Anacleto del Rosario
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Anacleto del Rosario
Photo of del Rosario depicted in a 1913 publication
of Philippine Education
Born July 13, 1860
Santa Cruz, Manila, Captaincy General of
the Philippines
Died May 2, 1895 (aged 35)
Nationality Filipino
Alma mater Ateneo de Manila University, University of
Santo Tomas
Occupation(s) chemist, notably
in Biochemistry and Analytical
Chemistry, pharmacist
Spouse Valeriana Valdezco
Children 3,
Jose del Rosario
Luis del Rosario
Rosa del Rosario
Parents Eugenio del Rosario (father)
Casimira del Rosario (nee. Sales) (mother)
Anacleto del Rosario y Sales (July 13, 1860, Santa Cruz, Manila – May 2, 1895) was
a leading chemist in the Philippines during the Spanish era in Philippine history.
Regarded as the "Father of Philippine Science and Laboratory", del Rosario invented
the formula for producing a pure kind of alcohol from tuba in a nipa palm. This formula
won for del Rosario the first prize during the World Fair in Paris, France in 1889. Del
Rosario extracted castor oil from the palma christi, literally the "palm of Christ" (castor
bean), a native plant in the Philippines.[1]
Anacleto del Rosario was born in Santa Cruz, Manila. Born to a native Filipino family, he
gained high honors in Ateneo de Manila University and University of Santo Tomas, from
Ateneo de Manila University he met Dr. José Rizal. He was known to be the first
homegrown scientist of the Philippines by becoming the first Director of the Manila City
laboratory. His position lead him to establish the beginnings of Science and technology
in the Philippines by increasing the standards for quality control on essential items and
investigation of natural resources. He married once and had three children.[2]
Early life
[edit]
Anacleto del Rosario was born on July 13, 1860, at Santa Cruz, Manila to Eugenio del
Rosario and Casimira del Rosario (née. Sales). He was the sixth of eleven children in
the family. His father was a cordon manufacturer for the Spanish colonial army in the
Philippines. His father died when he was five years old. The del Rosario family lived in
the district of Quiotan, now named Sales after the maternal family name. The family
relied on selling fruits and vegetables for a living. His mother Casimira taught the young
Anacleto on how to read the alphabet.[2]
Education
[edit]
Anacleto del Rosario first studied in a private institution, and his rather stern relative
was his guardian who supervised his schooling. In return for the tutelage of his
guardian, Anacleto had to wash the bottles in his Aunt's drugstore. Accounts from his
son Jose relates that he escapes through the window of the bathroom of their own
home just to go out and borrow books from classmates. His uncle, a lawyer, also
supervised his schooling.
At the age of 13, he enrolled into Ateneo de Manila University as a third-year student.
His intellect and diligence led him to earn the respect of his own schoolmates. He joined
the Congregacion Mariana, a religious organization which only allows students of high
moral and academic standing to join. He also became the president of the said
organization. During this time he met José Rizal and he became acquainted with him.
During his years in Ateneo, he made and sold electric bells, household fixtures, and
toys to earn money. He gained his Bachelor in Arts degree on April 1, 1876, with the
highest honors (Nota Maxima).
At the age of 16, along with José Rizal, he enrolled into University of Santo Tomas. He
faced financial problems while studying in the University of Santo Tomas so he enrolled
again into the Ateneo de Manila University. He studied land surveying and took part-
time jobs. He received a degree in land surveying in 1881. He surveyed large tracts of
land especially from affluent families such as the Aranetas and the Lopezes. Using the
money earned from surveying, he decided to buy a microscope and books relating
to microbiology. At the age of 22, he received a degree in pharmacy with the highest
honors (sobresaliente), and a year later a Master of Science degree in pharmacy
(Licenciatura). Other degrees include a preparatory course in Natural History (1876-
1877), first year in Plant Pharmaceutical Matter (1877-1878), second year in Animal and
Mineral Pharmaceutical Matter (1878-1879), third year in Chemical-inorganic Pharmacy
(1879-1880), and fourth year in Chemical-organic Pharmacy (1880-1881). All of these
except his first year has the highest honors. His first year has a high honors (notable).[2]
Early career
[edit]
Anacleto del Rosario first engaged in the pharmaceutical business. He first partnered
with Don Enrique Perez and Don Benito Legarda in the importation and selling of
pharmaceutical products. He started his own pharmacy from selling his own share in the
partnership and named the pharmacy Farmacia A. del Rosario on calle San.
Fernando, Binondo, (now San. Fernando St.). He then became a chemist at the LA
Rosario distillery. During the outbreak of cholera in June 1882, under Fernando Primo
de Rivera, he was assigned to the Lazareto de Mariveles. This piqued his interest in
bacteriology and made extensive studies about the causes of cholera. Robert
Koch isolated the Vibrio cholerae bacteria two years later in 1884.
On June 17, 1882, he was appointed as a pharmacist member (Vocal farmaceutico) of
the Commission of Health. He also became a member of the Junta Inspectora de
Bilibid on March 11, 1883. Two years later, it was named the Farmacetuco municipal de
Binondo.[2]
