¿ Studied Marine biology
¿ Achieved Ph.D. degree in Biotechnology at University of Karlsruhe, Germany, Dept. of Technical
Biology
¿ Author of numerous books and articles about multiple genera of sharks, Water chemistry, climate
change impact on aquatic/Antarctic organisms, and for biotechnological methods to cultivate marine
organisms for biotechnological use
¿ Currency collector for over 20 yrs. (paper money/coins)
¿ Mainly focused on Indonesian and Philippine currency issued during WWII
¿ Raised intention to update Shafer 1974¿s 1st edition about 6 to 7 years ago
¿ Collaborated with Neil until his death in Aug. 2023 to publish a 2nd edition of the book

With the invasion of the Philippines by the Japanese, supplies of currency by the Philippine National Bank (P.N.B.) were interrupted, and an alternative was needed to enable daily commerce to prevent the collapse of payment transfers in unoccupied areas. Therefore, President Quezon authorized the issue of several million pesos. However, many areas were disconnected from this currency supply and were forced to issue unauthorized currency as an emergency measure.
This emergency or guerrilla currency was legal tender only in the areas not under control of the Japanese. How these notes were printed is quite an interesting story, as often no printing facilities were available, nor was there a permanent supply with paper or ink. In many cases, carved woodblocks were used for the printing and primitive native dye was used as ink. Many different types of paper were used for notes production, such as wrapping paper, ledger books, newspapers, ballots, and office forms or whatever would serve the purpose. The printing process was often interrupted by dismantling printing equipment to avoid capture by the Japanese, resulting in numerous varieties of notes and patterns.
Although some inter-island or inter-province acceptance of guerrilla currency occurred, the notes circulated primarily in their areas of issue, or in adjacent areas only. Because paper and other supplies were severely limited, it was not possible to supply such commodities to municipal governments, local currency boards and smaller military units. They were left to meet their own needs for small change as best they could. Most municipal currency was issued by local civilian officials, with or without authorization. Some guerrilla or military units had no other way to pay local vendors for needed supplies except in promissory notes. Often these pieces cite the backing of the United States to increase their degree of acceptance and guarantee their redeemability. The guerrilla currency notes were widespread, and many of them survived the war. Nonetheless, such notes are much harder to find than provincial issues, as they were printed in such limited quantities. Despite penalties for discrimination against these notes, they never did achieve acceptance on par with regular Philippine banknotes. For the Filipinos, it was a sign of resistance against the invaders when accepting the guerrilla notes for daily exchange.
The Japanese government outlawed the possession of emergency or guerrilla currency and declared a monopoly on the issuance of money. Draconian punishments were imposed on anyone found to possess guerrilla notes, including arrest and execution. To be caught by the Japanese in possession of the outlawed notes often caused torture or even execution of the bearer. Despite the announced punishments, especially in free areas or those under control of Allied forces, printing of war notes continued until the surrender of Japan in August 1945.