Department of Biology

Brief History

The Biology Department is one of the first of its kind to be established in the country. It was started at almost the same time when the SVD missionaries from China were expelled by the communist regime and came to set up the Science departments of the then Colegio de San Carlos. Initially functioning as a service department, it offered basic courses in Biology. It was only in 1952 that the Department offered the course Bachelor of Science major in Zoology. A few years later, a course in Preparatory Medicine was opened. Under the leadership of the late Fr. Enrique Schoenig, SVD, a BS with majors in Botany and in Biology were on the program by 1960, in addition to other courses. In 1966, a graduate degree, the Master of Science in Biology, was added to the program. It was the first such program to be offered in the Southern Philippines. In 1970, the application for a BS major in Marine Biology was approved by the Department of Education. A Master of Science in Marine Biology program—another first in the Visayas and Mindanao—was initially given a temporary permit in 1977 but made permanent a few years later. At present, the Department has three undergraduate programs: BS Biology, BS Biology major in Environmental Science, and the BS Marine Biology; and four graduate programs namely: MS Biology, MS Marine Biology, MS in Environmental Science, and Master of Biology Program (non-thesis). In addition to the professional degrees, the Department also offers service courses on General Biology for the Colleges of Commerce, Education, and the different departments of the College of Arts and Sciences. It also offers graduate service courses for the Master of Arts in Science Teaching in the College of Education.

In the most recent past, most of the researches were centered on the various aspects of the marine ecosystem, such that a sub-unit was created to spearhead and direct them. This sub-unit was the Marine Research Office, now called Marine Biology Section, with its own Head. As part of its research and community extension services, the Department maintains a Marine Station in Maribago, Mactan, where instructional and research activities are conducted. The Marine Station is equipped with research facilities and apparatuses, and also includes a research boat (M/B “Heinrich Schoenig”) available to students and faculty engaged in research.

Roster of Chairs

In the academic development of the Department, worthy of mention is Dr. Paulina Pages, who was Acting Chairman of the Department in 1971-73 when Fr. Schoenig went to New Guinea for an expedition. She later became the Director of the South-East Asian Research Center in Agriculture (SEARCA) based in Los Baños, Laguna. Dr. Araceli Almase, a faculty member of the Department, later became the Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology-Region VII. Dr. Jesus V. Juario, Department Chairman from 1974 to 1976, also became the Chief of the Milkfish Research Division of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) based in Tigbauan, Iloilo, and later, as Dean of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas, Cebu College.

The other Chairpersons of the Department are as follows:
Ms. Airlin S. Espina co-chaired by Hilda Lastimosa from 1976 – 1977
Prof. Cristobal G. Plateros, from 1977 – 1983
Dr./Sr. Julita S. Ruelo, from 1983-1986
Prof. Exupernacio A. Montecillo, from 1986 – 1992
Prof. Antonio E. Batomalaque, from 1992 – 1998
Dr. Danilo B. Largo, from 1998 – present