ON JULY 13, 1893, Henry Otley Beyer, an American anthropologist, ethnologist, professor emeritus of the University of the Philippines and dubbed as the “Father of Philippine Anthropology,” was born in Iowa, U.S.A.
Beyer spent most of his adult life in the Philippines, teaching Filipinos and other scholars about Philippine indigenous culture.
He also spent first years as a teacher in the Cordillera Mountains in Luzon island, home of the Ifugao people. He would later marry a daughter of an Ifugao village chief.
Archaeological work for Beyer was like a fascinating mystery story, with the specimens and site data serving as vital clues.
He described his work as trying to serve the University (of the Philippines) and to procure and conserve for the people of the Philippines the evidence of their abundant ancient culture.
He received a number of awards for his 60 years of scholarship in the Philippines.
Beyer died on December 31, 1966 at the age of 73.
Also on this same day in 1860, Anacleto Del Rosario, the so-called "Father of Philippine Science and Laboratory," was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
He received his degree of doctor of pharmacy in 1882 and became a professor of chemistry and pharmacy at the University of Santo Tomas.
A leading Filipino chemist and pharmacist during the Spanish Period, Del Rosario was successful in producing alcohol from nipa tuba (wine) which was absolutely free of characteristic odor.
This made him won first prize at the World Fair in Paris in 1881. He also extracted castor oil from a native plant called palma christi.
Notably, he made more than 50 analyses of mineral springs and medicinal waters of the Philippines during his lifetime.
He died on May 2, 1895 at the age of 34. (PNA)
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