What is Angel Alcala's contribution?

Answer 1

Dr. Angel C. Alcala is the principal Filipino scientist in a research program regarded as an outstanding contribution to Philippine biological sciences comprising studies on land vertebrates and marine biodiversity of the Philippines that involved ecology systematics and conservation biology based in Silliman University, Dumaguete City, spanning 1955 through 2008. The program produced empirical scientific data that were put to practical use in terms of special development and academic programs at the university level. The research collaboration resulted to substantial publication outputs of 169 scientific papers and books. Dr. Alcala authored either by himself or as first author of 86 [51%] of the articles and books on the program. He is the first Filipino to put together the most comprehensive studies on Philippine amphibians and reptiles, with minor contributions to birds and mammals. His fieldwork from 1954 to 1999 resulted to addition of 50 new species of amphibians and reptiles out of the 400 known species. International conservationists now have a reliable basis for establishing conservation programs on Philippine vertebrate biodiversity because of the works done at SU on ecology and taxonomy. Dr. Alcala is presently Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences, and Director of Silliman University-Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management. He is concurrently Director of the Commission on Higher Education Zonal Research Center at Silliman University. Dr. Alcala is recipient of numerous recognition including the Biodiversity Award from Field Museum, Chicago; Magsaysay Award for Public Service; and Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation, among others. He is also a Fellow of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, Honorary Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, and member of the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines.

Answer 2

Dr. Angel Severo Arguellas dedicated 42 years of his life to faithful service in the former

bureau of Science, now the Department of Science and Technology. He was the first president of

the said bureau.

He was born in Quiapo, Manila on August 2, 1888, to Mariano Arguellas and Fita

Anponueva. Shortly after his father's death, the family transferred to their ancestral home in

Batangas, Batangas. He completed his elementary and secondary education there, where he

earned a reputation for being a reserved and studious boy and a close observer of human nature.

As he finished his secondary education, he went to Manila and took up the government

examination, fortunately, he passed the said exam. In 1905 he was one of a group of promising

young Filipino pensionados sent to the United States by the Philippine Government. In Chicago,

he enrolled at the Lewis Technical Institute. After completing a number of preparatory courses, he

transferred to the to the University of Illinois where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in

1909.

He returned home and joined the Bureau of Science. He first served as chemist researcher

and was promoted in 1918 t chief of the Inorganic Analysis Division. Prior to his appointment as

head of the Division of Soils and Fertilizers in 1923, he was sent by the government to work in the

United States Department of Agriculture, particularly in the bureaus of chemistry and soils, and

of standards and plant industry. He also visited various experimental stations in the eastern and

southern United States. With the help of the director of the Bureau of Chemistry at Washington

D.C. , he prepared the draft of a tentative fertilizer, insecticides and fungicide law. Upon his

arrival in Manila, this draft was incorporated into a bill which was presented to Congress. He

defended the wisdom of passing such a law and so convinced the legislature of its utility.

He then pioneered in the study of "The Soils of the Islands of Luzon" which appeared in

the Philippine Journal of Science in 1914. His other studies included "The Composition and

Moisture Content of the Soils and the Type of Vegetation at the Different Elevation on Mount

Makiling," which also appeared in the Philippine Journal of Science in 1917. His "Galvanized Iron

Roofing in the Philippines" brought about the establishment of standard government

specifications for this particular imported construction material. The research he undertook along

this line was documented not only in the Journal of Science but in the journal Philippine

Engineering Architecture as well. His studies on the "Citrus Belt of Florida" and the "Iron

Smelting in the Philippines," were published in 1922; "Some Technical Phases of Coconut Oil

Industry," 1924; "The Guano Exploitation" and "Fertilizers in the Sugar Cane Industry" were

published in 1925.

From 1922 to 1924, Arguellas was a professional lecturer on chemistry and soil fertility at

the University of the Philippines and National University. He was also a member of the

Coordination Board in Agricultural Activities. From 1926-1927, he was the president of the

Philippine Society of Technological Agriculture and in 1927, the Philippine Science Society.

After serving as chief of the Division of Soils and Fertilizers, he was promoted to assistant

director of the Bureau of Science. He later became its director, the first Filipino to hold such an office.