placeholder Bio

Dr. Domingo Madulid

Dr. Domingo Madulid (b. 1946) is a distinguished botanist, prolific author, and dedicated educator whose work has significantly advanced the understanding of Philippine flora. With over five decades of experience, Dr. Madulid has made remarkable contributions to plant taxonomy, systematics, conservation, and historical botany, earning national and international acclaim for his research and publications.

Dr. Madulid holds a Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Reading, England, where he also earned an M.S. in Pure and Applied Plant Taxonomy. He completed an M.S. in Biology (major in Botany) at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, and a B.S. in Botany at the University of the Philippines.

Professionally, Dr. Madulid served as Scientist IV under the Scientific Career System of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Civil Service Commission, retiring in 2021. He was the Chief of the Botany Division and oversaw the Philippine National Herbarium at the National Museum, where he initiated and led numerous groundbreaking projects. As a Professorial Lecturer in Biology at De La Salle University, Manila, Dr. Madulid has mentored countless students, furthering his commitment to education and scientific inquiry.

Dr. Madulid’s research spans various fields, including inventory and cataloging of Philippine flora, conservation of threatened plants, and historical botany. He has conducted extensive studies on the taxonomy, systematics, and ethnobotany of Philippine plants, publishing 18 books, including four as a sole author, and over 200 scientific articles. His work has led to the description of several new plant species, and in recognition of his impact, six plant species have been named in his honor by fellow botanists.

A trailblazer in Philippine botany, Dr. Madulid initiated the Flora of the Philippines project, collaborating with botanists worldwide. He has served as the founding President of the Association of Systematic Biologists of the Philippines and the President of the Philippine Association of Career Scientists.

Dr. Madulid has also led numerous national and international research projects, including collaborations with the U.S. National Cancer Institute and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to document and conserve Philippine flora.

Dr. Madulid has received multiple prestigious awards, including:

  • Book of the Year Awards from the Manila Critics Circle for works like A Pictorial Cyclopaedia of Philippine Ornamental Plants and A Dictionary of Philippine Plant Names.
  • The Gintong Aklat Award for editing the 5th edition of Fr. Manuel Blanco’s Flora de Filipinas.
  • The Gourmand World Award, Winner for Philippines for the multi-authored book: Philippine Herbs: For Healthy Cooking, Common Cures and Concoction
  • Numerous accolades from Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and other organizations for his contributions to science and literature.

At present Dr. Madulid is continuing his work on the five-volume Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants of the Philippines, with four volumes already published.

Dr. Madulid encourages young researchers to embrace the opportunities in Philippine botany. He emphasizes that while the field has been historically overlooked, its importance in understanding natural environments and their benefits to humanity cannot be overstated.

Through his unparalleled dedication to botany and literature, Dr. Domingo A. Madulid remains an inspiring figure whose legacy continues to shape the future of Philippine science and culture.