By LeiraOlecra

Dr. Juan Salcedo Jr.
Dr. Juan Salcedo Jr. is one of those few people who have devoted his medical career in helping the poor and the needy. After finishing his medicine course in the University of the Philippines (UP), a state college; he put up a network of rural health centers all over the country. To administer BCG vaccine to children to prevent them from being infected with malaria and tuberculosis was his main priority. Because of this effort, Dr. Salcedo received numerous awards and recognition. Among these was the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for Outstanding Public Health Nutritionist and the Republic Cultural Heritage Award in Science.

Dr. Benjamin Cabrera
Dr. Benjamin Cabrera is one Filipino scientist who has continually made researches on possible ways to prevent diseases. His best known study is about the tropical disease called filariasis. Filariasis is caused by small rounded worms transmitted by mosquitoes and other bloodsucking insects. Dr. Cabrera made a study of the life cycle of these rounded worms and the ways by which they were transmitted to man. His studies contributed in developing ways of preventing the disease. For his research, he was awarded by the Philippine Legion of Honor in 1966.

Dr. Juan Salcedo
Dr. Salcedo after taking Medicine, he went further and took up courses in Nutrition and Public Health in the U.S. and when he came back to the Philippines, he launched the “Enriched Rice” project to prevent beriberi. This made him famous worldwide.

Enriched Rice is fortified with Vitamin-B, which he discovered to be very good in fighting symptoms of beriberi. He encouraged farmers to plant more varieties of brown rice which when milled will be mixed with Vitamin-B before distribution to market. His discovery somehow lessen if not totally prevented beriberi is one of the killer disease.

Dr. Lourdes J. Cruz
She is a well-known Filipino biochemist who made several researches to determine the composition of drinking water. Water is one of the most important compounds needed by our body and is basically used for drinking; also for dishwashing, cleaning, watering plants, and other many purposes. Water has the ability to dissolve more substances than any other liquid because of its unique composition.

Dr. Cruz discovered a harmful marine snail called conus geographus, which secretes a poison called contoxin. Her research revealed that drinking water is safe from this poisonous chemical. She received several awards and recognition for her work. In 1981 she even became an awardee as one of the Outstanding Young Scientist.

Dr. Gregorio Zara
He is one of the Filipino scientists who have helped in the advancement of technology in the Philippines. He was chosen as the Philippine’s Most Outstanding Scientist in the field of aeronautics. He is best known as the first Filipino scientist who made research on solar energy as an alternative source of energy.

Dr. Zara has invented many devices including the most popular of them all, the television-telephone system; the wooden microscope, and an aircraft propeller made of wood. He offered his inventions and researches available for public consumption.

Dr. Germiniano de Ocampo
He is one noted eye Filipino doctor who pioneered the modern day ophthalmology by introducing corneal transplant in the country. He helped established the very first Philippine Eye Bank in 1950 and became the president of the first eye hospital in the Philippines in 1952 which used to be known as De Ocampo Eye Hospital.

Aside from being busy in his work at the hospital, he has also written many articles about eye diseases which served as guide to people with eye problems. His articles were even used by some eye doctors themselves. There are two basic eye doctors – the optometrists and the ophthalmologists. An optometrist studies eye closely and prescribe a corrective lens for the glasses. An ophthalmologist studies the structure, uses, and diseases of the eye. Dr. de Ocampo received several citations and awards for his works and achievements in the field of ophthalmology.

Roberto del Rosario
The very well known Karaoke machine was invented by this Filipino businessman-musician who is behind the Trebel Group of Companies (known for piano and organ). He originally developed the Sing-Along-System or SAS which allowed music students to sing their own piano accompaniment. His invention impressed the agents of Japanese music industry that later led to their own version of SAS.

Del Rosario when invented the One-Man-Band Piano in 1972 received a Presidential Gold Medal. He really excelled in the field of music and recreation and has also developed the first Echo Sound Processor and the Electric Keyboard Self Training Instrument or EKSTI. He received a Gold Medal given by the World Intellectual Property Organization in 1985 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Sofronio Sian
He is the inventor of the improved rice mill known as the “ECONOPACK.” It is a portable type of rice mill which can de-hull grain up to 90% without breakage. The “ECONOPACK,” is a lot better compare to the traditional and old miller used by farmers to mill rice. The machine has been evaluated by experts in rice milling from the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization. It has also been praised because of its great economic value. Mr. Sian, because of this invention, received the Presidential Medal of Merit and a Diploma of Merit in 1970, and an exclusive award also in 1977 respectively, given by the Philippine Inventors Commission.

Dr. Melecio S. Magno
Being an atmospheric physician, he always studies the effects of typhoons in the atmosphere, the sky’s luminosity, atmospheric radiation, gravity, and atmospheric electricity. He also made research on the ozone and on environment and has held several government position. He is best known as the very first minister (Secretary) of the Ministry of Science now know as Department of Science and Technology or DOST.

Agapito Flores
He invented a bulb that gave off a blue-white light. He first showed his invention to then Philippine president Manuel L. Quezon but the president did not now what to do with his invention but an official from the French government, who was then a palace visitor heard about Flores’ invention. The official sent Agapito Flores, who was a poor electrician from Tondo, to Paris where his electric bulb was given a patent.

The General Electric Company or GE in America bought Agapito Flores’ bulb which is now sold to people all over the world and better known as fluorescent lamp.

Arturo P. Alcaraz
In 1953, he made a thorough study of Philippine volcanoes. He with his colleagues tried to systematize the possible prediction of volcano eruption. He was also responsible for looking into the possibility of putting up a geothermal energy plant thus he is called Father of Philippine Geothermal Energy.

It was a dream come true when in 1967, he was able to set up a working mode in Tiwi, Albay and was able to prove that energy can be generated by geothermal energy. A steam from a one inch hole drilled 400 feet to the ground powered by a turbo generator which lighted up a light bulb, it was the start for the Philippines to use geothermal energy.

Photo Credits goes to www.flickr.com