Alejandro Melchor (1900-1947) was a

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

civil engineer, mathematician, educator, and physist member of the Cabinet of the Philippines. A native of Ibajay, Aklan, Melchor was also known for his work on pontoon bridges during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. The historic Melchor Hall in the

University of the Philippines The University of the Philippines (UP; fil, Pamantasan ng Pilipinas Unibersidad ng Pilipinas) is a state university system in the Philippines. It is the country's national university, as mandated by Republic Act No. 9500 (UP Charter of 200 ...

Diliman campus is named after him. The hall houses most of the units of the

UP College of Engineering The College of Engineering of the University of the Philippines Diliman is the largest degree-granting unit in the U.P. System in terms of student population. The college is also known formally as UP COE, COE, and informally as Eng'g (pronounced ...

. A building in the Philippine Military Academy was also named in his honor.

Education

In 1924, Melchor graduated in civil engineering with the highest honors from the

. By then, the

College of Engineering Engineering education is the activity of teaching knowledge and principles to the professional practice of engineering. It includes an initial education (bachelor's and/or master's degree), and any advanced education and specializations that ...

was barely fifteen years old and was still located in the Manila campus.

Career

During the term of Edward R. Hyde as dean of the

(from 1926 to 1940), Alejandro Melchor served as the College Secretary. Prior to this position, Melchor was a regular member of the engineering faculty. Considered a brilliant mathematician in his time, Melchor also became the head of the

mathematics Mathematics is an area of knowledge that includes the topics of numbers, formulas and related structures, shapes and the spaces in which they are contained, and quantities and their changes. These topics are represented in modern mathematics ...

department of the Philippine Military Academy. Melchor was known for designing the pontoon bridges used by the U.S. Army during the

. According t

Melchor's work "contributed significantly in winning the war for the Allies of World War II, Allied Forces". Melchor also attained the rank of

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

. Melchor served in the war cabinet of President Sergio Osmeña as military adviser. This was during the Second World War, when the Philippine government was in exile. He died in 1947.

References

UP COE History
Retrieved on October 30, 2006. {{DEFAULTSORT:Melchor, Alejandro People from Aklan University of the Philippines faculty 1900 births 1947 deaths University of the Philippines Manila alumni Advisers to the President of the Philippines Osmeña administration cabinet members 20th-century Filipino engineers