Ramon Barba: A Great Scientist, A Filipino Hero
In the 31st of August 1939, a genius from San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte Philippines was born. He is the youngest of the four children of John Madamba Barba and Lourdes Cabanos.His name is the famous Dr. Jesus Ramon Cabanos Barba, a Filipino chemist that has PH.D. in Horticulture that the Philippines must be proud of. With a lawyer father and a mother who as well graduated in University of the Philippines, it cannot be denied that he got his talents and intellect from his parents. At his early stage of life, he took up his grade school in Sta. Rosa Academy and ranked as third highest over his fellow graduates when he graduated way back 1951. He continued his high school studies at University of the Philippines High School, obtained a BS in Agriculture degree Major in Agronomy or Fruit Production at UP Los Baños in 1958. He attained his Master’s degree in 1962 and Doctorate in 1967 at University of Georgia in USA and University of Hawaii respectively.
He joined UP Los Baños in 1968. He received several research awards including TOYM (1974), UPAA Lifetime Distinguished Award (2004), IBM/DOST Science and Technology Award (1989), Gamma Sigma Delta Distinguished Award 919970, NRCP (1986), PHILAAS (2004). He owned patents in the Philippines 919730, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom (recognized in all Commonwealth Countries), and United States of America. But he did not enforce these patents, now expired. (source: Science and Technology Post, Technology Generator, 2008)
He received many awards and recognitions along his journey in life. Among those recognitions and achievements in life; what really made an impact to the world, to the society, and to the people is his contribution on mango farming and tropical tree physiology. He created the ‘flower induction technology on mangos’. A technology that enhances the production of mango fruits making the fruits available though it is not yet the season for mangos to bear fruits. Mango is one of the fruits that most people love to eat because of its palatable taste and high nutritive value. And making it available in the market for the whole year would be a great thing to deal on. With Mr. Barba’s research on the flower induction technology of mango together with other scientists, availability of mangos is now for real.
Dr. Barba’s flower induction technology hauled mango from virtual neglect until 1974 to become Republic of the Philippines’ 2nd major fruit export valued at $60M and leader in Gross Value Added to Agriculture at P16B in 2007. (source: Science and Technology Post, Technology Generator, 2008)
The emergence of the discovery of mango’s flower induction technology helped and contributed greatly on Philippines’ economy. Aside from providing mangos to the world, it also added to the gross income of the country through the increase in the export of mangos. This technology is not only recognized and applied in the Philippines but also by some countries of the world. Moreover it is said that:
The Philippines is now the world’s second biggest mango exporter (7.8% share) behind Mexico (41%) whose variety “Manila and its KNO3 flowering technology are both of Philippine origin. Flower induction is applied more aggressively in Mexico and Brazil. (source: Science and Technology Post, Technology Generator, 2008)
Dr. Ramon Barba, is a great man to be considered, a pride for Filipinos. He proves that Filipinos can be capable of becoming recognized throughout the world, that we got the talent and hence we can be globally competitive. He also ended the urge and demand of people for mangos any time of the year by making the seasonal fruit available anytime of the year.
By helping the Philippine mangos export increase, Barba contributed a lot in supporting Philippine economy. A good economy makes a country stable and vigorous in facing problems of a country such as poverty and allows the government to perform well its duty to the people. Though there are still more that Philippines has do to obtain a much stable economy like other rich countries, still this little contribution of increase in the mango exports of the country is of much help and is well appreciated. With that I consider and recognize Dr. Barba as one of the great hero of the Philippines considering his great contribution on mango production.
With his achievements in life and the achievements that he will soon succeed on as Dr. Barba continues his journey in life in researching, inventing, and innovating things related to agriculture and chemistry, his name will be greatly recognized not just in his own country, not by the people of his generation but throughout the world and by the future generations. I know he can do more, I believe in him because he made me so with his flower induction technology. His name will be marked in the history like other famous scientists throughout the world.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bellis, Mary. 2014. “Ramon Barba- Filipino Scientist.” About.com Inventor. http://inventors.about.com/od/filipinoscientists/p/RamonBarba.htm. February 23, 2014.
“Flower Induction.” Mango Information Network. http://www.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/home/momentum/mango/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=574&Itemid=117. March 9, 2014.
“Filipino Scientist: Dr. Ramon C. Barba.” (2010). Filipino and Foreign Chemist. http://www.filipinoandforeignchemist.com/testament.php?chemist=7. February 17, 2014.
“Ramon Barba.” (2012). Wikipedia the Free Encyclopedia. http://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramon_Barba. February 20, 2014.
“Technology Generator: Dr. Ramon Barba.” (2008). Science and Technology Post. http://sntpost.stii.dost.gov.ph/NewPOST/AprJun2008/technologygenerators/Dr_Ramon_Barba.htm. February 25, 2014.
Vergara, Benito S. 2011. A milestone in Mango History. Mango World Magazine. http://mangoworldmagazine.blogspot.com/2011/11/dr-ramon-barba-recognized-for-lifetime.html. March 9, 2014.
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