Anacleto del Rosario

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition Series 2):

JULY 13, 1860

Anacleto del Rosario (July 13, 1860 - May 2, 1895), known as the “Father of Philippine Science and Laboratory” and a leading chemist and pharmacist during the Spanish period, was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila. 

He earned his degree of doctor of pharmacy in 1882 and was a professor of chemistry and pharmacy at the University of Santo Tomas. 

He successfully came up with the formula for producing a pure kind of alcohol from tuba in a nipa palm which won for him the first prize during the World Fair in Paris, France in 1881. 

Del Rosario was also able to extract castor oil from the palma christi or the "palm of Christ" (castor bean) which is a native plant in the Philippines. 

He was successful in making more than 50 analyses of mineral springs and medicinal waters of the Philippines. 

Anacleto del Rosario married Valeriana Valdesco and their son Luis became the first Filipino bishop of Mindanao, and the first Archbishop of Zamboanga. 

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: Filipino Heritage Library