Did you know

Today, September 23, is the 107th birth anniversary of the late National Scientist Juan Salcedo Jr., who spearheaded the program for the eradication and prevention of beriberi in the country with the use of rice strengthened with Vitamin B1 (thiamine). Born in Pasay City, Salcedo was the first Filipino and Asian to be elected president of the World Health Organization’s World Health Assembly. He was also the first director of the Institute of Nutrition and a dean of the University of the East’s Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center College of Medicine.  He was named National Scientist on July 10, 1978. He died on Oct. 25, 1988, and was given a state funeral. He was buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.—Schatzi Quodala, Inquirer Research