Born: 1926, Philippines
Died: 29 November 2011
Country most active: Philippines
Also known as: Leonora Paraan
The following was written by Nina Baker and is excerpted from the book From Alchemy to Transport Phenomena: A Global History of Women in Chemical Engineering.
Next, chronologically, in Asia, come two women who are both claimed as the ‘first woman chemical engineer in the Philippines’. Carmen Montoro (née Pinero) (1921-2009) was a chemical engineer with Grace Cocoa (later Ambrosia Chocolate) for 30 years in Manila and may have been a member of the American Association (Institution) of Chemical Engineers, but beyond that not much is known of her work.
Pinero’s near contemporary, Leonora San Agustin (née Paraan) (1926-2022), graduated cum laude from Adamson University, Manila, in 1939 and initially researched and taught in chemical engineer at at the University of the Cordilleras (formerly the Baguio Colleges) before spending some time in the beauty products industry (Malanes 2011). However most of her long academic career was in the humanities. Her great love for the Baguio region, tribal cultures and its biodiversity led to her becoming curator of the Baguio museum and becoming one of the ‘3 Witches of Baguio’ campaigning to save urban treescapes.