Anacleto del Rosario

Anacleto del Rosario was born on July 13, 1860, at Santa Cruz, Manila to Eugenio del Rosario and Casimira del Rosario (née. Sales). He was the sixth of eleven children in the family. His father was a cordon manufacturer for the Spanish colonial army in the Philippines. His father died when he was five years old. The del Rosario family lived in the district of Quiotan, now named Sales after the maternal family name. The family relied on selling fruits and vegetables for a living. His mother Casimira taught the young Anacleto on how to read the alphabet.[2]

Anacleto del Rosario first studied in a private institution, and his rather stern relative was his guardian who supervised his schooling. In return for the tutelage of his guardian, Anacleto had to wash the bottles in his Aunt's drugstore. Accounts from his son Jose relates that he escapes through the window of the bathroom of their own home just to go out and borrow books from classmates. His uncle, a lawyer, also supervised his schooling.

At the age of 13, he enrolled into Ateneo de Manila University as a third-year student. His intellect and diligence led him to earn the respect of his own schoolmates. He joined the Congregacion Mariana, a religious organization which only allows students of high moral and academic standing to join. He also became the president of the said organization. During this time he met José Rizal and he became acquainted with him. During his years in Ateneo, he made and sold electric bells, household fixtures, and toys to earn money. He gained his Bachelor in Arts degree on April 1, 1876, with the highest honors (Nota Maxima).

At the age of 16, along with José Rizal, he enrolled into University of Santo Tomas. He faced financial problems while studying in the University of Santo Tomas so he enrolled again into the Ateneo de Manila University. He studied land surveying and took part-time jobs. He received a degree in land surveying in 1881. He surveyed large tracts of land especially from affluent families such as the Aranetas and the Lopezes. Using the money earned from surveying, he decided to buy a microscope and books relating to microbiology. At the age of 22, he received a degree in pharmacy with the highest honors (sobresaliente), and a year later a Master of Science degree in pharmacy (Licenciatura). Other degrees include a preparatory course in Natural History (1876-1877), first year in Plant Pharmaceutical Matter (1877-1878), second year in Animal and Mineral Pharmaceutical Matter (1878-1879), third year in Chemical-inorganic Pharmacy (1879-1880), and fourth year in Chemical-organic Pharmacy (1880-1881). All of these except his first year has the highest honors. His first year has a high honors (notable).[2]

Anacleto del Rosario first engaged in the pharmaceutical business. He first partnered with Don Enrique Perez and Don Benito Legarda in the importation and selling of pharmaceutical products. He started his own pharmacy from selling his own share in the partnership and named the pharmacy Farmacia A. del Rosario on calle San. Fernando, Binondo, (now San. Fernando St.). He then became a chemist at the LA Rosario distillery. During the outbreak of cholera in June 1882, under Fernando Primo de Rivera, he was assigned to the Lazareto de Mariveles. This piqued his interest in bacteriology and made extensive studies about the causes of cholera. Robert Koch isolated the Vibrio cholerae bacteria two years later in 1884.

On June 17, 1882, he was appointed as a pharmacist member (Vocal farmaceutico) of the Commission of Health. He also became a member of the Junta Inspectora de Bilibid on March 11, 1883. Two years later, it was named the Farmacetuco municipal de Binondo.[2]

He married into Valeriana Valdezco even if her parents initially disapproved of him due to his financial condition.

He had three children altogether

• Jose del Rosario, a chemist
• Luis del Rosario, S.J., bishop then archbishop of Zamboanga
• Rosa del Rosario

He was described in his youth as a gentle and sweet person in deposition. He was a devout Catholic. In his later years, he was described as an enthusiastic person that wanted to share his experiences to the public.

• “El Analysis Quimico de las Aguas Minerales,” in La Oceania Española (November 8, 14, 15, 1885)
• “La Leche de Caraballa,” ibid., (March 28, 1885)
• Los Olores del Pasig (Manila 1886)
• Apuntes para el Estudio de un Nuevo Entófito (Manila 1887)
• Resultado de los Analysis Micro-quimicos en la Provincia de Manila (1888)
• “Contribución al Estudio de la Esencia de Ilang-ilang,” in Revisita Farmaceutica de Filipinas, (January 3, March 3, and April 3 in 1893)
• “El Guano de Filipinas,” ibid., (May 3, 1893)
• Analysis de la Orina en el Beri-beri (1895)
• La Leche fe Caraballa (1895)

• José Rizal
• Trinidad Pardo de Tavera
• León María Guerrero (botanist)
• Science and technology in the Philippines