It was a long climb to the top in the highly competitive educational hierarchy in the University of the Philippines for this barrio boy from San Vicente Baclayon. Born Ceasar Saloma to a middle class family in the outskirts of Baclayon, he graduated with flying honors his elementary grades in the Baclayon North Central Elementary School. From there, he took his high school at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary In 1997, he was chosen one of the 10 outstanding Baclayanons in the field of Physics as a professor at the country's premier school.

Now comes this latest distinction from this Baclayon native when as Professor 12 at the National Institute of Physics (NIP) at the College of Science (CS) was elected Chancellor of UP Diliman at the 1267th Meeting of the Board of Regents held at noon the other day. Following his selection, he was sworn into office by UP President Alfredo E. Pascual in simple rites witnessed by outgoing chancellor Dr. Sergio S. Cao and vice presidents of the UP System namely Dr. Gisela Concepcion (Academic Affairs), Dr. Lisa Grace S. Bersales (Planning and Finance) and Dr. Elvira Zamora (Development). Also present was wife Dr. Cynthia Saloma, a professor at the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.

With his oath-taking, his term of office starts today.

Currently on his second term as CS dean, Saloma said his first order of business is to appoint an officer-in-charge for the CS. Saloma's first term as CS dean started in June 1, 2006; his current term expires on May 1, 2012. Following his oath-taking, Cao graciously escorted the newly-minted chancellor and his guests to the freshly-renovated offices at Quezon Hall.  It will be recalled that the Office of the Chancellor (OC) had to relocate to the National Center for Transportation Studies in September 2006 because of a fire that damaged a large portion of the South Wing of Quezon Hall. The OC returned to the refurbished spaces on February 14. Cao jokingly said the gesture is a new tradition called “hatiran,” where he took Saloma on a tour of the renovated work spaces. Saloma is a Member of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) of the Philippines and was appointed UP Scientist III, the highest rank in the UP System's Scientific Productivity Awards, from 2006 to 2008 and from 2009 to 2011.

Saloma obtained his BS, MS and PhD in Physics from UP in 1981, 1984 and 1989, respectively. A professor of physics, Saloma's research interests are in photonics, signal processing, complex adaptive systems, management of research and technology and institutions in emerging economies. He received the Galileo Galilei Award from the International Commission for Optics in 2004 and was elected into the NAST, Philippines in 2005. On June 26, 2007, Saloma and his co-inventors from the NIP, namely V. Daria and J. Miranda, were awarded a US patent for inventing a method to generate high contrast images of semiconductor sites via one-photon optical beam induced current imaging and confocal reflectance microscopy. In July 2008, the ASEAN Committee Science and Technology gave him the ASEAN Outstanding Scientist and Technologist Award.

ASEAN TOP SCIENTIST

The Filipino dean is also ASEAN's Most Outstanding Scientist and Technologist awardee. Philippines. Dr. Saloma was honored for his significant work in photonics and signal processing. He was cited for his efforts that “have resulted in the development of novel and cost-effective techniques in optical signal recovery and retrieval.” His work was undertaken in collaboration with colleagues and students at the National Institute of Physics (NIP).
Together with Dr. Vincent Ricardo Daria and Jelda Jane Miranda, the dean of the college of Science secured a United States patent for a cost-effective and non-invasive method of identifying microscopic defects in integrated circuits (IC).
Considered a major breakthrough in the semiconductor industry, the technique allows for accurate identification of circuit defects by producing a high-contrast image map of the semiconductor and metal sites.

The triennial award or held every three years was created by the ASEAN Committee on Science and Technology in the early 1990s to recognize scientists and technologists from ASEAN countries whose achievements have been acknowledged locally and internationally. The ASTW is intended to promote science and technology development in the region by creating greater awareness of S&T, developing an S&T culture, and providing a medium for participation and collaboration in regional S&T programs. The science teacher is the first and only ASEAN scientist to receive the Galileo Galilei Award in optics from the International Commission for Optics. Saloma has been a recipient of various other awards, including the 2007 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Teacher Award (Higher Education Category), the 2006 UP Diliman Gawad Chanselor para sa Natatanging Guro, and the Gawad Chanselor Hall of Fame in two separate categories, the Pinakamahusay na Mananaliksik, and the Pinakamahusay na Nilathalang Pananaliksik.