Biological Sciencesbuilding

UPCA Student Union, now UPLB Student Union

UPCA Auditorium,now D.L. Umali Hall

Agronomy, Soil Scienceand Horticulture building

152

Women’s Dormitory

UPCA Infirmary, nowthe UPLB Health Services

UPCA Agricultural Engineering building, now a buildingof the UPLB College of Engineering and Agro-industrialTechnology (CEAT)

UPCA Physical Sciences building,now belonging to the College of Artsand Sciences

153

Establishment of the Southeast Asian RegionalCenter for Graduate Study and Research inAgriculture (SEARCA)

2006, a total of 409 MS and PhD degree students from Southeast Asiancountries have graduated from UPLB through SEARCAscholarships. Most of them occupy leadership positions in theircountries.

SEARCA also offered various short-training courses inagriculture, particularly in the areas of research management,agribusiness, and regional planning in agriculture and ruraldevelopment. Research projects on water resource management,high protein crops, biodiversity and natural resource conservationwere also undertaken.15 A project on “Social Laboratory” headedby a visiting professor from Taiwan (Dr. Chi-wen Chang) becamean eye-opener in agricultural extension and community development.15

Facade of SEARCA main building

154

I n May 1966, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Educationproposed several regional projects to USAID, one of which was theestablishment of an institute of graduate study and research inagriculture, possibly at Los Baños.17 This gave birth to the SoutheastAsian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research inAgriculture or SEARCA. Thus, SEARCA was born as a closepartner of UPCA, with support from USAID. Dean Umali waselected concurrent SEARCA Director, and Dr. Gil F. Saguiguit,Assistant Director on full-time basis.7, 15

Graduate education program for MS and PhD degrees in variousdisciplines of agriculture became the core activity of SEARCA, startingwith 13 scholars from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.11 As of

SEARCA MS/PhD scholars at UPLB from different countries

Library built by SEARCA in 1974, and later donated to UPLB

DIRECTORS OF SEARCATHROUGH THE YEARS

Dr. Fernando A. Bernardo (1984-1987)

Dr. Joseph C. Madamba(1981-1983)

Dr. Jose D. Drilon (1972-1981)

Dr. Dioscoro L. Umali(1967-1971)

Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan (2003-present)

Dr. Ruben L. Villareal(2000-2002)

Dr. Percy E. Sajise (1994-1999)

Dr. Arturo A. Gomez(1988-1993)

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U mali separated the management of the Graduate Programfrom the Office of the Director of Instruction of UPCA by creatingthe Office of Graduate Studies and designating Dr. Fernando A.Bernardo as Director of Graduate Studies in 1968.

To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of graduateeducation management in UPLB, Bernardo accomplished thefollowing:11, 14

• Streamlined the graduate school admission procedures andfiling system

• Required the creation of Advisory/Guidance Committeefor each graduate student, and relaxed the foreignlanguage requirement

• Developed the Graduate Faculty Code which the GraduateFaculty approved

• Published the “Graduate Catalogue”• Initiated the publication of “Abstract Bibliography of MS

and PhD Theses”

The number of graduate students rapidly increased from 70 in1960 to about 270 in 1963, and almost 450, with over 70 foreigngraduate students, in 1970.11

On the other hand, the number of Graduate Faculty increasedfrom 58 in 1963 to 188 in 1970. Seventy-one with MS degreeswere not yet members of the Graduate Faculty in 1970.18

Creation of the UPLB Graduate School

Dr. Fernando A. Bernardo Director

(1970-1973)

The UPLB Graduate School

Dr. Faustino T. OrilloDean

(1973-1979)

Dr. Obdulia F. SisonActing Dean(1978-1979)

Dr. Dolores A. Ramirez Dean

(1979-1989)

Dr. Noel G. MamicpicDean

(1989-1992)

Dr. Gil G. DivinagraciaDean

(1992-1995)

Dr. Ann Inez N. Gironella Dean

(1995-1998)

Dr. Rita P. LaudeDean

(1998-2003)

Dr. Ernesto V. CarpioDean

(2005-present)

GRADUATE SCHOOL DIRECTORAND DEANS THROUGH THE YEARS

156

Dr. Evamarie P. CaparedaDean

(2003-2005)

Breakthroughs in Research and National Awards

TEN OUTSTANDING YOUNGMEN (TOYM) AWARDEES ANDOTHER HONOREES DURINGUMALI’S TERM

Jose DeanonTOYM-Horticulture (1963)

Fernando A. BernardoTOYM-Genetics (1966)

Feliciano B. CaloraTOYM-Entomology (1967)

Gelia T. CastilloTOYW-Rural Sociology

(1968)

Pedro B. EscuroPro Patria Award

Rice Breeding (1969)

Ricardo M. LanticanTOYM-Plant Breeding (1968)

Edwin G. WagelieTOYM-Animal Breeding

(1969)

Immersion of bananas in mycostatin solution prevents rotting anddelays ripening for 25 days. Photo shows plant pathologists examiningbananas treated with mycostatin.

High-yielding variety of potatoPhoto below shows large and plumptubers of a Gineke variety (right)harvested in Los Baños as comparedwith two other varieties.

157

P rofessor Jose Deanon, in 1963, gained the distinct honor ofbeing the first UPCA alumnus to win the Ten Outstanding YoungMen (TOYM) of the Philippines award given by the PhilippineJunior Chamber of Commerce (JAYCEE). Deanon was honoredwith the TOYM award because of his outstanding work in agriculturalextension, particularly the promotion of bush sitao, an early maturing,high-yielding dwarf variety of string beans that did not need trellisesto grow. Dr. Ricardo M. Lantican also won the coveted TOYMaward in 1968 for producing outstanding varieties of peanut,mungbean and soybeans. Dr. Edwin G. Wagelie who pioneered inmassive buffalo semen freezing and artificial insemination also receivedthe TOYM award in 1969.7 These were just three examples of thefaculty’s outstanding achievements in research and extension thatmerited the TOYM award.

Dr. Pedro B. Escuro received the Pro Patria Award fromPresident Ferdinand Marcos for developing C-4, a high-yielding,good quality rice variety that played a key role in the Green Revolution.

Many outstanding research outputs of UPCA in the 1960swere disseminated to farmers and end-users.

UPCA at the Helm of the National Rice andCorn Program: The Country Exported Ricefor the First Time in History

Laguna Governor F. San Luis and College officials touring fields planted to Bush sitao in Linga,Pila, Laguna. From left to right: Romeo Dizon, Dr. H. von Oppenfeld, Dean D. L. Umali, farm ownerManuel San Mateo, Gov. San Luis and A.F. Ventura.

Umali assigned Dr.Virgilio R. Carangal as DANR’sDirector of the IntensifiedCorn Production Program.10

Carangal promoted the use ofsynthetic varieties (UPCA Var2, 3 and 4 which yielded 12-13% more than the hybridcheck) and downy-mildew-resistant varieties (DMR 1, 2,and 5).17 As a consequence,corn production in thePhilippines doubled.

But Umali’s outstanding services to the Philippines had to cometo an end in 1970, as the Director General of FAO of UnitedNations courted him to accept the position of FAO AssistantDirector General for Asia and the Pacific.

Dr. Virgilio R. CarangalDirector, Intensified Corn

Producrion Program

Two tomato lines (VC48-1 and VC11-1)proved to be resistant to bacterial wilt,early maturing, resistant to heat, andyield 10 to 15 tons/hectare.

158

Umali’s appointment as Undersecretary of the Department ofAgriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) in May 1966, aposition he held concurrently as Dean, reinforced the ties betweenUPCA on one hand and DANR and the President’s Office on theother.16, 17 As DANR Undersecretary, Umali became more effectivein redirecting and coordinating agricultural development programsin the country. He organized the Rice and Corn ProductionCoordinating Council (RCPCC), a multi-agency organization withrepresentatives from banks and the private sector, including seedproducers.

The cooperative rice production program under Umali usedmodern rice varieties (IR8, C4-63 and BPI-76) and promotedjudicious use of fertilizers. Applied rice research and extensionmini-kits were launched by the College in cooperation with DANRand IRRI. All this dramatically increased rice production, and forthe first time in history, the Philippines became self-sufficient in rice in1968, and exported rice in 1969.

159

19. Baker Memorial Hall20. Department of Agricultural Engineering21. Physical Plant Services22. Department of Agronomy (old building)23. Agronomy & Soil Science Departments24. Department of Food Science and Technology25. Department of Animal Husbandry26. Division of Dairy Husbandry27. Dairy Training & Research Institute (DTRI)28. Division of Poultry Science29. Continuing Education Center30. Men’s Dormitories31. Women’s Dormitories32. SEARCA Dormitory33. ROTC34. UPLB Infirmary35. College Country Club36. IRRI Staff Housing

37. UPCO Staff Housing38. UPCA Staff Housing39. SEARCA Staff Housing40. IRRI41. Forestry Administration42. Wood Science43. Wood Technology44. Forestry Information45. Forestry Dormitories46. Forestry Staff Housing47. Forest Products & Research Institute48. Makiling Botanic Garden

Legend1. UPCA Administration2. Department of Agricultural Information & Communication (DAIC)3. Agricultural Credit & Cooperatives Institute4. Department of Agricultural Economics5. Department of Agricultural Education6. UPCA Biological Sciences7. UPCA Library8. Old Administration9. PACD Community Training Center10. International House11. UPCA Physical Sciences12. Department of Agricultural Chemistry (old building)13. Department of Agricultural Engineering (old building)14. Rural High School15. Makiling School16. Department of Home Technology17. UPCA Auditorium18. UPCA Student Union

Students held rallies and demonstrations against the establishment

1111111111Years of

Instability

Chapter

1970-1972

Bulatlat.com

n January 1970, Dr. Umali resigned as Dean andrecommended the appointment of Dr. Faustino T. Orillo,Director of Research, as Dean of the College.10 Dr.Orillo obtained the BSA degree (magna cum laude) fromUPCA in 1944, and the MS and PhD (Mycology)degrees from Harvard University.

I n the July 29, 1971 meeting of the UP Board of Regents, DeanLantican’s designation as OIC of the Office of Vice-President forUPLB was not confirmed. “The Board designated Regent Abel L.Silva (BSA ’36) as Chairman and the deans of the colleges ofagriculture and forestry as members of a Committee of the Board tolook into the operations of the Los Baños units and to study thephasing out of the Office of the Vice-President for UP Los Baños.”1

In the next BOR meeting (August 1971), Regent Silvapresented the initial report of his committee and strongly recommended

Proposed Phasing Out of Vice-President for UPLB

O n September 21, 1971, the Committee on Planning andDevelopment headed by Dr. Fernando A. Bernardo submitted toDr. Lantican “UP at Los Baños: Development Goals and Plansfor the Seventies.”18 Among the Committee’s recommendationswere the establishment of:

• A Center for Development Studies• A Center for Environmental Research• A College of Basic Sciences and Humanities with a few

baccalaureate degree programs, but numerous graduateprograms in biological and physical sciences to harnessexisting strengths (the presence of many PhD degree holders)

Proposed UPLB Development Plans for the 1970s

I

162

the retention of the Office of Vice-President for Los Baños with along justification. He also asked for more time for his committee tosubmit a plan for granting greater autonomy to UPLB.

After listening to Regent Silva’s report, the Board approvedthe interim appointment of Lantican as OIC of the Office of theVice President, but deferred a decision on the retention of the Officeof Vice-President for UPLB.2

The Committee also proposed the creation of positions for aUPLB Director for Academic Programs, and in lieu of the Vice-President for UP at Los Baños, an Executive Vice-President for LosBaños with sufficient authority over administrative and fiscal mattersin a decentralized university management system.18

A year passed and things remained in limbo at UPLB becauseof the instability of the leadership structure and the uncertainty of thefuture under the current UP dispensation.

In June 1971, Dr. Umali took a leave of absenceto prepare for the position of Assistant DirectorGeneral of FAO for Asia and the Far East, and FAORegional Representative. He then designated Dr.Domingo M. Lantican, UPCF Dean, as OIC of theOffice of Vice-President for UPLB.12

T he years 1970 to 1972 were unstable if not turbulent yearsin the Philippines. Opposition against the current regime was gainingstrength. The New People’s Army (NPA) was very active, laborunion strikes and student demonstrations in Manila and Dilimanwere frequent. UPLB students staged a 13-day strike.11 Theybarricaded the UPLB gate, and later on, also barricaded thenational highway at Crossing, which created a very long traffic jam.They were demonstrating against many government policies and thespiraling price of gasoline.

Late in 1971, President Ferdinand E. Marcos suspended thewrit of habeas corpus. Then on September 21, 1972, he declaredMartial Law. He abolished Congress and began issuing Letters ofInstruction and Presidential Decrees which were respected by thecourts and law-enforcing bodies.

The “Young Turks” in UPLB led by Dr. Bernardo saw theopportunity for UPLB to secede from UP Diliman because of manyunfair and unjust treatments. Some of the issues were the following: 18

UPLB’s Movement for Independence

Onofre D. CorpuzChairman, Presidential Commission to Survey Philippine Education

Arturo TancoDANR Secretary

Jose D. DrilonSEARCA Director

THEY SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF CREATING AN AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITYPATTERNED AFTER THOSE IN THE NETHERLANDS, JAPAN AND INDIA

163

A. Academic Problems1. Disapproval of several curricular proposals from Los

Baños that were within the operational areas of theCollege of Arts and Sciences in Diliman.

2. The UPLB Graduate Faculty Code that UPCA andUPCF faculties approved was denied approval inUP Diliman because “it is better to have only oneGraduate Faculty Code for the whole UP.” But intruth, UP Diliman had no Graduate Faculty Codeand never had one.

B. Administrative Problems1. Salary ranges for division chiefs, secretaries, clerks,

security guards, and janitors outside UP Diliman wereat least one range lower than those in Diliman.

2. Appointment papers involving salaries above P4,200/year and applications for study leave, specialdetails, and travel abroad were still processed inDiliman.

3. Purchases, repairs, and constructions worth morethan P10,000 were subject to approval in Diliman.

C. Fiscal Problems1. UP Diliman taxed UPLB heavily. In 1969-70 alone,

UP Diliman withheld a substantial part (P957,000)of UPLB’s budget although fully released by theBudget Commission through UP Diliman.

2. UP imposed 15% overhead charge to 12 revolvingfunds in Los Baños, although such funds do not entailoverhead costs to central administration in Diliman.In 1969-71 alone, P179,086 from gross receipts ofrevolving funds of UPCA and DTRI went to UPcentral administration.

Lopez Maneuvers to Keep UPLB Under UP

164

S. P. Lopez, President of UP, strongly objected to the secessionof UPLB from UP. Long letters of arguments were sent to PresidentMarcos. Regent Silva had counter arguments sent to EducationSecretary and UP Board of Regents Chairman Juan Manuel. In hisletter, Silva mentioned that Dr. O. D. Corpuz, Chairman of thePresidential Commission to Survey Philippine Education (PCSPE),supported the idea of creating an agricultural university which,according to Corpuz, “could help achieve the goals of the NewSociety in agrarian reform and in agricultural and rural development.”

Silva batted for UPLB as “a separate university – whatever isthe name – with a separate Board of Regents so that it can be giventhe freedom to grow and chart its course in accordance with thepressing needs of a developing country.”14

Because of all the above unfair treatments from UP Diliman,the UPLB activists drafted a Presidential Decree for seceding fromUP and converting UPLB units to an agricultural university with itsown Board of Regents and President, similar to agricultural universitiesin Holland, Japan and India that included agriculture, veterinarymedicine, forestry, fisheries, engineering, food science and technology,and home economics.

J. D. Drilon, Director of SEARCA, and Arturo Tanco,Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources(DANR), supported the idea of creating an agricultural university.The draft PD was sent to President Marcos on October 14, 1972.

But S. P. Lopez was a smart diplomat. He did the following:• Announced to all and sundry his plan of granting UP Los

Baños autonomy, with its own Chancellor, following theCalifornia university system model 16

• Discussed the matter with Secretary Tangco, and offeredto make the Secretary of Agriculture a member of the UPBoard of Regents 3

• Held a series of meetings with UPLB administrators – mi-nus the young activists – to convince them to accept theadoption of the California university system model which,in effect, would transform UP into a University of thePhilippines System with autonomous campuses 13, 14

O n November 20, 1972, President Marcos signedPresidential Decree No. 58 “Constituting the University of thePhilippines at Los Baños, granting it full and complete autonomy,and amending the Charter of the University of the Philippines.”

P. D. No. 58 required the Board of Regents to “take appropriatesteps to ensure that the establishment of the autonomous Universityof the Philippines at Los Baños shall aim at the speedy realization ofthe goals above indicated.” P. D. No. 58 also reconstituted theBOR to include as members the Undersecretary of Agriculture andthe Chancellor of the autonomous university. 3

Bernardo, as Secretary of Silva’s Committee, conducted anopinion survey of Los Baños faculty members on different alternativesrelative to the future of UPLB. It turned out that there was very littlesupport for complete independence with a separate Board ofRegents. But 244 or 64.21% of the faculty voted for independenceunder regental jurisdiction like the New York university system, withUPLB keeping its name but with its own President under a commonUP Board of Regents. Some 112 or 29.47% of the faculty voted forautonomy with a Chancellor as head under the UP President and theUP Board of Regents.14

P.D. No. 58 Grants UPLB Full andComplete Autonomy

Abel L. Silva, member of theUP Board of Regents, foughtfor UPLB’s independence undera common Board of Regents

UP President Salvador P. Lopezprovided a compromise (UPLB asan autonomous campus) to thwartUPLB’s movement for completeindependence from UP Diliman.

165

On November 16, 1972, the Abel Silva Committee submittedits final report to the UP Board of Regents. The bottom line was arecommendation for establishing UPLB with a separate Presidentunder a common Board of Regents (New York university system)“not only because it is the choice of the faculty, but also because ofits simplicity and inherent provisions for maximum autonomy.”14

In the December 21, 1972 meeting of the Board, the BORResolution on the University of the Philippines System was takenup. The Resolution spelled out the power and authorities of theChancellor over administrative and fiscal matters. 3

The Board, in another meeting, approved the creation of aCollege of Basic Sciences and Humanities, and the Graduate Schoolin UPLB effective the second semester of 1972-1973. 17

Birth of the Philippine Council forAgricultural Research (PCAR)

M artial Law was conducive to change for the better, andUPLB professors took advantage of the opportunity. Dr. Joseph C.Madamba and others, backed up by Secretary Tangco and NSDBChairman Medina, drafted a Presidential Decree for the considerationof the President. On November 10, 1972, President Marcos signedP. D. No. 48 Establishing the Philippine Council for AgriculturalResearch.4

Dr. Madamba was appointed PCAR Director General.Assisting him were Dr. F. A. Bernardo as Deputy Director Generalfor Programs and Operations and Mr. Francisco B. Tetangco asDeputy Director General for Station Development.5

UPLB extended full support to PCAR, which was housed firstat the Student Union and later at the International House. With initial

The Philippine Council for Agricultural Research headquarters at the BPI Economic Garden in Los Baños

166

support from NSDB, DANR, and a Ford Foundation grant of$108,300, PCAR began undertaking a series of hectic activities:

• A series of seminar-workshops on research management• Regional consultations on organizing networks of research

centers6

• Human resource development for national and regionalresearch centers

• Scientific literature service linked with the AgriculturalInformation Bank of Asia (AIBA) in SEARCA

• Review of about 1,100 on-going research projectsreported by various agencies. As a result of this evaluationprocess through the PCAR mechanism, PCAR saved thePhilippine Government P18.7 million in 1973.7 TheBudget Commission was so impressed that it allocatedP5,000,000 for the construction of PCAR’s headquartersat the Los Baños Economic Garden.

Victor Oro

PCAR later evolved to become the Philippine Council forAgriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resources Research andDevelopment (PCARRD).

PCARRD, through the years, had numerous outstandingachievements, which may be summarized as follows:

• Establishment of the National R&D Networks, and lateron, the Regional Consortia

• Development of R&D facilities particularly in key regionalconsortia institutions with USAID grant funds forbuildings and equipment. Beneficiaries included UPLB,CLSU, MMSU, BSU, ViSCA, CMU and USM.

• Strengthening of the Philippine Carabao Program withUNDP support, which led to the creation of the PhilippineCarabao Center

• Establishment of the Forest Research Institute (FORI) andthe Forestry Biotechnology Laboratory

• Numerous PCARRD-funded researches that led toresearch breakthroughs and widespread impact

Dr. Joseph C. Madamba, the firstDirector General of PCAR. Heconceptualized and competentlyorganized the national agriculturalresearch system, for which hereceived the TOYM award in 1973. To strengthen the National Research Network (NRN), the Association of

Colleges in Agriculture in the Philippines (ACAP) and PCAR agreed to mergethe eleven ACAP member-institutions with the NRN. Signing the Memorandumof Agreement in October 1973 were (from left to right) Dr. Fernando A. Bernardo,ACAP President and UPLB-CA Dean; Florencio Medina, NSDB Chairman; andDr. Joseph C. Madamba, PCAR Director General.

167

• Human resource development through PCARRDscholarship grants for different members of regional R&Dconsortia. A recent assessment showed that this programhad graduated 776 MS and 214 PhD degree holders.Most of them graduated from UPLB.

UPLB’s important leadership role in the national R&D systemmay be gleaned from the following facts: 15

• Four out of five Chief Executive Officers of PCARRDwere graduates of UPLB

• Of the 25 Pantas Awards for Research/Scientists, 17 or68% were won by UPLB scientists

• Of 15 Los Baños Science Community (LBSC) S&TAwards, 7 or 47% were earned by UPLB staff

• Of 13 M.S. Swaminathan Outstanding R&D Awards, 7or 55% were received by UPLB staff

• Of 11 PARRFI R&D Awards, 6 or 55% were won byUPLB researchers.

PCAR/PCARRD DIRECTORS GENERAL/EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS THROUGH THE YEARS

Dr. Joseph C. Madamba(1972-1977)

Dr. Jose D. Drilon(1978-1981)

Dr. Ramon V. Valmayor(1981-1990)

Dr. William C. Dar(1994-1998)

Dr. Patricio S. Faylon(1999-present)

Dr. Cledualdo B. Perez(1991-1994)

1978 PCAR top officials withDirector General J. Drilonat the center

168

The 2000 PCARRD Tanglaw Award won by the Bureau ofSoils and Water Management (BSWM) for its outstandingcontributions in soil and water resource management.Shown above is Dr. Rogelio N. Concepcion, BSWMDirector, receiving the award.

The 1996 PCARRD Sinag Award won by the Ilocos Agriculture andResources Research and Development Consortium (ILARRDEC) forits outstanding technology promotion activities in mango, bamboo,and cashew. Photo shows Dr. William Medrano, the ILARRDECCoordinator (3rd from left), receiving the symbolic check for P1 million.

The 1988 PCARRD Pantas Award won by Dr. ValentinoG. Argañosa for his outstanding contributions towardthe development of the swine industry.

169

Institute of Plant Breeding

1212121212Giant Strides as an Autonomous

University Under Samonte

Chapter

1973-1978

F.A.Bernardo

r. Abelardo Samonte, the UP Vice-President for AcademicAffairs, was appointed the first Chancellor of UP at Los Baños. Dr.Samonte earned the AB (cum laude, 1952) and LlB degrees (1953)from UP; the Master of Public Administration (1955) from WayneState University, the Master of Arts (1958) and the PhD (1959)degrees from Princeton University. Not knowing anything aboutagriculture and forestry, he reluctantly accepted the position ofChancellor. Nonetheless, he tried his best to learn and lead UPLB inits national development thrusts.

As the first autonomous campus of the University of thePhilippines, UPLB had adequate academic freedom but wassomewhat wanting in its administrative and fiscal autonomy: 13

• The Chancellor did not have the authority to approveappointments higher than the rank of instructor; and

• The Chancellor could enter into contracts for theacquisition of properties and services only if the amount didnot exceed P50,000.

Birth of the College of Basic Sciences and Humanities

T he UP Board of Regents, in its 828th meeting onDecember 21, 1972 gave birth to this College. 13 Conceived in 1970and born in 1972, this new College was by no means an infantbecause all its seven departments – Humanities, Chemistry,Mathematics, Statistics and Physics, Botany, Zoology, and LifeSciences (genetics, microbiology, systematics, ecology, andenvironmental management) – came from existing and strong unitsor departments of the College of Agriculture. Of the original 154faculty members from UPCA that transferred to the new College,two were professors, six associate professors, 32 assistant professors,111 instructors, and three assistant instructors. More than 25% hadthe MS/PhD degrees, and many were pursuing graduate degrees inUPLB and UP Diliman.17

On March 1, 1973, the Board appointed Dr. Edelwina Cu-Legaspi – a humanist – as the first Dean of the new College.

Most important is the fact that the UPLB Chancellor and the Undersecretary of Agriculture were members ofthe UP Board of Regents to represent the interests of national agricultural and rural development. 13

College of Basic Sciences and Humanities (1970s)

Dr. Abelardo Samonte

D

172

The new College inherited from UPCA the old centrallylocated Library building as its headquarters, the huge three-storeybuilding of the Physical Sciences, and a large part of the third wing ofthe Biological Sciences building.

The new College that evolved in time to become the Collegeof Arts and Sciences initially put up many interesting programs underDean Legaspi’s leadership: 17

• Bachelor of Arts in Communication• Learning Resource Center (LRC) that capitalized on

resources of the Agricultural and Rural DevelopmentScholarship Program (ARDS).16 LRC offered campus-widetutorial classes and UPLB summer bridge program forincoming freshmen with weak preparations in English,Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Later, the College offered many undergraduate and graduate(MS/MA and PhD) degree programs, and ultimately attracted largeenrolments in UPLB, most especially in the BS Biology course, BSComputer Science, and BA Communication Arts.

Physical Sciences building of the College of Basic Sciences and Humanities

Dr. Edelwina C. Legaspi (1972-1982) (1985-1991)

COLLEGE OF BASICSCIENCES AND HUMANITIES/ARTS AND

SCIENCES DEANS THROUGH THE YEARS

Dr. Percy E. Sajise (1982-1984)

Dr. Carlito Barril(1991-1994)

Dr. Pacifico C. Payawal (1994-2000)

Dr. Asuncion K. Raymundo (2006-present)

Dr. Corazon B. Lamug (2000-2006)

• The Integrated Academic Programs in the Sciences(INTAPS), an honors program that enabled scholars toget a baccalauriat degree a year earlier than the prescribedperiod of four years

• Offering of two special courses for all students: ScienceOrientation I and Science Orientation II

F.A.Bernardo

173

Reorganization and Strengthening ofGrowth Points in UPLB

T he huge College of Agriculture had several big departments,three of which were identified by Chancellor Samonte as potentialgrowth points:

1. Human Ecology

The Department of Home Technology was established inthe College of Agriculture in 1955 to train women as partnersof men in agricultural and rural development. This departmentwas reorganized and elevated into the Institute ofHuman Ecology that projected the role of both men andwomen in addressing the problems of human environment– not only in the home but outside the home as well.14 Asan ecologically-oriented unit, the Institute focused on menand women and their interrelationships with the environment.Dr. Gil F. Saguiguit, Assistant Director of SEARCA, wasappointed concurrent Dean of the Institute to give it a boost.Five operational areas were identified: 1

• Human development and population studies• Human nutrition and foods• Resource technology and management• Environmental analysis and management• Development education and community services

In time, the Institute evolved to become the College ofHuman Ecology offering: 2

• BS Nutrition that attracted many undergraduate students• BS Human Ecology with majors in Family Development,

Human Settlements and Planning, and Social Technology• MS Family Resource Management• MS Applied Nutrition

Institute/College of Human Ecology (formerly the Department of Entomology building of the College of Agriculture)

Dr. Sue Liza C.Saguiguit

(2005-present)

INSTITUTE/COLLEGE OF HUMAN ECOLOGYDEANS THROUGH THE YEARS

Dr. Gil F.Saguiguit(1974-1980)

Dr. Percy E.Sajise

(1980-1982)

Dr. Josefa S.Eusebio

(1982-1987)

Dr. Florentino L.Librero

(1993-1999)

Dr. Ma. Antonia G.Tuazon

(1999-2005)

Dr. Francisco P.Fellizar, Jr.(1987-1993)

174

2. Engineering and technology

Like the Department of Home Technology, UPCA’sDepartment of Agricultural Engineering was elevated tobecome the Institute of Agricultural Engineering andTechnology (INSAET) so that it may address pressingproblems beyond agricultural engineering, such as chemicalengineering (which included sugar technology), postharvesthandling and storage, and land and water resources ingeneral.6 Dr. Dante B. de Padua (PhD – Michigan StateUniversity), Chairman of the Department of AgriculturalEngineering, was appointed the first Dean of INSAET in1976.

In 1977, the Agricultural Machinery Testing and EvaluationCenter (AMTEC) was created in response to the needfor an official testing agency for agricultural machinery toguide farmers, extensionists, researchers, policy makers,machinery manufacturers and financial institutions indetermining the suitability of agricultural machinery underPhilippine conditions. AMTEC became a major unitunder INSAET.

INSAET later on evolved to become the College ofEngineering and Agro-industrial Technology (CEAT).It attracted hundreds of undergraduate students particularlyin chemical and civil engineering. Many graduated as honorstudents and became topnotchers in board examinations.In view of its graduates’ high performance in licensureexaminations (usually 95-100% passing rates), CEAT wasdeclared by the Commission on Higher Education(CHED) as a national center of excellence in agriculturaland chemical engineering.

Some of CEAT’s significant outputs in R&D are asfollows: 6, 7, 16

• Low-cost copra drier, which can also be used fordrying peanut, corn, coffee, cassava and fish

• Agricultural machine standards in support of agriculturalmechanization in the Philippines

• Design of waste water treatment and controlled landfillbiogas systems

• Design of a full-scale anaerobic digester• Biogas and methane-generation policy recommendations

INSAET/CEAT DEANS THROUGH THE YEARS

Dr. Dante B. dePadua

(Jun-Oct 1976)INSAET Dean

Dr. Reynaldo M.Lantin

(1976-1983) INSAET Dean

(1983-1984) CEAT Dean

Dr. Ernesto P.Lozada

(1984-1986)(1992-1998)

Dr. Silvestre C.Andales

(1986-1987)

Dr. Wilfredo F.David

(1987-1992)

Dr. Virgilio G.Gayanilo

(1998-2001)

Dr. Reynaldo I.Acda

(2002-2005)

Dr. Victor B.Ella

(2005-present)

Institute of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology

175

Drilling Rig Model II – uses light andcheaper materials without sacrificing

durability, is portable and user-friendly.

Shallow tubewell irrigation technology –has an internal rate of return (IRR) of 68%from an initial investment of P43,000

UPLB hand tractor –durable, easy to repair, and

low in maintenance costs

SOME TECHNOLOGIESDEVELOPED ANDPROMOTED BYUPLB ENGINEERS

176

3. Agricultural Development andAdministration

AgriculturalEconomicswing of the

CDEM building

CollegeSecretary’s

office

College of Development Economics and Management (now College of Economics and Management)

CDEM/CEM DEANS THROUGH THE YEARS

Dr. Pedro R. Sandoval(1975-1986)

Dr. Tirso B. Paris(1986-1991)(1994-1997)

Dr. Rogelio V. Cuyno(1991-1993)

Dr. Mario V. Perilla(1997-2000)

Dr. Salvador P. Catelo(2000-2006)

Dr. Liborio S. Cabanilla(2006-present)

F.A.Bernardo

Dr. Samonte also saw the importance of UPCA’s Departmentof Agricultural Economics, the Agricultural Credit andCooperatives Institute (ACCI), and the Agrarian ReformInstitute (ARI) as growth points in the area of economicsand management. He worked for their integration andconsolidation as an Institute of Agricultural Developmentand Administration (IADA) to serve as a center ofexcellence in instruction, research, and extension inagricultural and rural economic development planning andmanagement. 8, 15 Dr. Pedro Sandoval (PhD in AgriculturalEconomics) was appointed the first Director of IADA.

In 1978, the Institute became the degree-granting Collegeof Development Economics and Management (CDEM),which was later changed to the College of Economicsand Management (CEM).8

The College attracted hundreds of students to itsundergraduate programs, which included BS Agribusinessand BS Economics. Hundreds also enrolled in its graduateprograms, which include Master of Management, and MSand PhD in Agricultural Economics.8

177

Two other new units organized by the Chancellor Samonteare as follows:

Dr. Pedro R. Sandoval

Museum of Natural History located at the College of Forestry campus

MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY DIRECTORS THROUGH THE YEARS

Prof. Juan V.Pancho

(1976-1980)

Dr. Ireneo J.Dogma, Jr.(1980-1982)

Dr. Victor de la PazGapud

(1982-1985)

Dr. Venus J.Calilung

(1985-1992)

Dr. William S.Gruezo

(1992-1995)

Dr. Augusto C.Sumalde

(1995-2001)

Dr. Lourdes B.Cardenas

(2001-2006)

Dr. Stephen G.Reyes

(Feb.16-March 1, 2006)

Dr. Ireneo L.Lit

(2006-present)

1. Center for Policy and Development StudiesEstablished in June 1974, this Center aimed to develop

programs and projects which would cut across the differentunits in UPLB, and other colleges and universities,concerned with economic development. Dr. Pedro R.Sandoval served as Executive Director of the Center.

2. Museum of Natural HistoryThis was approved by the Board of Regents on October6, 1976 with Professor Juan Pancho as its first Director.The Museum put together many biological collections inthe College of Agriculture and the College of Forestry. Asof 1996, it has a collection of about 200,000 species ofplants and animals, micro-organisms, and other biota thatshowcased the rich biodiversity of the country.16a

178

Birth of Postharvest Horticulture Training andResearch Center (PHTRC)

P ostharvest losses of fruits and vegetables due toover-ripening, decay, mechanical injury, storage pests, shippingdamages, sprouting, etc. were shown to be as much as 30-40%. Inview of the importance of postharvest processing, shipping, andmarketing of highly perishable horticultural products, the Associationof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ministerial meeting in June1976 decided to establish at Los Baños the Postharvest HorticultureTraining and Research Center (PHTRC) to serve the needs of SoutheastAsian countries.4 Since then, the PHTRC, with strong support fromthe Department of Horticulture and initial funding from the ASEAN-Australian Economic Cooperation Program, has been conductingformal and non-formal short-training courses for Southeast Asiantrainees. Many bulletins on proper handling of fruits and vegetables,and even ornamentals (e.g., roses) have been published by PHTRC.Useful research projects on reducing losses during harvesting,processing, storage, shipping and marketing have been undertaken.

Three of the outstanding research outputs of PHTRC are:

1. Modified Vapor Heat Treatment (VHT) andExtended Hot Water Dip (EHWD) Protocol asquarantine treatment of mangoes for export. Thesetreatments are required for exported mangoes to beacceptable in Japan and China.

2. Modified Atmosphere Packaging for perishable fruits,vegetables and cutflowers. This involves the use ofpolyethylene bags of suitable thickness for packaging toreduce the oxygen level while carbon dioxide accumulates.This method is cheaper than refrigeration.

3. Minimal range of low temperature requirements oftropical fruits and vegetables. To prevent chillinginjury of tropical fruits and vegetables, the temperaturerange should be 12-15oC. It would also be helpful if therelative humidity is maintained at a range of 85-95%.

Postharvest Horticulture Training andResearch Center (PHTRC) near the

Food Science and Technology building

PHTRC DIRECTORS THROUGH THE YEARS

Dr. Ernesto B.Pantastico(1977-1985)

Dr. Ofelia K.Bautista

(1986-1990)(1993-1995)

Dr. Doroteo B.Mendoza

(1986)

Dr. Ma. Concepcion C.Lizada

(1990-1993)

Dr. Elda B.Esquerra

(1996)

Dr. Perlita A.Nuevo

(1997-2002)

Dr. Edralina P.Serrano

(2002-2006)

179

O n June 5, 1975, Presidential Decree 729 established theInstitute of Plant Breeding (IPB) which created a strong bondfor all the plant breeders in the College of Agriculture and also drewinto its fold seconded staff from closely related or supportivedisciplines such as genetics, entomology, plant pathology, and plantphysiology.3

Dr. Emil Q. Javier, then Associate Professor of the Departmentof Agronomy and Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture, wasappointed first Director of IPB.

Birth of the Institute of Plant Breeding (IPB)

The Institute under Javier’s leadership adopted the inter-disciplinary approach in the genetic improvement of differentcrop commodities. Each commodity group was composedof a plant breeder, a plant pathologist, an entomologist, anagronomist, with assistance provided by a geneticist and aplant physiologist. As a team, they collaborated to achievebalanced goals of high yields, resistance to pests, resistance todrought, high temperature and flooding, and high quality ofproduct. The commodity groups consisted of Cereals,Legumes, Vegetables, Fiber Crops, Root Crops, andForage Crops.3

IPB had many significant outputs in R&D, aside fromoutstanding varieties of corn.3, 16

IPB Laboratory buildingsfor interdisciplinary research

IPB Laboratory andscreen house for research

180

INSTITUTE OF PLANT BREEDING DIRECTORS THROUGH THE YEARS

Dr. Emil Q. Javier(1975-1979)

Dr. Jose E. Hernandez(2006-present)

Dr. Randy A. Hautea(1994-1997)

Dr. Violeta N. Villegas(1997-2001)

Dr. Desiree M. Hautea(2001-2006)

Dr. Rene Rafael C. Espino(1991-1994)

Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco(1985-1991)

Dr. Ricardo M. Lantican(1979-1984)

Dr. Ruben L. Villareal(1984-1985)

181

T he National Crop Protection Center (NCPC) wascreated on May 19, 1976 by Presidential Decree 936. Thedecree also created a network of seven Regional Crop ProtectionCenters under the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) located in Dingras,Ilocos Norte; Muñoz, Nueva Ecija; Pili, Camarines Sur; Abuyog,Leyte; Jaro, Iloilo; Malaybalay, Bukidnon; and Tacurong, SultanKudarat.11

Dr. Fernando F. Sanchez was appointed the first Director ofNCPC. As the concurrent Director of the Rodent ResearchCenter (RRC), Dr. Sanchez had no problem integrating RCCactivities in NCPC programs.4

NCPC initiated several in-service and non-degree trainingprograms for crop protection technicians and farmers and helpedin strengthening the Regional Crop Protection Centers.

Among the important pest management systems that NCPCpromoted were: 9, 10, 11

Birth of the National Crop Protection Center (NCPC)

• Trichogramma parasitoids against corn borer, tomatofruitworm, and sugarcane borer. Techniques for massproduction and field release have been perfected.

• Rat control management strategies for rice fields, whichincluded sanitation, proper weeding, synchronized planting,in combination with a wide-area use of rodenticides.

• Integrated pest control package for cotton with the use ofresistant varieties, proper time of planting, reduced amountof pesticides, supplemented with biological control like theuse of Trichogramma sp.

• Control of sweet potato weevil with the employment ofresistant varieties, timing of planting, hilling up, and croprotation.

• Control of potato cyst nematode through biologicalcontrol using Paecilomyces lilacinus, a fungus.

NCPC’s pesticide residue analysis showed that productsharvested seven days after spraying biodegradable pesticides weresafe from toxic pesticide residues.

National Crop Protection Center

182

NATIONAL CROP PROTECTION CENTERDIRECTORS THROUGH THE YEARS

Dr. Fernando F. Sanchez(1976-1982)

Dr. Romulo G. Davide(1982-1989)

Dr. Jose R. Medina(1989-1995)

Dr. Luis Rey I. Velasco(1995-1999)

Dr. Eliseo P. Cadapan(1999-2003)

Dr. Susan May F. Calumpang(2003-present)

Control of Asian Corn Borerwith the use of Predatory Earwigs

Asian Corn Borer – the mostdestructive insect pest of corn.

Predatory Earwig – release of one earwig/m2

could control Asian corn borer andincrease corn yield by more than 50%.

183

E ven as UPCA gave birth to several institutes and colleges inUPLB, growth within the College of Agriculture continued.Horticulture, which covered fruits, vegetables and ornamentals, aswell as plantation crops (e. g., coconut, abaca, cotton, rubber, etc.),was bursting in its seams as a division in the Department of Agronomy.In 1974, the Board of Regents approved the separation of Horticulturefrom Agronomy as a new department.5, 12 With more than 30 facultymembers and about 50 research assistants, the fledgling Departmentwas led by Dr. Edgardo Quisumbing as the first Chairman. TheDepartment had 34 courses taken by about 200 undergraduate and54 graduate student majors.5

The Department of Horticulture is proud of its many researchbreakthroughs in fruits, vegetables, industrial crops and ornamentals.These include embryo culture technique for macapuno coconut,bacterial wilt-resistant tomatoes and heat-resistant lowland cabbage,tissue culture of orchids and abaca, development of high tillering,drought and typhoon resistant abaca, and induction of flowering inmango through chemical treatment.5, 16

Separation of the Department of HorticultureFrom Agronomy

Dr. Edgardo Quisumbing

Department of Horticulture at the third floor of the Agronomy-Soil Science-Horticulture building

184

UP College of Agriculture Wins the 1977Ramon Magsaysay Award

T he Ramon Magsaysay Award, considered as Asia’sequivalent of the Nobel Prize, is the highest and most prestigioushonor an individual or organization could ever receive in Asia. In1977, this came as the capstone of UPCA’s achievements.12

Dr. Cledualdo B. Perez, Jr., Dean of the College of Agriculture,received the Award on behalf of UPCA in an appropriate ceremonyheld at the PhilAm Life Auditorium in Manila. The award included agold medallion and cash sum of US $10,000.

The 1977 RAMON MAGSAYSAY GOLD MEDALLION AWARD

The reverse side of theGold Medallion

Magsaysay awardees are shown withMrs. Luz B. Magsaysay (fourth from left),widow of the late President: Dean Perez

representing UP Los Baños, internationalunderstanding; Dr. Fe del Mundo, public

service; Ela Bhatt, community leadership;Benjamin Galstaun, government service;Mahesh C. Regmi,communication arts.

185

RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD

for

INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING

College of AgricultureUniversity of the Philippines

Los Baños

For quality teaching and researchfostering modernization of

Southeast Asian Agriculture

21 August 1977Manila

Philippines