Gavino Trono

Dr. Gavino C. Trono, Jr.
Born	November 1931 (age 83–84)
Nationality	Filipino
Fields	Biology
Alma mater	University of the Philippines, Araneta University, University of Hawaii
Known for	Seaweed Farming
Notable awards	National Scientist of the Philippines

Gavino Cajulao Trono Jr., Ph.D. is a Filipino biologist dubbed as the “Father of Kappaphycus farming”.^[1] He was conferred the rank of National Scientist of the Philippines for contributions to the study of tropical marine phycology, focusing on seaweed biodiversity. He is currently working as a technical consultant for the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Aquaculture Seaweed Research and Development and is a professor emeritus of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute.

Education and career

Trono obtained his bachelor of science degree in botany from the University of the Philippines, his master's degree in agricultural botany from the Araneta University and his doctorate in botany from the University of Hawaii. His research focuses on seaweeds including studies on the culture of Eucheuma denticulatum, Kappaphycus alvarezii, Gracilaria spp., Caulerpa lentillifera, and Halymenia durvillei for coastal communities.^[2] He wrote an academic paper reporting the occurrence of ice-ice disease that had affected seaweed farms.^[3] This disease devastated the commercial production of seaweed in the Philippines.^[3] The seaweed is farmed for the food additive carrageenan.^[4]

Trono led the assessment of several coastal areas in Western Mindanao as potential sites for seaweed farms; and discovered twenty-five (25) new marine benthic algae.^[3] He also established the largest phycological herbarium in the country – the G.T. Velasquez Herbarium in the University of the Philippines’ Marine Science Institute^[5] and authored two-volume books on Field Guide and Atlas of the Seaweed Resources of the Philippines, considered as the most authoritative books in the country on the seaweed flora.^[6]

Trono was conferred the rank of National Scientist of the Philippines in 2014 by Benigno Aquino III, the President of the Philippines. This award has been made to just over thirty leading scientists and this gives them a pension of life as well as a seat at important national ceremonies.^[1] The award was for his contributions to tropical marine phycology, focusing on seaweed biodiversity.^[7]

Awards and recognition

• National Scientist of the Philippines for Marine Biology in 2014
• Academician by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in 2008

• Plaque of Recognition from the Asia Pacific Society of Applied Phycology in 2006
• University of the Philippines Alumni Award in 1979
• “Likas Yaman Award” from the Ministry of Natural Resources (now Department of Environment and Natural Resources) in 1978

References

1. 1 2 "Dr. Trono is the New National Scientist". Retrieved August 25, 2014. 
2. ↑ "NATIONAL SCIENTISTS | PNoy confers honors on Alcala, Trono, Gomez, Barba". August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014. 
3. 1 2 3 "Academician Gavino C. Trono, Jr. is National Scientist". Retrieved August 25, 2014. 
4. ↑ Hurtado, A. J., et al. (2006). Occurrence of Polysiphonia epiphytes in Kappaphycus farms at Calaguas Is., Camarines Norte, Philippines. Journal of Applied Phycology 18:301-06.
5. ↑ Sabillo, Kristine Angelli (August 12, 2014). "Who are the 4 new National Scientists of PH?". Retrieved August 25, 2014. 
6. ↑ Panares, Joyce Pangco (March 21, 2014). "Aquino names UP marine expert national scientist". Manila Standard Today. Retrieved August 25, 2014. 
7. ↑ Proclamation no. 737, s. 2014, retrieved 29 August 2014

Order of National Scientists recipients     1978 Juan Salcedo, Jr.†, Nutrition & Public Health Alfredo Santos†, Physical Chemistry Gregorio Y. Zara†, Engineering & Inventions 1980 Fe del Mundo†, Pediatrics Eduardo Quisumbing†, Plant Taxonomy, Systematics, & Morphology 1982 Geminiano de Ocampo†, Ophthalmology Casimito del Rosario†, Physics, Astronomy, & Meteorology Gregorio Velasquez†, Phycology 1983 Francisco Fronda†, Animal Husbandry Francisco Santos†, Human Nutrition & Agricultural Chemistry Carmen Velásquez, Parasitology 1985 Teodoro Agoncillo†, Philippine History Encarnacion Alzona†, Philippine History Hilario Lara†, Public Health 1986 Julián Banzón†, Chemistry Dioscoro Umali†, Agriculture & Rural Development 1987 Jose Encarnacion, Jr.†, Economics Luz Oliveros-Belardo†, Phytochemistry 1988 Alfredo Lagmay†, Experimental Psychology 1989 Paulo Campos†, Nuclear Medicine 1994 Pedro Escuro†, Genetics & Plant Breeding Clara Lim-Sylianco, Biochemistry & Organic Chemistry 1998 Dolores Ramírez, Biochemical Genetics & Cytogenetics José R. Velasco†, Plant Physiology 1999 Gelia T. Castillo, Rural Sociology 2000 Bienvenido Juliano, Biochemistry 2001 Clare Baltazar, Systematic Entomology Benito Vergara, Plant Physiology 2004 Onofre Corpuz†, Political Economics & Government 2005 Ricardo Lantican, Plant Breeding 2006 Lourdes Cruz, Biochemistry 2008 Teodulo Topacio Jr., Veterinary Medicine 2010 Mercedes Concepcion, Demography Ernesto Domingo, Internal Medicine/ Gastroenterology Perla Dizon Santos Ocampo†, Pediatrics 2011 Raul V. Fabella, Economics Bienvenido Nebres,SJ, Mathematics 2014 Angel Alcala, Biological science Ramon Barba, Horticulture Edgardo Gomez, Marine Biology Gavino Trono, Jr., Marine Biology †Retired