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 | |
| Type | Order |
| Awarded for | Having made significant contributions to the development of Philippine sciences |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Sovereign | President of the Philippines |
| Statistics | |
| First induction | 1978 |
| Last induction | 2024 |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Order of Gabriela Silang |
| Next (lower) | Gawad Mabini |
| Equivalent | Order 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
editIt 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
editAwardees 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
editSince 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 | |
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|
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 | .jpg)
|
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 |
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|
Bienvenido Nebres, S.J.[8] | Mathematical and Physical Sciences | Mathematics | ||
| 2014[9] | 
|
Angel Alcala | Biological Sciences | Biological Sciences | |
|
Ramon Barba | Agricultural Sciences | Horticulture | ||
.jpg)
|
Edgardo Gomez | Biological Sciences | Marine Biology | ||
|
Gavino Trono, Jr. | Biological Science | Marine Biology | ||
| Rodrigo Duterte | 2019 | .jpg)
|
Emil Q. Javier[10] | Biological Science | Plant Breeding |
| Bongbong Marcos | 2023 | .jpg)
|
Carmencita D. Padilla[11] | Health Sciences | Medical Genetics, Pediatrics |
| 2024 | 
|
Romulo Davide[12] | Plant Pathology and Nematology |
- Notes
- ^ Posthumous award
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Section 2, Pres. Decree No. 1003-A
- ^ Executive Order No. 236, s. 2003 Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
- ^ a b Section 8, Pres. Decree No. 1003-A
- ^ Section 3, Executive Order No. 131 (26 October 1993)
- ^ First Whereas Clause, Executive Order No. 131 (26 October 1993)
- ^ PNoy confers National Scientist Award to Dr. Santos-Ocampo. Abs-cbnnews.com (2010-06-23). Retrieved on 2012-06-30.
- ^ Aquino names economist ‘national scientist’ | Inquirer News. Newsinfo.inquirer.net (2011-07-27). Retrieved on 2012-06-30.
- ^ Helen Flores (2011-06-30). Nebres, Fabella named 'national scientists'. Philstar.com. Retrieved on 2012-06-30.
- ^ "Former UP president Emil Javier named national scientist". www.inquirer.net. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
- ^ Duterte confers National Scientist title to ex-UP president. news.abs-cbn.com. Retrieved on 2019-08-08.
- ^ "Marcos confers national scientist title to world-renowned clinical geneticist". August 31, 2023.
- ^ "Doctor from Argao, Cebu is 44th National Scientist of PH". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
Bibliography
edit- National Scientists of the Philippines (1978–1998). Pasig, Philippines: Anvil Publishing, Inc. 2000. ISBN 978-9712709326.