The Guinayangan Republic

Scientist And Botanist

Born in Guinayangan on February 22, 1904, he spent his early schooling in his hometown. At the UP College of Forestry, he obtained his Rangers diploma as a Government Pensionado and Medallist, after which he pursued his studies, earning his Bachelors in Science in Forestry diploma in the same institution. Possessing Civil Service Eligibility’s as a Ranger, Forestry and Scientist on Plant Taxonomy, he served in the government as Ranger (1928-1941) as well as Instruction in Botany and Dendrology of the UP.

When war broke out in1941, was called to active duty, being a reserve officer of the Philippine Army, and fought the Japanese invaders under the joint forces of the USAFFE. Surviving the infamous “Death March” to Capas, Tarlac, he returned to his duty as a Ranger after his release from prison camp in 1943. Later, he was the Assistant Scientist in Botany in the Bureau of Science, Botanist of the National Museum where he successively became the Acting Director and Officer in Charge from 1958-1962. He was also the Acting Chief and Chief of the Division of Botany from 1956 to 1969.

Pursuing his graduate studies after the war in UST, he obtained his Masters of Science Degree in Botany, Meritissimus, in 1952. Concurrently he was an Instructor Assistant Professor of Biology and Botany, Professor in Forestry at The Araneta University and University of the Philippines. His numerous scientific and field explorations and botanical collection has enabled him to write a number of papers on the study of Philippine plants and trees such as Philippine Herbarium Manual and Philippine Aquatic Flowering Plants and Ferns. In 1990 Major Demetrio R. Mendoza, World War II veteran and Botanist passed away and meet his Creator at the ripe age of 86 years, survived by wife, Angelica Sagcal and six children.

Some of his published papers are:
Fruit and Seed Key to Important Leguminous Trees in the Philippines
Philippine Journal of Forestry, 2; 161-172, 1939
Survey of Plants in the Makiling National Park Bearing Edible Fruits
Philippine Journal of Forestry 3; 115-134 1940
Lagikway-a Hitherto Unreported Philippine Plant
Philippine Journal, Sc. 88; 257-261, 1959
Balete: Monarch of the Forest
Philippine International, 31 Feb.9, 1959
Narra
Philippine International, 3 (April): 37: 1959
Philippine Herbarium Manual Museum
Pub.No.2s. 1967
Exploration of the Sierra Madre
Opportunities and their suggestions for Botanical and Exploration Work in the Sierra Madre Mountains, published at Leiden, May 1969

-from the book "Guinayangan Noon at Ngayon" by Mrs. Alodia F. Molines