(OCT. 2)—Chemistry professor Leon M. Payawan Jr., PhD passed away on Sept. 25 due to myocardial infarction. He was 58.
Payawan was the president of the Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas (KKP), a collegial body of scientists working for the promotion and advancement of the chemical sciences in the Philippines, and vice president of the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies.
“In his short tenure as KKP’s president, Dr. Payawan further extended its reach to a wider audience and supervised the successful hosting of the 34th Philippine Chemistry Congress held in Cebu City last year,” the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines posted in its Facebook page.
His areas of specialization are in Inorganic Chemistry, Photochemistry and Electrochemistry. He had close to 30 researches published in ISI journals and over 500 citations, and numerous local and international conference papers.
Payawan earned his BS Chemistry and PhD in Chemistry from UPD in 1984 and 1999, respectively. He was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2002, and post-doctoral scientist at the Bureau of Agricultural Research, Department of Agriculture in 2007.
Payawan’s remains were cremated on Sept. 27 and an inurnment followed on Sept. 29 at the Heritage Memorial in Taguig City. He is survived by his brothers, BGen. Fred M. Payawan, AFP (ret.) and Alfredo Payawan.