KALAYAAN 2020 Reading: Remembering the Philippines' Foremost Biologists: Dr Deogracias V Villadolid and Dr Eduardo A Quisumbing

In honor of my two foremost professors whose works changed the way we live today
Dr Abe V Rotor

Father of Philippine Fisheries Education 

Dr Villadolid introduced tilapia (Tilapia nilotica and T mozambica) in the Philippines in 1950 when he was Director of the Bureau of Fisheries. He also initiated fisheries education in the country. For this reason, he is known as the Father of Fisheries Education in the Philippines.

“One of the country’s outstanding biologists, Dr. Deogracias V. Villadolid devoted the last years of his life to the advancement of research in fisheries in the Philippines and in the Indo-Pacific area. He contributed a great deal to the sustained study and interest in the biology of fishes, especially cultivation and conservation as well as to the promotion of the fishery industry.” - Dr. Juan Salcedo, Jr., then Chairman of the National Research Council of the Philippines.

Foremost Philippine zoologist and botanist (Dr Deogracias V Villadolid and Dr Eduardo A Quisumbing)

Filipino botanist, Eduardo Quisumbing was a noted expert in the medicinal plants of the Philippines. He was author of more than 129 scientific articles. many on orchids. Eduardo Quisumbing served as the Director of the National Museum of the Philippines, where he rebuilt the Herbarium. The plant "Saccolabium quisumbingii" is named in honor of Eduardo Quisumbing. His book, Medicinal Plants of the Philippines is still the most important reference in botany, pharmacology and related subjects. 

Like Dr Villadolid, Dr Quisumbing, was my professor and critic in graduate research. It is a rare opportunity and honor to have been under these great Filipino scientists which enriched my preparation in my career as public servant and university professor. It is above all, for their humility, compassion, and dedication to service, other than their genius that they are and will always be remembered.