Leonardo L. Co
Leonardo L. Co is a prominent Filipino plant taxonomist and ethnobiologist. Born on December 29, 1953, Co served as a museum researcher at the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology (IB) and as senior botanist of Conservation International-Philippines.
Together with co-workers Sofronio G. Cortez and Julio 'Julius' Borromeo, Co died on November 15, 2010 after being caught in an alleged crossfire between the Philippine Army and an armed group in Kananga, Leyte. Doubts, however, are cast on whether there was really a crossfire as claimed by Lt. Col. Federico Tutaan of the 19th infantry Battalion. Later fact-finding mission found no evidence of such crossfire.[1] His death was "equated to the loss of a national treasure."[2]
Co was President of the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society. His book, “Common Medicinal Plants in the Cordillera Region: A Trainor’s Manual for Community-Based Health Programs,” was published in 1989. New plant species like the 'meat' flower Rafflesia leonardi (named after him) were discovered by Co. An exceptionally rare species from Nueva Ecija and known from only one specimen, Mycaranthes leonardoi is an orchid also named after Co.[3]
According to his colleague, Dr Julie Barcelona, Co "spent most of his botanical career studying the forests of Luzon’s Sierra Madre. Leonard’s enthusiasm has motivated many students in the Philippines to pursue a career in Botany. His attitude towards the sincere pursuit and sharing of his knowledge in Plant Taxonomy has put real meaning to the words biodiversity conservation, scientist, endemic, endangered, capacity-building, participatory, community." [4]
Writings
Leonardo Co published 13 peer-reviewed articles and six books.[5]
- "A Manual on Some Philippine Medicinal Plants." UP Botanical Society, 1977
- "Dalit sa Kabundukan" (Poem) ni Leonard Co, 1978
- Common Medicinal Plants of the Cordillera Region, 1984
- Common Medicinal Plants in the Cordillera Region: A Trainor’s Manual for Community-Based Health Programs, 1989
- Annotated bibliography on Philippine biodiversity : filicopsida (ferns), 2001
- Palanan forest dynamics plot: floristic diversity and stand structure of a lowland evergreen forest in N.E. Luzon, Philippines, 2004
- Forest trees of Palanan, Philippines : a study in population ecology, 2006
- Assessing Evidence for a Pervasive Alteration in Tropical Tree Communities, 2008
- Taxonomy, ecology, and conservation status of Philippine Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae), 2009
Membership
- Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society
- UP Botanical Society
- UP Mountaineers - 1978
- Community Health, Education, Services and Training in Cordillera Region (Chestcore)
- Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral sa Pilipino (SAMAPIL) - 1973[6]
Awards
- Biodiversity Heritage Award from UNDP
Personal Life
Co proudly told people that he's "double G.I." (genuine Ilocano and genuine Intsik (Chinese))[7]. He spoke Filipino (Tagalog), English, Mandarin, and Latin. Co attended the Philippine Chinese High School, where a world-renowned moss taxonomist, Benito Tan, took Co with him in his weekly mountain treks. Tan also gave Co his book "Flora of Manila."[8]
Co is survived by his wife Glenda and daughter Linnea Marie. His parents are Co Lian Seng and Emelina Legaspi Co. At 22, his father migrated to the Philippines, married his Ilocana mother and had six children. Leonardo Co was their eldest and only son.[9]
Hobbies
- playing the harmonica (favorite repertoire: Chinese classical music)
- collection of protest and national liberation songs (from various countries)
- cooking
References
- Justice for Leonard Co, Sofronio Cortez and Julius Borromeo!
- "Leonardo L Co: In Memoriam" on Facebook
- The genius of Leonardo L. Co: The people's scientist and professor" (Phil Star, 16 Dec 2010)
- AFP ready to file raps vs soldiers in botanist's death (Phil Star, 10 Dec 2010)
- UP forensic experts to autopsy slain botanist’s companions (PDI, 24 Nov 2010)
- Leonard, the ‘plant philanderer,’ lies among his treasures (Business Mirror, 22 Nov 2010)
- Botanist’s case not isolated, says health group (PDI, 21 Nov 2010)
- Cordillera NGOs mourn Co, salute him as ‘scientist of the people’ (GMA News, 21 Nov 2010)
- Leoonard Co: Scientist for the People (Bulatlat, 20 Nov 2010)
- Slain botanist goes home to UP (PDI, 20 Nov 2010)
- Scientists seek neutral probe into botanist's killing (ABS-CBN, 19 Nov 2010)
- Slain botanist heard begging for mercy (PDI, 19 Nov 2010)
- No apologies offered for death of civilians (Business World, 18 Nov 2010)
- Remembering Leonard Co (Pinoy Weekly Online, 18 Nov 2010)
- Family doubts botanist killed in crossfire (ABS-CBN, 17 Nov 2010)
- Top botanist killed in crossfire (PDI, 17 Nov 2010)
- Philippine army, rebels clash kills two bystanders (AFP, 17 Nov 2010)
- Philippines' top botanist killed in crossfire (ABS-CBN, 17 Nov 2010)
- Thanks, Professor Co (Business Mirror, 17 Nov 2010)
- Slain botanist known for his work on medicinal plants (PDI, 16 Nov 2010)
Blogs
- Rafflesia leonardi - honoring an unsung hero of Philippine Botany
- Leonardo L. Co, Botanist (1953-2010)
Notes
This document can be directly modified using a UP Webmail / CRS account. Other contributions may be coursed through psy@up.edu.ph
- ↑ "No crossfire in Leyte: Botanist, pals were soldiers’ direct targets" (PDI, 9 Dec 2010)
- ↑ Peryy Ong, "The genius of Leonardo L. Co: The people's scientist and professor," Phil Star (16 Dec 2010)
- ↑ Correspondence with Wally Suarez (20 Nov 2010). See U. Ferreras & W. Suarez (2009), Australian Orchid Review 74(6):36-38
- ↑ Julie F. Barcelona, "Rafflesia leonardi - honoring an unsung hero of Philippine Botany" (undated)
- ↑ Peryy Ong, "The genius of Leonardo L. Co: The people's scientist and professor," Phil Star (16 Dec 2010)
- ↑ Totie Mesia, "UP’s plant-man extraordinaire" (24 Nov 2008)
- ↑ "Leonard Co: Scientist for the People" Bulatlat, 20 Nov 2010)
- ↑ "Leonard Co: Scientist for the People" Bulatlat, 20 Nov 2010)
- ↑ "Leonardo L Co: In Memoriam" on Facebook
- ↑ "Leonardo L Co: In Memoriam" on Facebook