An article delves into the personal sides of prominent Filipino scientists, emphasizing their humor, pragmatism, and contributions to national development.
Scientists are not just experts but individuals who ask questions, express skepticism, and seek to lighten the mood, according to an essay. In the Philippines, their lives remain a mystery to parts of the public.
National Scientist Dioscoro L. Umali (1917–1992), former dean of the UPLB College of Agriculture, broke a 1950s tradition at UPLB by allowing his students to serve as senior authors on publications from their theses, aiding their scientific careers. Known as the “Father of Philippine Plant Breeding,” he mentored future National Scientists including Dolores A. Ramirez and Emil Q. Javier.
National Scientist Jose R. Velasco (1916–2007) quipped that “Law’s loss was science’s gain” after choosing agricultural chemistry at UPLB over law due to limited resources. In his 1950s research on the coconut disease cadang-cadang, he doubted the viral cause consensus, attributing it to a poisonous soil property; he joked that when he joined the majority view, “he unhappily landed on the band and called the music.”
National Scientist Emil Q. Javier (1940–), a protégé of Umali, pioneered plant genetics and agronomy studies and established UPLB’s Institute of Plant Breeding, which developed high-yielding crops across Asia. The NAST highlights his skill in devising realistic solutions for tropical agriculture challenges, especially for small farmers using affordable local methods. He served as UP president from 1993 to 1999, chaired the National Science Development Board from 1981 to 1986, and led the NAST from 2005 to 2012. In a July 2020 panel, he described the National Scientist Award as “’Yun ay mga dekorasyon na lang ‘yun,” meaning it is merely a decorative honor.
Jose V. Abueva (1928–2021), UP president from 1987 to 1993, proposed designating UP as the national university in 1992, formalized by Republic Act 9500 in 2008. In a video series, he stated: “We should apply our scientific attitude and criticalness to ourselves.” On supporting new curricula for qualitative changes, he joked: “Hindi na ako ang mananagot niyan… professor emeritus na ako eh. Wala na akong magagawa diyan,” adding “I can only offer you sympathy,” while affirming belief in rounded, multifaceted education.
This essay, by professors from UPLB’s College of Development Communication, aims to offer a glimpse into these scientists to sustain the conversation.