Dr. Feliciano Banaag Calora, Sr., considered by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) as one of its champions for the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources (AANR) sector, passed away on March 30, 2020 at the age of 87.
Having served as a member of the Governing Council for about 20 years and a consultant as Lead Entomologist for R&D in various agricultural commodities. Dr. Calora had contributed significantly in the approval of vital researches of the then Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD).
Dr. Synan S. Baguio, currently Officer-in-Charge of the Livestock Research Division (LRD) of PCAARRD recounts how Dr. Calora was key to the approval of the project on the development of native animals, particularly Darag native chicken. He said that Dr. Calora served as the project’s champion, defending the importance of uniformity and predictability of production performance of native animals since the other members doubt the project’s significance. The project on Native Animals as of today, has produced 6 native chicken pure lines, 2 Itik Pinas pure lines, and 6 native pig pure lines with predictable production performance and uniform physical appearance.
Fondly called as Calô by his colleagues, Dr. Calora earnestly pursued the development of the AANR sector through research and development. Aside from serving as a GC member, Dr. Calora also served as Board Member of the Philippine Agriculture and Resources Research Foundation, Inc. (PARRFI) from 1993 until he was elected as the Chair of the Board of Trustees in 2001 up to the present. PARRFI, a private, non-stock, non-profit, non-political, and non-sectarian corporation, assists public and private institutions engaged in research and development (R&D) in agriculture, forestry, and natural resources. The foundation was founded by PCARRD and performs the objectives in tandem with the Council’s.
Other than being a champion of the work of PCAARRD, Dr. Calora was an icon even outside the R&D arena. In 1967, at the age of 34, he was awarded as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) in the field of Entomology. TOYM Awards project is initiated by JCI Philippines and supported by TOYM Foundation and Gerry Roxas Foundation since 1959. He was a member of the UPLB Beta Sigma Fraternity, a member and staunch supporter of the UP Vanguard Inc. and was a Colonel in the Philippine Army (Reserved).
Building his expertise in Entomology
Dr. Calora pursued his passion in entomology ever since taking BS Agriculture, Major in Economic Entomology and Minor in Plant Pathology and Organic Chemistry from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB).
At the age of 23, Dr. Calora was a scholar of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) when he was pursuing his Master of Science, Major in Insect Morphology, Minor in Economic Entomology in Cornell University.
He took his PhD in Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States, majoring in Insect Taxonomy and Minor in Animal Ecology and Economic Entomology with scholarship from the Rockefeller Foundation.
Dr. Calora’s extensive knowledge in Entomology was shared during his stint as Professor of the said subject at UPLB from 1955 to 1971. He also served as the Chairman of the Department of Entomology and Director for Instruction, both at UPLB from 1967-1971.
Serving beyond the public sector
Dr. Calora also made his expertise felt in the private sector, when for 25 years he served as President and Director of Research of the Cyanamid Agricultural Research Foundation, Inc. of the American Cyanamid Company, one of the United States’ top 100 manufacturing companies during the 1970s and 1980s.
From 1996 to 1998, Dr. Calora served the Rotary International, a non-political and non-religious organization that brings business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service. He served as District Governor for the Rotary International District 3820, composed of Clubs in Laguna, Batangas, Aurora, Quezon, Mindoro Oriental, Marinduque, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Albay, Sorsogon, Masbate, and Romblon.