Proceedings of the first Independence congress : held in the city of Manila, Philippine islands, February 22-26, 1930 / Published under the direction of Dean maximo M. Kalaw, executive secretary, University of the Philippines.

EDUCATIONAL SECTION

199

steadfast purpose and strong inclination to undertake problems
of direct value to the country. Men engaged in scientific work
should have the spirit of a missionary because such line of
activity does not offer as big material gains as in other professional callings. However, it would be only proper for institutions engaged in research work to render adequate inducement
to men of proven ability to dedicate themselves in their line of
work. Furthermore, the carrying out of research requires
proper laboratory equipment. The government has been interested in developing scientific work but more support should
be given in view of the growing need of our industry and agriculture. It is quite evident that science is a part and parcel of
our national progress.
Ex-President Coolidge has vividly described the scientific
work in America.
"The place of scientific research in our governmental
economy should have more appropriate recognition. With
developed bureaus, with all our indebtedness to investigation we are still lacking in proper appreciation of scientific
work. It is not comforting to our pride to think of the
eminent scientists who are serving our government without
adequate recompense or the losses in personnel we sustain
by lack of appropriate provision for those who would be
our greatest benefactors. As the test of civilization is in
the sense of values there is little room as yet for boasting.
The most competent organization of national scientific
work which will seek, hold and suitably reward investigators of the highest rank is the fundamental requirement."
A tropical country like the Philippines requires a highly developed organization to take care of the hygiene and sanitation
of the people. Up to about thirty years ago, life in the tropics
was considered extremely hazardous in view of the fact that
epidemic diseases like cholera, bubonic plague, smallpox and
others may break out at irregular intervals. In those days
when medical science was not fully harnessed to cope with the
situation, a considerable proportion of the population became
decimated because of the ravages of diseases in one form or
another. Fortunately the great advances of science along this
direction have made tropical life much more enjoyable and safe