fidel V. Ramos, Lapus served as president, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and vice chairman of the board of directors of Land Bank of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. Under his leadership, the bank rose to become the 3rd biggest in the banking industry and the best performing government financial institution (GFI).

Legislative Branch of the Government

In 1998, Lapus was elected member of the House of Representatives, representing the 3rd district of Tarlac. He was reelected twice and was unopposed when he ran for his third and last term in the 2004 elections. In Congress, Lapus initiated important legislations pertaining to education, teachers' rights, suffrage, and other social issues.

Lapus exposed and helped streamline the in famous multibillion peso automatic payroll deductions scheme at DepEd which has adversely affected the net take home pay of public school teachers. This practice has been considered a major cause of teachers' low morale, thus, affecting the quality of Philippine education. Lapus was recognized for this effort and was honored with the title, "Champion of Public School Teachers," by teachers' associations.

In his capacity as chairman of the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral reforms during his second term, Lapus sponsored the Overseas Absentee Voting Law. This law allowed Filipinos living and working overseas to vote, beginning in the 2004 national elections. He also sponsored the World Trade Organization (WTO) Safeguard Measures Law in 1999. Starting the year 2000, Lapus was also principal author of inquiries and bills on preneed companies. These measures led to timely Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, years before the controversial collapse of a number of preneed companies.

Mr. Jesli A. Lapus is a Secretary of Department of Trade and Industry. Mr. Lapus serves as Director of Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. He has been Director of Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. since August 18, 2010.

PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS

• Management Association of the Philippines (past Governor)
• Bankers Association of the Philippines (past Treasurer)
• Alumni Association of the Asian Institute of Management (past President)
• Young Presidents Organization (YPO)
• FINEX, PICPA, PCCI, PMAP, GBAP
• Museo Pambata (past Treasurer)
• Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor (Trustee)
• Rotary Club of Manila
• German Club

Awards and recognition

The following are some of the awards and recognition given to Lapus in the course of his private and government career:

• Triple A Award for outstanding achievements in the practice of Management (the highest AIM alumnus award) – given in 1980; was the youngest recipient (at 29 years old) of the award
• Elevated to the Hall of Fame as Outstanding Legislator for 5 consecutive years (2000-2004) – given by the Makati Graduate School and Congress Magazine
• Conferred the title Datu Bantugan V for invaluable service to Mindanao
• Outstanding Citizen of Pampanga and Tarlac
• Outstanding CPA in the Philippines
• Outstanding Legislator of the Consumers Union of the Philippines

Artemio Ricarte

Artemio Garcia Ricarte
"Vibora" (Viper)

October 20, 1866 — July 31, 1945

A Filipino general during the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine-American War. He is considered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines as the "Father of the Philippine Army". Ricarte is also notable for never having taken an oath of allegiance to the United States government, which occupied the Philippines from 1898 to 1946.

Ricarte was born in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines to Faustino Ricarte and Bonifacia García. He finished his early studies in his hometown and enrolled at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. At the University of Santo Tomas and then at the Escuela Normal, he prepared for the teaching profession. He was sent to the town of San Francisco de Malabon (now General Trias) to supervise a primary school. While there, he met the likes of Mariano Álvarez, another school teacher and surviving revolutionary of the 1872 Cavite Mutiny. Ricarte then joined the ranks of the Katipunan under the Magdiwang Council, where he held the rank of Lieutenant-General. He adopted the nom-de-guerre "Víbora" (Viper).

Philippine Revolution

After the start of the Philippine Revolution on August 31, 1896, Ricarte led the revolutionists in attacking the Spanish garrison in San Francisco de Malabon. He crushed the Spanish troops and took the civil guards as prisoner. At the Tejeros Convention Ricarte was elected Captain-General and received a military promotion to Brigadier-General in Emilio Aguinaldo's army. He led his men in various battles in Cavite, Laguna, and Batangas. Aguinaldo designated him to remain in Biak na Bato, San Miguel, Bulacan to supervise the surrender of arms and to see to it that both the Spanish government and Aguinaldo's officers complied with the terms of the peace pact.

Philippine-American War

When the Philippine-American War started in 1899, he was Chief of Operations of the Philippine forces in the second zone around Manila. In July 1900 he was captured in Manila and deported to Guam together with Apolinario Mabini.

Post-War

In early 1903, both Ricarte and Mabini would be allowed back in to the Philippines upon taking the oath of allegiance to America. Just as their transport USS Thomas pulled in to Manila Bay, both were asked to take the oath. Mabini, who was ill, took the oath but Ricarte refused. Ricarte was set free but banned from the Philippines. Without setting foot in the Philippines, he was placed on the transport "Galic" and sailed to Hong Kong.

In December 1903, Ricarte returned to the Philippines as a stowaway on board the "Wenshang". Ricarte planned to reunite with former members of the army and rekindle the Philippine Revolution. Upon meeting with several former members and friends, he discussed his general plan and the continuation of the revolution. After said meetings, some of these members turned on Ricarte and notified the Americans, specifically ex-General Pio del Pilar. A reward for US$10,000 was then issued for Ricarte's capture, dead or alive. In the following weeks, Ricarte traveled throughout central Luzon trying to drum up support for his cause.

In early 1904, Ricarte was stricken by an illness that put him at rest for nearly 2 months. Just as his health was returning, a clerk from his outfit, Luis Baltazar, turned against him and notified the local Philippine Constabulary of his location at Mariveles, Bataan. On March 29, 1904, Ricarte was arrested and jailed. He would spend the next six years at Bilibid Prison. It should be noted, Ricarte was well received and respected by both the Philippine and American authorities. He was frequently visited by old friends from the Philippine war as well as U.S. government officials, including then Vice-President of the United States Charles W. Fairbanks.

Due to good behavior, Ricarte served only 6 of his 11 year sentence. On June 26, 1910 he was released from Bilibid Prision. But upon his exit he was detained by American authorities and taken to the Customs-House in Bagumbayan. He was again ordered to pledge his oath of alligence to the United States. He still refused to swear allegiance and within the hour of the same day, he was again put on a transport and deported to Hong Kong. His name was repeatedly brought to light whenever any type of uprising occurred in the Philippines. To get away from false propaganda, he and his wife moved to Yokohama, Japan where they lived in self-exile. While in Japan, Ricarte opened a small restaurant, Karihan Luvimin, and returned to teaching. His book, “Himagsikan nang manga Pilipino Laban sa Kastila” (The Revolution of Filipinos Against the Spaniards) was published in Yokohama in 1927.

Just as Ricarte's life was fading away in to obscurity, World War II began and Japan invaded the Philippines. The Japanese flew Ricarte back to the Philippines to help them pacify the Filipinos. In December 1944, Ricarte was forced to establish the Makapili, a pro-Japanese organization during World War II which was used to root out guerrillas.

Death

Near the end of World War II, Ricarte again found himself taking flight from American and Filipino forces. It is stated by Colonel Ota, that he ask Ricarte to evacuate the Philippine island but Ricarte refused, stating "I cannot take refuge in Japan at this critical moment when my people are in actual distress. I will stay in my Motherland to the last." Due to the hardship and difficulties from evading American and Filipino attacks, Ricarte became ill and suffered from debilitating dysentery. On July 31, 1945 at Hungduan, Mountain Province, Ifugao, Ricarte died at the age of 78. His grave was found 9 years later in 1954 by treasure hunters. Ricarte's body was exhumed and his tomb now lies in Manila at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. On April 2002, at the same place where he dies, a landmark was inaugurated by Mr. Ambet Ocampo of The National Historical Institute, and Mrs. Teodoro, a granddaughter of Artemio Ricarte.

Memorials

• In 1972, a monument was erected at Yamashita Park in Yokohama, Japan
• The birth house of Artemio Ricarte is now the Ricarte National Shrine in Batac City, Philippines.
• A marker was placed at Poblacion, General Trias, Cavite for General Artemio Ricarte for the battles and good deeds he accomplished in Cavite

Dr. Fernando Calderon

FERNANDO CALDERON
(1866-1948)

Dr. Fernando R. Calderon was one of the leading Filipino obstetricians during the American colonial period and the first director of the Philippine General Hospital. Named after his paternal grandfather, he was born in the old town of Santa Cruz de Malabon, now called Tanza, Cavite on August 14, 1866, to Jose G. Calderon and Manuela Roca. Felipe G. Calderon, famous for his work on the Malolos Constitution, was his younger brother.


Together with his young brother, Felipe, Fernando was sent to an elementary school conducted by a teacher called Gabriel in barrio Lamayan. Later, he has transferred to the Ateneo Municipal when the family moved to Santa Ana, Manila. He started his studies at the Ateneo as a second grade pupil in the primary course. Hardly able to speak Spanish, he was placed at one of the lowest rungs in the class. However, he made great strides in his studies. Before the end of the first semester, he was already at the top and had gained the coveted honor of being the class “emperor”.


After obtaining his bachelor of arts degree at the Ateneo in 1885, he moved to the University of Santo Tomas to take up medicine and pharmacy. He completed his licentiate in medicine in February 1891. During the last month of 1891, he secured the post of municipal doctor of Calbayog, Samar. But after serving there for about two years, he had to go back to Manila to recuperate from an ailment, which the famed chemist of that time, Anacleto del Rosario, confirmed as advanced tuberculosis.


When he regained his health, he accepted a job as medical officer of the Carigara municipality in Leyte. Six months later, in 1894, he transferred to Ormoc, which was to be his residence for six years. When the Filipino-American War broke out in 1899, General Lukban appointed him as president of the revolutionary junta of Ormoc, a position he kept for about a year. He returned to Manila when the Americans occupied the town.


After a brief stay in Manila, Dr. Calderon decided to leave for Europe, taking the French steamer Laos. He arrived in Paris in March 1900. He was admitted as a president in the famous Clinique Tarnier, a five-storey hospital that specialized in maternity, gynecology, and puericulture.


He stayed there for eight months, and then visited other French hospitals like the Maternidad Baudeloque, under Professor Pinard; the Maternidad Saint Antoine, directed by Professor Bahr; the Cochin and Broca hospitals; and the Necker Hospital, under Professor Guyon. After two years in Europe, he returned to Manila, arriving in March 1902. Later, he married Januaria Alvarez.

On July 1, 1907 he was appointed professor of obstetrics at the school of Medicine, which was created on the recommendation by the Philippine Island Medical Association and approved by the Philippine Commission on June 10, 1907. This school was to become the University of the Philippines’ College of Medicine.


On September 16, 1914, Dr. Calderon was appointed auxiliary director of the Philippine General Hospital while serving at the same time, without additional compensation, as head of obstetrics of the UP-College of Medicine. He was named president of the Council of Hygiene on June 03, 1915. He became dean of the College of Medicine and director of the Philippine General Hospital on October 25, 1916. From October 11, 1922 to October 10, 1925, he was a member of the UP board of regents. He was designated acting UP President from January to August 31, 1934. On November 1, 1936, he resigned as dean of the UP College of Medicine and as PGH director due to physical incapacity.


Dr. Calderon was instrumental in creation of La Gota de Leche in Manila. He died on February 7, 1948.

Francisco F. Benitez

FRANCISCO F. BENITEZ
(1887-1951)

Francisco F. Benitez, one of the country's foremost educators, was born in Pagsanjan, Laguna on June 4, 1887 to Don Higinio Benitez, a signer of Malolos Constitution, and Soledad Francia. He had four brothers: Ceferino, Teofilo, Conrado, and Eulogio, and a sister, Antonia. His brother Conrado was an economist, historian, and a business leader, while Eulogio was a congressman of Laguna and the first to use English in the sessions of the Philippine House of Representatives.

After his graduation from the Philippine Normal School in 1904, he started his educational career. He served as principal of a school in Pakil, Laguna, before being sent as a government pensionado to the United States in 1905. He graduated three years later from the Western Illinois State Normal School. Back in the Philippines, he was appointed assistant supervising teacher in Bacoor, Cavite.


On July i, 1918, the U.P. Board of Regents passed a resolution transforming the School of Education into the College of Education Francisco Benitez was appointed its dean and thus started his strong influence on education.


Preparatory to the establishment of the commonwealth government, Quezon appointed in 1935 a committee, called the Quezon Educational Survey Committee, to study and recommend changes in the educational system. As a member of the committee, Dean Benitez was appointed chairman of the subcommittee on teacher training.

On August 13, 1945, President Sergio Osmeña revived the National Council of Education created by Quezon shortly before the war. Dean Benitez was made chairman of this council.

After the war, in January, 1946, Osmeña apointed Benitez Secretary of Public Instruction until May, 1946, with Florentino Cayco as his undersecretary.


A patriot at heart, Dean Benitez served his countrymen and the government in different capacities. He worked as honorary correspondent for the Philippines in the International Bureau of Education at Geneva, president of the National Federation of Teachers in the Philippines, and chairman of the educational sector in the First Independence Congress in 1930. He was also the director of the World Federation of Education Associations and of the Institute of the Pacific Relations, and president and director of the Philippine China Society and of the Japan Philippine Society, respectively.

As an educator, Benitez believed that education could make the country stable and progressive and that every Filipino child should have the right to an education in order to develop his potentials to the full. He also strongly advocated the development of the spirit of nationalism, particularly in the youth, the development of internationalism, and of the national language. As director of the Office of Private Education, he advocated the idea of having social studies taught exclusively by Filipino teachers.


A liberal and a democrat, he fought against any method of instruction which would give rise to any form of intellectual or social aristocracy. A strong advocate of democratic ideas in classroom management and supervision, he batted for an educational system geared toward the needs of the people.


A staunch champion of teachers, Francisco Benitez, contributed much towards the function of teachers' associations in the country. In 1940, he advocated salary increases for teachers in order to build up their morale and give them an incentive to remain in the service.



He also distinguished himself as a writer and editor when he published "Educational Progress in the Philippines," "Stories of Great Filipinos," and several other essays and articles here and abroad. He was editor of the Philippine Journal of Education. He conducted courses in education: "The Social and Economic Status of Our Teachers" and "A Study in Individual Differences."



his kind, amiable, and courteous dean whose favorite aphorism was "work and study in the spirit of play," was also known for his sense of humor and satire on people, institutions, and other elements of life and society.



Once, somebody tried to convince him of the danger of smoking which he did immoderately by saying, "Dean, a drop of nicotine is enough to kill a fish." The dean replied: "But, my dear, I'm not a fish."


He was a humble fellow. In his classes before the examination, he used to thumb the pages of the textbook saying: "Know this, know that. I require you to know these details, even if I myself don't know them now." Humorously, he would add, "Anyway, you are the ones to take the exam, not I."

Dean Benitez had an enormous love for the people, a deep affection for the unpretentious, lowly masses unaffected by the sophistication of society. He enjoyed talking to them, holding them by the sleeves, patting them on the shoulders, and greeting them by their first names.

Dean Benitez was accorded honors for his distinguished service to education by Columbia University which awarded him its University Medal in 1929. That same year, he was honored with two Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, by the University of Manila. For being an outstanding school executive, a progressive educational statesman and a staunch champion of teachers and the teaching profession, he was voted Teacher of the Year in December, 1950 by the alumni of the College of Education, University of the Philippines. In 1951, the National University conferred on him a doctorate degree, honoris causa. Finally, a citation of merit was given him by President Quirino for his service in the field of education in the Philippines.

He died on June 30, 1951 at the age of 64 at the Singian Clinic after suffering a heart attack while walking along Carriedo, Quiapo, Manila. He was survived by his wife, Pat Marquez Benitez, and children Ana Virginia, Francisco Jr., Roberto, and Rafael.

His death was deeply mourned by his countrymen; he truly deserved their respect and veneration, for he was one of the pillars of Philippine education.