Dr. Roman Lucero Kintanar
Roman Lucero Kintanar was born on June 13, 1929 in Cebu City. He received his Bachelor of Science in Physics at the University of the Philippines in 1951. Roman was the son of Agustin Y. Kintanar and Pureza Lucero.
He became director of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration on August 1, 1958, becoming the youngest director at the age of 29. He held the position as director from 1958 to 1994. He was president of the World Meteorological Organizations or WMO from 1979 to 1987. His father was a congressman and he was fifth of 12 children. In 1953 with a Fullbright Scholarship he took a Masters Degree in Physics at the University of Texas.
Dr. Kintanar also served as Permanent Representative of the Philippines with WMO from 1959 to 1995. He was vice president of WMO Regional Association V (South-West Pacific) from 1962 to 1966. He became a member of the Executive Council for 22 years and Chairman of the Executive Council Panel of Experts on Education and Training for 16 years (1979 to 1995).
Dr. Kintanar died on May 6, 2007 but before his death an asteroid, 6636, was named after him in 2007 for his contributions to the science of meteorology. The asteroid circles the Sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter and measuring 4 to 9 kilometers in diameter. It was the International Astronomical Union that officially christened Minor Planet No. 6636. In response to the naming of the asteroid in his honor, Dr. Kintanar (he was still alive when the asteroid was named after him, it was named on April, a month before he died) said: "This is such a big honor for me" and "I feel that my efforts in the past are well compensated by this unique accolade."
It was the Astronomical League of the Philippines that proposed to the IAU to name the asteroid in honor of Dr. Kintanar because of his long service and innumerable contributions to the weather forecasting in the Philippines.
The asteroid was discovered on September 11, 1988 by Bulgarian Astronomer, Vladimir Georgiev Shkodrov at Rozhen Observatory. Aside from 6636 Kintanar minor planets were also named after Filipinos. There is Asteriod Edwelda named after Edwin L. Aguirre and Imelda B. Joson. They wrote the book on Hailey's Comet published in 1985.
The asteroids, 13241 Biyo, 11697 Estrella, 12088 Macalintal and 12522 Rara were named after a Filipino teacher (Josette Biyo) and her students, Allan Noel Estrella, Jeric Valles Macalintal and Prem Vilas Fortran M. Rara. This was their reward for winning the 2002 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America.
In 2005, Asteriod 4896 was given an official name as Badillo, after Fr. Victor L. Badillo, the former Director of the Jesuit-run Manila Observatory in Quezon City and one of the founders of the Philippine Astronomical Society.
He was a recipient of the following awards: Parangal ng PAGASA Award in 1978, Lingkod Bayan Award, Career Executive Service Board in 1980, Public Service Award from the Office of the President in 1981, Presidential Citation Award in 1996 by then President Fidel V. Ramos and Philippine Legion of Honor with the Rank of Grand Officer (Marangal na Pinuno) for his work in various international cooperations for tropical cyclone and earthquake disaster migration programs during the term of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Dr. Lucero married Generosa (Genie) Perez on January 10, 1959. He christined his children with patriotic names, his two sons, he named them, Maharlika and Tagumpay while his daughter, he named her Lualhati (Ningning).
The ESCAP (Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) WMO Typhoon Committee gives the "Dr. Kintanar Award" which under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East and the WMO.
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