On January 21, 1853, Leon Ma.

Guerrero, nationalist scientist and

the so-called "Father of Botany in the Philippines" was born in Ermita, Manila.
He was also dubbed as the 1st Filipino industrial scientist, forensic chemist
and "Father of Philippine Pharmacy."
Guerrero began his pioneering study on medicinal plants in the early 1900s
where he experimented on substitute medicines when synthetic drugs are
unavailable.
In 1918, he authored a study on "Medicinal Plants" on 174 types of plants
with healing elements.
He experimented with explosive mixtures made from different plants known
as the Guerrero gunpowder, which was tapped by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's
revolutionary troops when their sulfur, charcoal, among others, ran out to fire
their muskets.
Hence, Guerrero did not limit his duty to his country as just being a scientist
as he held important posts in the revolutionary government - appointed as
secretary of industry, agriculture and commerce during Pedro Paterno's term
as president of Emilio Aguinaldo's cabinet and as a delegate to the Malolos
Congress.
Also, Guerrero became professor at the Universidad Cientifica Literaria de
Filipinas, which was established by the revolutionary government in the
Barasoain Convent Malolos.
He died on April 13,1935

Leon Maria Guerrero: A Remarkable Filipino Icon

Cyprus | March 1, 2015 | 0 Comments

The immeasurable and transcending brilliance of Filipino minds has been once again proven that the
Malayan Race can be globally competitive despite of its economic and socio-political limitations as a
sovereign country. Leon Maria Guerrero is one of its timeless examples. He is widely recognized as
Leon Maria Guerrero y Leogardo. In case you have not come across with this honorable man in the most
profound books that you have read, he was a notable writer, politician, a prime mover of the Philippine
Revolution and the first duly recognized pharmacist in the Philippines.

Leon Maria Guerrero.

Also, he was a well-known botanist in the country during his prime. His proud parents are Leon Jorge
Guerrero and the former Clara Leogardo. He was born on January 21, 1853 in Ermita Manila. He came
from a well-to-do family. His father was a scion during the Spanish Era. In fact, he was one of the first
ever enrolees of Ateneo de Manila in those years. As soon as he had finished his primary and secondary
courses, he immediately enroled at the University of Santo Tomas. From there, he graduated with a
Bachelors Degree of Science in Pharmacy, with field specializations in Botany and Zoology.
Subsequently, he became a full-fledged pharmacist. As such, he was appointed as a distinguished head
of a military pharmacy in Zamboanga City, Zamboanga del Sur as well as at the marine hospital in the
province of Kawit Cavite.
When he came back to Manila, he was luckily chosen as a manager of the well-renowned pharmacy of
the Philippine capital, simply named as Binondo Pharmacy. Since he was blessed with enormous and
unbelievable talents, he had exemplary employed his one of a kind scientific curiosity to extensively study
the miraculous and therapeutic benefits of some of the clinically proven herbal plants of the Philippines
from which he had carefully extracted the best pharmacological ingredients. As a pharmacological
botanist, he was proudly designated as a recognized member of the Mania City Councils health council.
Likewise, he was also enrolled as a member of the prestigious Sociedad Espanola de Historia Natural.
Due to his genial intellectual brilliance, the great Rizal chronicler of all time was at the same time cordially
invited to be the associate and auditor of the La Revista Internacional de Farmacografia.
These personal achievements of his, had paved the way for another once in a lifetime opportunity to
serve the Spanish government and his countrymen. He was chosen as a chemical engineer of the Real
Audiencia, the Spanish Supreme Court in those difficult times of the peninsulares and insulares Era. To
hone even more his God given intellect and wisdom, he pursued to study the interesting field of special
courses like ornithology and lepidopterology. These branches of scientific study and knowledge had
secured him a position as the best zoologist at the Bureau of Forestry under the Spanish regime. During
the Philippine Revolution, Leon Maria Guerrero had unconditionally joined the distinguished leaders of the
revolution despite of the fact that he was then serving the Spanish administration. In those years of
political uncertainties and struggles against the Spaniards, he was designated as a professor in
Pharmacy at the Universidad Literaria de Filipinas, which was created by the revolutionary government of
the Filipinos on the 19th day of October 1898.
As a lawmaker, he became a member of the Malolos Congress and Malolos Constitution respectively;
which were instrumental in the historical establishment of the First Philippine Republic. His passion for
writing continued to shine as he served as a contributor of the La Independencia, the official organ of the
Philippine Revolution. Over the years, he had never forgotten the essence of genuine public service when
he accepted his much deserved appointment by the youngest Philippine president in history, General
Emilio Aguinaldo. His stint in the said first independent and legitimate presidency in Philippine history was
the appointment as a secretary of agriculture, commerce and industry bureaus. Meanwhile, his illustrious
political career all began when he returned in Manila after the downfall of the First Philippine Republic,
and formed the alliance of Assosacion de Paz which has the sole objective of the Partido Democracia or
Democratic Party. In terms socio-political endeavors, the latter pushed for the attainment of an absolute
independence from the fetters of the United States through non-violent means.
Leon Ma. Guerreros role as a Philippine educator had begun when he returned to his teaching
profession, soon after his colorful political career had gloriously ended. He became a dean of the College
of Pharmacy department at the University of Santo Tomas. Among his timeless and magnificent works
were the Notas Preliminares Sobre Las Materiales Colorantes Vegetales de Filipinas, Droga Vegetales de
Filipinas, Medicinal Plants of the Philippine Islands and lastly,The Medicinal Uses of Plants. Speaking of
his accolades and recognitions, there were several medicinal plants which were named after him to
perpetually remember his lasting legacy in the field of botany. Therefore, noted taxonomists of the
Philippines had named some genus of plants Guerreroia monocephala alongside with an orchid specie
known as Dendrobium Guerreroia, Moreover, he was conferred a degree of Doctor of Science, honoris
causa.

Leon Ma. Guerrero: The Diplomat

His illustrious diplomatic career had gained so much respect around the world, when he had faithfully
served as a Philippine Ambassador. He had been an envoy of his beloved country for almost three
decades. Prior to the culmination of his diplomatic services for the Philippines, he was conferred the
Order of Mabini. It was the highest and most distinctive award bestowed upon Filipino diplomats. It was
awarded to him by deposed president Ferdinand Edralin Marcos at his death bed. As an author, he was
always guaranteed with immense immortality through his translations of Rizals Fili and Noli, from Spanish
to English languages.
Best of all, his book entitled as the First Filipino had been read by millions and would be by the future
generation of this country; for them to feel the real essence of being a Filipino in word and in deed. Due to
its very enriching and profound context it was unanimously selected as a standard text in almost all
universities in the Philippines. To date, it had bagged the first prize in the Rizal Centennial Commission,
biography category.
Leon Ma. Guerrero was a blessing to the Filipinos. He was the perfect embodiment of a Pinoy inherent
genius, who had used his Divine-inspired talents to revitalize the different images of the society in a
different light without overdoing the social realities of the nation; for his own social prestige and glamour.
His historical and scientific contributions will never be erased from the minds of his siblings and
grandchildren because of one major reason. He is the alter ego of his idol Jose Rizal when one speaks of
an intellectual superiority that only a chosen few was blessed with.

Leon Ma. Guerreros The First Filipino which won first prize in the biography
contest sponsored by the Jose Rizal National Cen tennial Commission in 1961 is a
breath of fresh air on a worn out topic. Rizal is usually portrayed in extremes either
as a sinner or a saint, but Guerrero took the middle ground and gave his read ers a
human Rizal. Guerreros extensive and sensitive use of Rizals correspondence and
writings shaped a new and more human pic ture of Rizal. It is remarkable in that the
biographer usually stands aside and allows Rizal to speak for himself.
The First Filipino also took a stand-an unpopular one-in favor of the controversial
retraction of Rizal. This may have made Guerreros work unacceptable to some, but
taking one side -- rightly or wrongly -- is better for a narrative than being safe and a
fence-sitter. More important than the retraction though was Guerreros emphasis on
Rizal being the first Filipino, because there was no clear and articulated concept of
the Filipino and the Filipino nation before him and the Propaganda Movement of the
late 1880s...