<figure class="image-550">
<img src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-27/hilario-dg-lara.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Portrait of National Scientist Dr. Hilario D. G. Lara wearing dark-rimmed glasses, a blue academic cap with gold tassel, and a blue and gold academic gown featuring the National Scientist medallion." />
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Dr. Hilario D. G. Lara (1894-1987), named National Scientist of the Philippines in 1985, is honored as the Father of Modern Public Health in the Philippines for his pioneering work in disease prevention and epidemiology.
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<h2>
Early Life and Education
</h2>
<p>
Dr. Lara came from humble beginnings. To support his education, he worked his way through school by taking jobs in other people's homes. He graduated as valedictorian from <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/2852/today-in-philippine-history-august-28-1901-silliman-university-was-established-as-silliman-institute-by-american-protestant-missionaries" class="news_link">Silliman University</a> High School and completed a year-long preparatory course at the <a href="https://kahimyang.com/kauswagan/articles/1188/today-in-philippine-history-june-18-1908-the-university-of-the-philippines-was-established" class="news_link">University of the Philippines</a> (UP) Manila's College of Liberal Arts.
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<p>
The exact circumstances that enabled him to study at Silliman in Dumaguete City are not recorded in existing sources. What is clear is that Silliman would have been an appealing choice: it provided a high-quality American-style education, welcomed driven Filipino boys from diverse backgrounds, and was already gaining a reputation as one of the country's leading academic institutions.
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<p>
During his five years studying medicine at what is now UP Manila's College of Medicine, Dr. Lara worked multiple jobs including electrician and janitor to pay for his studies. He finished his undergraduate degree in 1919 and became a resident physician at the Philippine General Hospital's laboratory department.
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<h2>
Education and Advanced Training
</h2>
<p>
Recognizing his talent and hard work, the <a href="https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rockefeller Foundation</a> selected Dr. Lara as one of the first Filipino fellows. He earned his master's degree in Public Health from <a href="https://www.jhu.edu/" class="news-link-ext" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Johns Hopkins University</a> in Maryland in 1923 and his Ph.D. one year later. Later in his career, in 1948, he returned to medical school for postgraduate studies.
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<h2>
Establishing Public Health Institutions
</h2>
<p>
After completing his doctorate, Dr. Lara became the Head of the Department of Hygiene at UP College of Medicine. He then founded <b>UP Manila's School of Sanitation and Public Health</b>, which formally opened in June 1927. This school offered the Certificate in Public Health program and marked a major step forward for public health education in the Philippines. With support from the Rockefeller Foundation, a building was constructed for the school four years later. In 1986, it officially became the College of Public Health.
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<h2>
Disease Prevention Research
</h2>
<p>
Dr. Lara focused his research on five major infectious diseases: cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, measles, and diphtheria. His work had practical results that helped protect Filipinos:
</p>
<ul class="k-list">
<li>
<b>Cholera research</b>: After investigating a cholera outbreak in Romblon in 1926, Dr. Lara proved that the disease could spread through contaminated seafood. His findings matched earlier discoveries by Japanese researchers.
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<li>
<b>Water safety</b>: His studies of dysentery and typhoid cases in Manila showed the connection to untreated water from the Marikina river. This led to the filtration and chlorination of Manila's water system.
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<li>
<b>Diphtheria studies</b>: From 1922 to 1924, Dr. Lara examined diphtheria carriers to understand how the disease spread and how to prevent it.
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<li>
<b>Measles and weather</b>: He investigated whether weather affected measles cases in Manila but found no significant connection.
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</ul>
<p>
Dr. Lara also established the Philippines' first urban and rural health demonstration units in Binangonan, Rizal and Paco, Manila.
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January 15, 1894: Hilario D. G. Lara was Born in Cavite

January 15, 1894: Dr. Hilario Lara was born in Imus. Discover how the Father of Modern Public Health pioneered disease prevention in the Philippines.


January 15, 1894: Dr. Hilario D. G. Lara was born in Imus, Cavite