 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
||||||
There
is a book titled "Quotations From Rizal's Writings", published by
the National Historical Institute in 1992, from which one can find statements
made by our national hero that are worth repeating. Here's one from a letter
to Mariano Ponce, Paris, March 1889: "Try to mention in every issue (of
La Solidaridad) some old or modern Filipino (authors), citing his works."
(Epistolario Rizalino, II. No. 247, p. 154).
We should follow Jose Rizal's advice. At every opportunity, we should mention
in our presentations the names of Filipinos who have made significant contributions
to science. There are quite a few. This is to instill in our countrymen pride
in Filipino scientists and in the science done by Filipinos. We can not yet
claim that our science in general is at par with that of the more developed
countries in the world - not even with the science of some of our neighbors
- but our best scientists can compare with their best.
For this purpose, Gisela P. Padilla-Concepcion and I have launched Philippine
Science Letters (PSL). The primary aim of PSL is to showcase science done
in the Philippines and science done by Filipinos elsewhere. The science that
PSL will publish shall meet the usual standards of good scholarship. PSL will
also feature Filipino scientists who have distinguished themselves in their
field and who can serve as example and inspiration to our youth. To ensure
that PSL will be accessible to as many of our countrymen as possible, we have
decided that PSL should be an online journal and that it should be free to
readers as well as to contributors. PSL will also include brief summaries
of newsworthy science articles from other publications for the benefit of
readers who do not have access to those publications, as well as proceedings
of local scientific meetings for the benefit of readers who are unable to
attend those meetings.
Those of us who have had the chance to listen to our scientists, or read about
their work, have reason to be proud. Through PSL, we hope that we can share
that pride with our countrymen.
