National Scientist of the Philippines

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.

Order of National Scientists
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 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

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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

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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

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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 Image 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

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References

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  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

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