PHILIPPINE National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal is known for his martyrdom, for his books Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo and for founding the secret organization La Liga Filipina.
His name has been attached to countless paintings, books, sculptures, movies, roads, towns, cities, ships, bridges, buildings, currency and even bodies of water in the Philippines and in many countries around the world.
As a scientist? Less is known about that aspect of Rizal’s life, Science Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña and Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara said at an online news conference early this week.
To acknowledge and to emulate him as a scientist, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) inaugurated the 3D-printed 12.5-feet Rizal, the Filipino Scientist statue on its grounds in Bicutan, Taguig City, on December 30, the 125th anniversary of his martyrdom.
The first large 3D-printed monument in the country was designed to last long and was built to withstand 330-kph typhoons and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes.
“Through this project, I hope we will be able to see another aspect of Rizal’s life,” de la Peña said in Filipino during the online news conference early this week announcing the inauguration of the statue.
De la Peña and Guevara agreed that the 3D-printed monument will serve as a tribute to Rizal’s “prolific contribution” to the country, especially in the field of science.
“As a scientist, Rizal contributed samples of animals, plants and insects to museums in Europe. Even his exile in Dapitan proved his abilities as an expert surveyor [perito agrimensor] and an engineer by providing a working water system in the province,” Guevara said at the same news conference.
“He is honored as an ophthalmologist, a scientist, a naturalist and an engineer—accomplishments that are almost unheard of in the 1800s,” Guevara added.
De la Peña expressed a wish that Rizal’s expertise and life as a scientist would provide lessons and serve as inspiration so people could give attention to science and technology at this time and in the future.
World-class technology
THE 3D-printed statue was designed by sculptor Prof. Manuel Sicat of the University of the Philippines College of Fine Arts, using the world-class technology of Advanced Manufacturing Center (Amcen) of the DOST with the help of the department’s scientists and engineers.
The research and building of the statue and its platform cost P12.09 million, Guevara said.
De la Peña quipped that if Rizal were still alive, maybe he would go to Amcen and create products using its 3D technology.
“Rizal is naturally creative. I am sure he will be happy to experiment using our new technology,” he said in Filipino.
“What is a more fitting way than to use advanced technology such as 3D printing in honoring his life and legacy, and in keeping his memory alive in our hearts and in our minds,” de la Peña said.
Guevara said in using 3D-printing technology from the top-of-the-line advanced manufacturing facility and state-of-the-art prototyping laboratory of DOST-Amcen, “we can tell the story of Rizal in a more creative medium.”
She added that the strength of the monument outlines the DOST’s capability to produce sturdy structures from 3D-printing technology that can withstand supertyphoons and earthquakes.
“This is how the outputs of R&D [research and development] enabled the harmony of science and the arts,” she said.
She noted that Rizal himself became famous with a sculpture titled, The Triumph of Science Over Death, a gift to his friend Ferdinand Blumentritt.
Concept: Human side of Rizal
IN a video, Sicat said his 2-feet clay model sculpture was 3D-scanned and printed to create a new art form to build the 12.5-feet statue.
He explained that the sculpture showed the human side of Rizal.
There are children playing around and interacting with him and showing the national hero’s various contributions to science and technology (S&T) in the country.
His right hand is extended to a child, as if giving knowledge to the next generation, while his left hand is extending to an empty space, symbolizing the possibilities of how S&T could be used.
At the ground level is the irrigation system that Rizal made with the use of bamboo.
At his right, a child is holding a flying lizard, symbolizing the one that was named in his honor after he discovered it in Dapitan City in Zamboanga.
Sicat said the sculpture did not only feature Rizal’s contributions in S&T, but also gives the message that knowledge in S&T should be disseminated to the people.
“With this aim, the DOST would like to extend to the people Rizal’s services in S&T,” Sicat said in Filipino.
Consulted historians, scientists
GUEVARA said the DOST consulted the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), national scientists and historians to check if using the theme of Rizal as a scientist is correct historically.
Sicat’s concept was later approved by the group.
At the same time, Guevara explained that the DOST’s theme, “Rizal: The Filipino Scientist,” jibed with the NHCP’s “Rizal for Science, Truth and Life” as its theme for the 125th year of his martyrdom.
The Instagrammable statue is open for students’ field trips, and could even be a tourism magnet for the DOST, de la Peña said.
As part of the commemoration, Dr. Marietta Sumagaysay, executive director of the National Research Council of the Philippines, said in a video message at the event that a series of webinars will be held by the different DOST agencies until March 2022.
Building of the first 3-D printed monument in PHL
ENGR. Robert Dizon, executive director of Metals Industry Research and Development Center of the DOST, said the construction of the Rizal monument posed some challenges.
He said from the 2-feet clay model of Sicat, they had the big challenge of how to scale it up to 12.5 feet high and which, as some contractors said, would take six months using traditional methods.
To hasten the process that started in October and was projected to be ready by December 30, they used the 3D scanner to scale it up and several 3D printers of Amcen for the different segments of the statue.
At the same time, they had to consider that it also has to withstand both strong typhoons and earthquakes.
In selecting the materials, Dizon said metal was not used because of its very prohibitive cost.
Limited to the use of polymers, such as plastics or resins, Dizon said they needed to get the best material “that could withstand outdoor environments, including UV rays, moisture from rain and humidity” to which it will be exposed 24 hours a day.
His team decided to use acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) resin—which is resistant to UV rays, heat and cold, and chemicals, waterproof and is machinable.
The BusinessMirror’s Internet search said that ASA is commonly used for outdoor and automotive applications due to its strong weather and color fade resistance, among others. It is also used in exterior siding, automotive side mirror housings, signage, marine applications and other consumer electronics.
Dizon explained that the project is not just a statue-construction activity. “It is an R&D undertaking on the suitability of ASA for use on outdoor monuments,” he said.
“After the unveiling we will be observing and monitoring some of the parameters for at least six months, only then can we conclude that it is a good material for an outdoor monument,” he added.
If some parts degrade or get damaged, Dizon said they can easily print 3D replacement parts or segments.
3D-printed houses, bridges
GUEVARA and de la Peña said that the 3D technology that produced the sturdy Rizal statue will be used in the making or repair of bridges and buildings damaged by disasters.
“The monument is just the beginning of what can be done with 3D printing. But [the other uses] are still under research,” Guevara said partly in Filipino.
De la Peña said R&D is ongoing in Bataan State University to build 3D-printed housing.
With the 3D-printing technology from DOST-Amcen, Guevara said “we can broaden our creative boundaries and think of more ways to engage in projects that promote pride in our country and continuously inspire the next generation to fight for our country, just like Rizal,” she said.
De la Peña and Dizon said Rizal spouted many ideas to and about the youth, including “Ang kabataan ay pag-asa ng bayan [The youth is the hope of the nation].”
“We hope this statue will inspire the new generation of young scientists to aim high and reach their dreams and help contribute to nation building,” Dizon said.
The Science chief said he hopes to see many Filipinos, especially among the youth, taking up natural science courses and inventing and innovating devices for people’s daily use.
“I hope the youth will see the importance of science and technology, like in the importance that Dr. Jose Rizal gave to it,” de la Peña said.