National Scientist of the Philippines

Order of National Scientists
Seal of the National Academy of Science and Technology, which appears on the collar bestowed on members.
Awarded by  Philippines
TypeOrder
Awarded forHaving made significant contributions to the development of Philippine sciences
StatusCurrently constituted
SovereignPresident of the Philippines
Statistics
First induction1978
Last induction2024
Precedence
Next (higher)Order of Gabriela Silang
Next (lower)Gawad Mabini
EquivalentOrder of National Artists, Order of National Social Scientists, Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan, Order of Lakandula - Special Class of Champion for Life

Ribbon bar of the order

The Order of National Scientists of the Philippines (Tagalog: Orden ng mga Pambansang Alagad ng Agham ng Pilipinas), abbreviated as ONS, is the highest award accorded to Filipino scientists by the Philippine government. Members of the order are known as National Scientists.

The award was created on December 16, 1976, by President Ferdinand Marcos through Presidential Decree Nos. 1003 and 1003-A, which also created the National Academy of Science and Technology. For the purposes of the law, a scientist is defined as "an individual who has earned a doctoral degree in any field of the sciences" and "has demonstrated and earned distinction in independent research or significant innovative achievement in the basic and applied sciences, including agricultural, engineering, and medical sciences, in mathematics and in the social sciences as manifested by published works in recognized scientific and technical journals."[1] It was elevated to the status of order in 2003.[2]

Nomination and selection

It is the task of the National Academy of Science and Technology which is composed of Filipino scientists to recommend not more than 10 scientists annually to the President of the Philippines for conferment of the rank of National Scientist. It is the President of the Philippines who makes the ultimate selection, which is based on "distinguished individual or collaborative achievement in science and technology."[3]

Benefits

Awardees are conferred the rank and title of National Scientist, with an accompanying medallion and citation. They are also given a financial gratuity with the amount determined by the National Academy.[3] In addition, they are entitled to the same privileges enjoyed by National Artists of the Philippines, which include a monthly life pension, medical and hospitalization benefits, and a place of honor, in line with protocular precedence, at national state functions. They are likewise by law entitled upon death to a state funeral conducted by the National Academy and the Armed Forces of the Philippines,[4] befitting their recognized status as heroes of the Philippines.[5]

Roster of National Scientists

Since 1978, there have been 44 men and women have been designated as National Scientist in the roster where 11 of them are currently living. The most recent conferment was made to honor Romulo Davide. Honorees such as the Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient pediatrician Fe del Mundo, have garnered international recognition as well.

As of August 2024, the National Scientists of the Philippines are:

President Year National Scientist Division Field

Ferdinand Marcos
1978
Juan Salcedo, Jr.
Health Sciences Nutrition and Public Health

Alfredo C. Santos
Mathematical and Physical Sciences Physical Chemistry

Gregorio Y. Zara
Engineering Sciences and Technology Engineering and Inventions
1980
Fe Del Mundo
Health Pediatrics

Eduardo Quisumbing
Biological Sciences Plant Taxonomy, Systematics, and Morphology
1982
Geminiano T. de Ocampo
Health Science Ophthalmology

Casimiro del Rosario
Mathematical and Physical Science Physics, Astronomy, and Meteorology
Gregorio Velasquez Agricultural Sciences Phycology
1983 Francisco Fronda Agricultural Science Animal Husbandry

Francisco Santos
Health Sciences Human Nutrition and Agricultural Chemistry
Carmen Velasquez Agricultural Sciences Parasitology
1985
Teodoro Agoncillo[a]
Social Sciences Philippine History

Encarnacion Alzona
Social Sciences Philippine History
Hilario Lara Health Sciences Public Health

Corazon Aquino
1986
Julian Banzon
Mathematical and Physical Sciences Chemistry
Dioscoro L. Umali Agricultural Sciences Agriculture and Rural Development
1987
Jose Encarnacion, Jr.
Social Sciences Economics

Luz Oliveros-Belardo
Mathematical and Physical Sciences Phytochemistry
1988
Alfredo Lagmay
Social Sciences Experimental Psychology
1989
Paulo Campos
Health Sciences Nuclear Medicine

Fidel V. Ramos
1994
Pedro Escuro
Agricultural Sciences Genetics and Plant Breeding

Clara Lim-Sylianco
Mathematical and Physical Sciences Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry
1998
Dolores Ramirez
Agricultural Sciences Biochemical Genetics & Cytogenetics
Jose R. Velasco Agricultural Sciences Plant Physiology

Joseph Estrada
1999
Gelia T. Castillo
Social Sciences Rural Sociology
2000 Bienvenido Juliano Mathematical and Physical Sciences Biochemistry

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo
2001
Clare Baltazar
Biological Sciences Systematic Entomology

Benito Vergara
Agricultural Sciences Plant Physiology
2004
Onofre Corpuz
Social Sciences Political Economics and Government
2005 Ricardo Lantican Agricultural Sciences Plant Breeding
2006
Lourdes Cruz
Mathematical and Physical Science Biochemistry
2008 Teodulo Topacio, Jr. Agricultural Sciences Veterinary Medicine
2010
Mercedes Concepcion
Social Sciences Demography

Ernesto Domingo
Health Sciences Internal Medicine / Gastroenterology

Perla D. Santos Ocampo[6]

Health Sciences Pediatrics

Benigno Aquino III
2011
Raul V. Fabella[7]
Social Sciences Economics

Bienvenido Nebres, S.J.[8]
Mathematical and Physical Sciences Mathematics
2014[9]
Angel Alcala
Biological Sciences Biological Sciences

Ramon Barba
Agricultural Sciences Horticulture

Edgardo Gomez
Biological Sciences Marine Biology

Gavino Trono, Jr.
Biological Science Marine Biology

Rodrigo Duterte
2019
Emil Q. Javier[10]
Biological Science Plant Breeding

Bongbong Marcos
2023
Carmencita D. Padilla[11]
Health Sciences Medical Genetics, Pediatrics
2024
Romulo Davide[12]
Plant Pathology and Nematology
Notes
  1. ^ Posthumous award

See also

References

  1. ^ Section 2, Pres. Decree No. 1003-A
  2. ^ Executive Order No. 236, s. 2003 Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  3. ^ a b Section 8, Pres. Decree No. 1003-A
  4. ^ Section 3, Executive Order No. 131 (26 October 1993)
  5. ^ First Whereas Clause, Executive Order No. 131 (26 October 1993)
  6. ^ PNoy confers National Scientist Award to Dr. Santos-Ocampo. Abs-cbnnews.com (2010-06-23). Retrieved on 2012-06-30.
  7. ^ Aquino names economist ‘national scientist’ | Inquirer News. Newsinfo.inquirer.net (2011-07-27). Retrieved on 2012-06-30.
  8. ^ Helen Flores (2011-06-30). Nebres, Fabella named 'national scientists'. Philstar.com. Retrieved on 2012-06-30.
  9. ^ "Former UP president Emil Javier named national scientist". www.inquirer.net. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  10. ^ Duterte confers National Scientist title to ex-UP president. news.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved on 2019-08-08.
  11. ^ "Marcos confers national scientist title to world-renowned clinical geneticist". August 31, 2023.
  12. ^ "Doctor from Argao, Cebu is 44th National Scientist of PH". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved August 8, 2024.

Bibliography

  • National Scientists of the Philippines (1978–1998). Pasig, Philippines: Anvil Publishing, Inc. 2000. ISBN 978-9712709326.