From the Neighborhood Courts to the Halls of Science: The Inspiring Journey of Dr. Rolando T. Candidato, Jr.

He didn’t choose Physics—Physics chose him, or more precisely, his mother did. When a DOST-SEI scholarship offered the highest allowance for the course, she told him, “Take Physics. It has the biggest allowance.” That single, practical decision set Dr. Rolando T. Candidato Jr. on a lifelong path of discovery and innovation.

Known to his family as Jun-jun, and to friends and colleagues simply as Tano, he grew from a curious boy in Iligan City into one of the country’s promising physicists—an Outstanding Young Scientist recognized for advancing plasma spray technology in the Philippines. His journey from humble beginnings to scientific excellence is a story of perseverance, purpose, and the power of saying yes to unexpected opportunities.

Humble Beginnings of a Scientist

Dr. Rolando T. Candidato Jr., who hails from Ubaldo D. Laya in Iligan City, spent his formative years surrounded by a vibrant and close-knit community. He attended Ubaldo D. Laya Memorial School, where he consistently excelled in his studies and graduated as class valedictorian in 1999.

His mother ran a small sari-sari store—open some days, closed on others—while his father, a military man, was often away on duty. With three other siblings close in age, expenses like school fees and daily allowances were a challenge, so Dr. Candidato learned early on to find ways to earn. As a young boy, he cleaned a neighbor’s house, washed cars, and even helped transport goods from nearby towns. He often played billiards in their neighborhood, and sometimes older players would pay him to compete on their behalf. Winning a game meant extra money—enough to buy small things or help his mother. These early experiences taught him the value of resourcefulness and determination.

 

Despite these responsibilities, Dr. Candidato remained active in school and the community. He joined sports and journalism contests, played baseball, sepak takraw, and basketball, and developed lasting friendships across neighboring barangays. His exposure to different social environments—both stable and struggling—helped him understand people from all walks of life and sharpened his sense of adaptability.

 

He also grew up aware of the challenges in his surroundings, including the prevalence of vices like gambling and drugs. Yet, guided by his father’s discipline and his own sense of purpose, Dr. Candidato avoided such influences. He preferred to spend his energy into studies, sports, and side hustles to save for his allowance. 

Discovering a Passion for Science

In high school, Dr. Candidato’s love for sports continued. He spent entire weekends playing basketball with friends, starting early in the morning and ending at late night. His competitiveness, first shaped in the neighborhood courts, soon carried over to academics. Though he began high school in the fourth section, by his second year he had moved up to the first section and became an honor student.

Initially, he preferred history and politics over the sciences. But in his third year, a teacher changed everything—his physics teacher, Mr. Dennis Laput. Strict yet brilliant, Mr. Laput could answer every question and explain how forces, motion, and energy governed the world. Dr. Candidato was captivated. Physics, he realized, could explain almost everything.

Through his childhood experiences, Dr. Candidato cultivated qualities that would later shape his journey as a scientist—curiosity, perseverance, and resilience. His early life taught him not just how to survive, but how to observe, analyze, and learn from the world around him—a foundation that would guide his scientific path in the years to come.

A Turning Point: From Restless Student to Aspiring Physicist

By his fourth year in high school, Dr. Candidato began to lose focus after years of diligence. Having spent nearly a decade striving for top grades, he felt burned out. Still, despite his absences, he managed to stay within the top fifteen of his class.

When graduation came, life took an unexpected turn—his younger brother fell ill with dengue hemorrhagic fever, straining the family’s limited finances. In the midst of these challenges, Dr. Candidato took the DOST-SEI scholarship examination—a test he would later describe as the hardest he had ever taken.

When results came out, he passed both the DOST scholarship and the entrance exam for the Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT). He was ready to enroll in Accountancy when his mother intervened:
“Choose the course with the highest allowance,” she said. “Take Physics.”

Reluctant but obedient, Dr. Candidato followed her advice—unaware that this choice would define his life’s direction.

Finding His Place in Physics

When he entered MSU-IIT in 2003, Physics was unfamiliar territory. But his DOST scholarship gave him purpose—and an allowance of ₱3,450 a month gave him independence. He joined the Summer Orientation and Enrichment Program for DOST-SEI scholars, where he met lifelong friends and gained the confidence to thrive in college.

Though he struggled in his first years, he persisted. His classmates shared notes and encouragement; his professors challenged him. He played basketball on the side, served as Sports Committee Co-chairperson in the College of Science and Mathematics, and became known by his nickname, Tano—a name derived from his middle initial, Rolando Tano Candidato Jr.—that would later carry into his professional life.

Physics demanded discipline, and Dr. Candidato learned it the hard way. One professor, Dr. Joselito Uy, became a turning point. Known for his brilliance and strictness, Dr. Uy’s approach in Linear Algebra nearly caused Dr. Candidato to fail, but his persistence and determination not only earned him a passing grade, it became one of his most formative experiences under a truly remarkable teacher.

By his senior year, he had found his footing in the program. He finished his BS Physics in 2007, then immediately pursued a DOST-SEI graduate studies’ scholarship. Under the mentorship of Dr. Reynaldo M. Vequizo, he explored the properties of zinc sulfide and its transformation into zinc oxide—his first real step into materials science.

His master’s thesis in Physics later won First Place in the DOST-PCASTRD (now PCIEERD) Outstanding Thesis and Dissertation Competition, besting entries from top universities in the country.

Forging a Path in Research

Encouraged by his mentors, Dr. Candidato chose academia over industry. He began teaching at MSU-IIT in 2009 and found fulfillment in mentoring young and future physicists. His curiosity led him deeper into materials research and, later, to plasma spray technology—a field that would define his scientific career.

By 2014, a collaboration between MSU-IIT and the University of Limoges in France opened the door for him to pursue a doctorate degree on bioactive and bioceramic materials. Moving abroad was challenging, but he thrived. His research on zinc-doped hydroxyapatite coatings for biomedical implants—adding antibacterial properties through plasma spraying—was groundbreaking. 

After earning his doctorate degree in 2017, he chose to return home, determined to bring his knowledge back to the Philippines. He helped establish research collaborations, co-founded the Nano Society of the Philippines, and worked to integrate plasma spray technology into local innovation systems.

His expertise later led to a collaboration with the Advanced Manufacturing in Medicine Laboratory at Zamboanga City Medical Center, where he applied plasma spraying to 3D-printed PEEK (polyether ether ketone) as mandibular implants. Through this process, he coated PEEK with bioactive materials, allowing them to be safely fitted into the human body without being rejected as foreign objects.

In 2025, his dedication was recognized when he was named one of the Outstanding Young Scientists (OYS) by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines  (NAST PHL)—a distinction that affirmed his years of hard work, leadership, and mentorship.

Grounded in Family, Driven by Purpose

Outside of work, Dr. Candidato remains deeply family-oriented. His mornings begin early—preparing breakfast, driving his wife to work and his children to school, and fetching them afterward. He proudly takes on the roles of cook, driver, and market-goer, setting aside what he calls a “holy hours” for his family each day.

In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, especially basketball and volleyball, and encouraging his youngest child to stay active in sports, like swimming, badminton and basketball. He also keeps a close eye on politics and social issues, believing that governance and science are deeply interconnected.

“If we have sound policies, we can achieve scientific progress—and scientific progress, in turn, inspires better policymaking,” he explains. “Innovation begins when governance values knowledge.”

Message to the Youth

“To the young minds out there,” Dr. Candidato urges, “pursue a career in science and engineering. We need more innovators like you to advance scientific progress—for our country, for humankind, and for the environment.”

He reminds aspiring scientists that research must serve both people and the planet. “Protect our Earth through science. Choose a path that benefits not just ourselves, but the generations to come. And in particular,” he adds with a smile, “I encourage you to explore Physics—join us.”