Three academicians (mathematical and physical sciences) of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Philippines, a retired judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), a health economics expert, and a political scientist are the latest professors emeriti from UP Diliman (UPD). This was announced by the Office of the Faculty Regent (OFR) in their official Facebook page, Opisina ng Faculty Regent.
Appointed by the UP Board of Regents on Sept. 26, at its 1393rd meeting, three out of the 12 newly-appointed professors emeriti are from the College of Science (CS). They are NAST academicians Jose Maria P. Balmaceda, PhD of the Institute of Mathematics (IM); Caesar A. Saloma, PhD of the National Institute of Physics (NIP); and Cesar L. Villanoy, PhD of the Marine Science Institute (MSI).
Also appointed professors emeriti are retired ICC judge Raul C. Pangalangan, JSD of the UP College of Law (UP Law), health economics expert Orville Jose C. Solon, PhD of the School of Economics (SE), and political scientist Teresa S. Encarnacion-Tadem, PhD of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP).
Five of the professors emeriti held key positions in the University. Balmaceda was the assistant vice president for academic affairs during the Nemenzo presidency (1999-2005). Saloma was the ninth UPD chancellor (2011-2014). Balmaceda, Pangalangan, Saloma, and Solon were deans of their respective academic units, with Balmaceda (2011-2014; 2014-2017), Saloma (2006-2009; 2009-2011), and Solon (2015-2018; 2018-2021) serving for two terms. Pangalangan was UP Law dean from 1999 to 2005. Meanwhile, Encarnacion-Tadem was the executive director of UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (CIDS) from 2017 to 2023.
Villanoy is regarded as one of the pioneers of physical oceanography in the Philippines.
A professor at the IM, Balmaceda was elected to the NAST Philippines as academician in 2008. According to the NAST website, his “important contributions to group theory, representation theory, and algebraic combinations through his research publications;” his help “in the scientific education and training of the youth through mentorship of mathematics undergraduate and graduate students;” and his continuous engagement in “public service and extension programs, particularly teacher training and popularization of mathematics and science, and technical assistance to science and technology agencies and bodies” are his most significant contributions to science and the society.
A distinguished member of the mathematics community recognized here and abroad, Balmaceda has received various accolades. Among his awards are: the Achievement Award (Mathematical Sciences) of the National Research Council of the Philippines / NRCP (2000), Science Prize (Mathematics) of the Third World Academy of Sciences-NAST (1996), and Outstanding Young Scientist of the NAST (1995). He was honored by the UPD with a Gawad Chanselor as Pinakamahusay na Mananaliksik (1996) and Pinakamahusay na Guro (1995).
Saloma, who is professor at the NIP, also received many recognitions from prestigious organizations. Elected to the NAST Philippines as academician in 2005, Saloma was awarded in 2008 by the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology the ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and Technologist Award. He was also among the Department of Science and Technology 2008 list of 50 Men and Women of Science. Also in 2008, Saloma received the Lingkod Bayan Award. According to the UPD website “the award is the highest recognition given to a Philippine government employee for outstanding performance.”
He is the first scientist from an ASEAN country to receive the Galileo Galilei Award of the International Commission for Optics. He received the award in 2004 for his significant contributions in optics.
Elected to NAST Philippines as academician in 2017, Villanoy led the expedition to the Benham Bank in 2014 and 2016. A professor at the MSI, he is one of the pioneer scientists in physical oceanography in the country. NAST Philippines in its website states his research “contributed to an understanding of ocean circulation and variability of the seas around and within the Philippines.” Furthermore, Villanoy’s participation in international research initiatives “have enriched our understanding of our own archipelagic waters” and his work on storm surges resulted in “strategic solutions to prevent national problems.”
In a post at the MSI Facebook page, the institute credits Villanoy for his work that guided many “science-based interventions for disasters” including the early response to the 2023 Mindoro oil spill and the latest MT Terra Nova oil spill. The MSI also lauds Villanoy for mentoring young scientists, molding them into “versatile oceanographers” since establishing the institute’s Physical Oceanography Laboratory in 1992.
Villanoy was named UP Scientist in 2009, 2012, and 2015. He also holds the distinction of being a NAST Outstanding Young Scientist (1997).
A professor at the UP Law, Pangalangan was ICC judge from 2015 to 2021. As ICC judge, he “sat in landmark cases involving child soldiers, forced marriages, and sexual slavery” states Pangalangan’s profile at the UP Law website.
He is the current chair of the International Labour Organization’s Commission of Inquiry on Myanmar.
According to the Institut de Droit International website, Pangalangan is a member of the “governing councils of the Asian Society of International Law and the Philippine Society of International Law” and “co-chairs the editorial board of the Asian Journal of International Law and is editor-in-chief of the Philippine Yearbook of International Law.”
The UP Law website also states that Pangalangan is “a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague and currently part of the administrative tribunals of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.”
He had visiting appointments at the Harvard Law School (2007, 1998), Hong Kong University (2008), and Melbourne University (2009, 2005).
Pangalangan was part in drafting the Rome Statute in 1998, the treaty that established the ICC. He is a member of the Philippine Bar since 1984.
A professor at the SE, Solon led the Health Policy Development Program (HPDP). A five-year (2012-2017) health policy project by the United States Agency for International Development and implemented by the UPecon Foundation, the HPDP supports the formulation of health policies in the Philippines.
He served as consultant to the secretary of the Department of Health on F1 and Sector Development Approach for Health from 2005-2006.
Solon was also the executive director of the Philippine Center for Economic Development.
A professor at the Department of Political Science of CSSP, Encarnacion-Tadem served as the department chair from 2000 to 2003. Encarnacion-Tadem was the director of the Third World Studies Center (2004-2010). She concurrently served as president of the Philippine Political Science Association and vice president of the Philippine Social Sciences Council from 2011 to 2013.
Prior to her stint as CIDS executive director, Encarnacion-Tadem was the deputy director of the CIDS Research Monitoring and Evaluation (October 1997-March 2000) and director of the CIDS Social Development Agenda Program (January 1999-March 2000). A respected political scientist, Encarnacion-Tadem received the Phi Kappa Phi 85th Anniversary Award for Excellence in 2019. In 2018, she received the NRCP Achievement Award (Social Sciences Division), and conferred as UP Scientist II. She was honored with the Gawad Chanselor Natatanging Guro in 2009. She was also a recipient of the UP International Publication Award and the UPD Centennial Professorial Chair in 2008.