Lourdes J. Cruz. Her researches have contributed to the understanding of the
biochemistry of toxic peptides from the venom of fish-hunting Conus marine snails. The
characterization of over fifty biologically active peptides from the snails’ venom had been
made possible, in part, by her studies. Also, her work led to the development of conotoxins
used as tools for examining the activity of the human brain. For instance, w-Conotoxin is
widely used for studying neural calcium channels and m-Conotoxins is used when muscular
activity must be controlled to examine events at the synapse.
Clare R. Baltazar is the author of Philippine Insects, the first authoritative text on
Philippine insects. Her numerous works on insects, especially on the Philippine
Hymenoptera, are significant in laying down the framework of insect control in the future.
She also discovered one subgenus of Hymenoptera and one hundred eight new species of
the Philippine parasitic wasp.
Magdalena C. Cantoria. Dr. Cantoria’s researches focused particularly on the
morphology, physiology, and biochemistry of drug plants. She has also done basic study on
the pharmacognosy (or the study of the therapeutic substances) of agar, raulfia, datura,
mint, and piper species.
Filomena F. Campos is recognized for her work on cotton research in the
Philippines. Her contribution led to the development of a package of technology on cotton
production achieved in relatively short period of three years. She was also deeply involved
in the research on sunflower, which is a potential source of edible oil and livestock feed.
Benjamin D. Cabrera. Most of Dr. Cabrera’s works are on medical parasitology and
public health. Parasitology is concerned with parasitism and the parasites, like intestinal
parasites, its causes and possible prevention.
Because of his work on epidemiology and life cycle of filarial parasites, preventive
measures through the development of drugs, can now be implemented on humans
especially against mosquito carriers. With the model he proposed, ascariasis or soiltransmitted
helminthes can now be reduced.
Eduardo A. Quisumbing is widely known in botany, especially for his work on
taxonomy, systematics and morphology. His researches on Philippine medicinal plants and
orchids are pioneering. He is the author of Medicinal Plants of the Philippines, which is
considered a forerunner on the subject in our country today. He has also written one
hundred twenty-nine scientific articles.
Francisco M. Fronda. Dr. Fronda’s most significant contribution is the development
of poultry industry in the Philippines as well as in the Asian region. His title as the “Father of
Poultry Science in the Philippines” is but fitting to his share in the development of the poultry
and livestock industry. He spent over six decades – virtually a lifetime – teaching, doing
researches and extension work, and he truly deserves the honor.
Emerita V. de Guzman. The outstanding contribution of Dr. de Guzman is the
development of the makapuno embryo inside a test tube (in vitro development). This
discovery has dramatically changed the ratio of the makapuno-bearing nuts in the tropics
which ranges only three to five makapuno nuts in every raceme or cluster of fourteen to
nineteen nuts. Dr. de Guzman successfully produced one hundred per cent all makapunobearing
nuts in a cluster.
Emil Q. Javier. Dr.Javier has been known for his practical and realistic approaches
to the problems confronting the small farmers, especially in a tropical and developing
country like the Philippines. Keenly aware of the limited resources of the small farmers, Dr.
Javier directed his researches towards developing practical methods to improve crop
production using cheap, indigenous materials.
Jovenito D. Soriano. Some of Dr. Soriano’s studies on plant cytogenetics (or the
study dealing with the cells and their processes) and researches on mutations have been
published in international journals. He shed light on the understanding of the mutation
process (mutation is the process of cell transformation or cell change).
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