From Collecting Coconut Shells to Europe

A Journey from the Forests of Leyte to a PhD at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

by Prof. Ruffy M. Rodrigo, PhD

People often see the title "Doctor" or read my list of academic degrees and publications, but very few know where my story truly began.

My journey did not start in a university laboratory or a modern classroom. It began in a small, remote village on Leyte Island in the Philippines, where life was simple and opportunities were scarce. As a child, I spent countless hours roaming the forest—not as a scientist, but as a young boy helping my family make ends meet. I collected coconut husks/shells to sell for a few pesos, gathered firewood for cooking, climbed trees, and walked forest trails that became my playground and my first classroom. At that time, I never imagined that those same forests would shape my life's calling.

Those early experiences taught me resilience, hard work, and respect for nature. The forest was not merely a collection of trees; it was a source of livelihood, hope, and survival. Looking back, I realize that long before I learned the science of forestry, I had already developed a deep connection with the natural world.

Education became my path toward transforming that childhood dream into reality.

I earned my bachelor's degree in Forestry from Visayas State University, made possible through the generosity of a nonprofit organization in Germany that believed education could change lives. Their support opened a door that once seemed impossible for a child from a remote rural community.

Determined to continue learning, I pursued a Master of Science in Forestry through the Department of Science and Technology's Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (DOST-ASTHRDP) scholarship. That opportunity strengthened my scientific foundation and deepened my commitment to forestry research in the Philippines.

My journey then extended beyond my homeland. Through a prestigious German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) scholarship, I earned a second Master of Science in Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology at the University of Göttingen, Germany. For the first time, I experienced studying and conducting research in European forests, expanding my understanding of forest ecosystems from a global perspective.

The greatest chapter of this journey began in 2018, when I moved to the Czech Republic to pursue my doctorate at the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU). For six years, until my graduation in 2024, Europe became my second home. My research brought me into some of the continent's oldest and most pristine forests, where I conducted extensive fieldwork throughout the Carpathian and Dinaric Mountains. I studied ancient beech and spruce forests, collected thousands of tree-ring samples, and investigated how centuries of natural disturbances shaped the structure and dynamics of Europe's remaining primary forests.

Standing beneath trees that had lived for hundreds of years was a humbling experience. Yet, every time I entered those magnificent forests, I remembered the forests of my childhood in Leyte—the same forests where I once gathered coconut husks and firewood. Those memories reminded me that although my surroundings had changed, my roots remained firmly planted in the Philippines.

In 2024, I successfully earned my Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry Engineering, specializing in Forest Biology, from the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague. Along the way, my research resulted in numerous publications in Scopus and Web of Science indexed journals, contributing to international knowledge on forest ecology, disturbance dynamics, biodiversity, and sustainable forest management.

Today, I serve as Associate Professor V in the Department of Forest Science at Biliran Province State University, where I continue teaching, mentoring young researchers, and conducting scientific studies that bridge local forestry challenges with global scientific advances.

When people ask me what "From Woods to World" means, my answer is simple.

It is the story of a young boy who once wandered through forests collecting coconut husks/shells to earn a few pesos, who gathered firewood to help his family, and who dreamed without knowing how those dreams would come true. It is the story of scholarships that opened doors, mentors who believed in potential, and countless sacrifices made by family, teachers, and friends. Most importantly, it is proof that where we begin does not determine where we can go.

The forests of Leyte gave me my roots. The forests of Europe gave me new horizons. Together, they shaped not only the scientist I have become but also the person I aspire to be.

If my journey can inspire one child growing up in a remote community to believe that education can transform a life, then every difficult step along the way has been worthwhile.

From the forests of a small Philippine village to the ancient forests of Europe, the journey continues—guided by curiosity, grounded in humility, and rooted in the enduring belief that dreams can grow as tall as the trees that first inspired them.

This article was published on the official website of Biliran Province State University (BiPSU):

From Woods to World: BiPSU Faculty, International Scholar Earns PhD in Forestry from Czech University in Europe