Team Philippines Bags Two Bronze Medals at 50th International Chemistry Olympiad


A proud Team Philippines during the closing ceremony of the 50th International Chemistry Olympiad in Prague, Czech Republic.

The 50th International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) was held last July 19 to 29, 2018 in two European countries. The opening ceremony to welcome all participants had been in Bratislava, Slovakia, while the closing ceremony was held in Prague, Czech Republic. This has only been the second year that our country has been able to participate and raise the Philippine flag at the IChO stage, and this year’s participation was made possible by the people behind the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies (PFCS); the Philippine Association of Chemistry Teachers (PACT) in which the Team Philippines’ country coordinator or head mentor is a part of; the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) and; the Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas (KKP). It is also due to the financial help provided by the Main and Calabarzon Campuses of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) and the group of Team Philippines would like to thank all of these organizations and groups for the support they have provided.

This year’s IChO was participated by 76 countries with 300 high school students, for a maximum of 4 students per country. The four Philippine representatives were chosen from the winners of the Regional and National Chemistry Olympiad that were held and handled by the KKP earlier this year. They are composed of three students from Philippine Science High School-Main Campus and one student from the Philippine Science High School-Central Luzon Campus. Mr. Julius Victorious A. Saluria, from PSHS-MC, acted as the coach while Dr. Jose M. Andaya, the Campus Director of the PSHS-Calabarzon Region Campus, acted as the country coordinator or head mentor.

Among the 300 students, 35 received gold medals; 65 received silver medals; and 95 received bronze medals. Two of our students, Israel M. Aguba and Julius DL. Macling, received bronze medals. Our other two student contestants are Arthur Reiner V. De Belen (bronze medallist, 49th IChO) and Galen Noel G. Nifas. The top 5 students who received the Gold medals were from China, Russia, Korea, USA and Singapore, and it was the student from China who topped the Olympiad.

As mentioned, this has only been the second year that the Philippines has joined the Olympiad. Considering that the high school Chemistry curriculum in the Philippines still isn’t aligned with some foreign countries, receiving two bronze medals counts as a great achievement for us. We are optimistic that this year’s competition and our experiences with it will further open up a lot of opportunities for the years to come for International Chemistry Olympiad.

This article was written by Dr Jose Andaya, director of the Philippine Association of Chemistry Teachers, campus director of PSHS-Calabarzon Campus, and the coordinator of Team Philippines to the 50th IChO. The ICP is very proud of the performance of Team Philippines in the 50th IChO.

ICP Southern Mindanao Chapter Successfully Hosts General Assembly and Chemical Risk Management Seminar

The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) Southern Mindanao Chapter successfully organized a seminar on chemical risk management alongside its 14th Annual General Assembly last 1-2 August 2018 held at the Pinnacle Hotel and Suites, Davao City. Over 100 chemists, chemical technicians, and chemistry enthusiasts coming from the government, industry, and academe sectors participated in the two-day event.

Dubbed “Keeping the Laboratory Safe”, the first day of the seminar on chemical risk management invited Dr Patrick John Lim, a chemistry professor at the University of San Carlos in Cebu and the current chapter president of ICP-Cebu. He talked about the principles and aspects of chemical risk management, as well as risk assessment and mitigation controls and the safe disposal of laboratory chemical wastes. Meanwhile, Dr Irma Makalinao, chemistry professor at the University of the Philippines Manila and a technical expert of the Philippines on Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) weapons, discussed health hazards in the chemical laboratory, and the challenges and opportunities for chemical security in the Philippines. On the second day, Mr Frederick John Navarro (University of Southern Mindanao) discussed best practices on chemical handling and inventory, and emergency planning and incident response.

The event was also an opportunity to gather members of the chapter for its 14th Annual General Assembly. Ms Edna Mijares, Vice President for External Affairs of the ICP National Chapter, graced the event. The chapter also held its board election, with Ms Christina Marie Tupaz being elected as its chapter president.

ICP Southern Mindanao Chapter Elects New Set of Board Officers

The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) Southern Mindanao Chapter is pleased to announce the appointment of its newly-elected board officers. The election was held last 2 August 2018 during its 14th Annual General Assembly at the Pinnacle Hotel and Suites, Davao City. The officers are:

President: Christine Marie Tupaz
External Vice President: Michael Casas
Internal Vice President: Luzviminda Ranay
Secretary: Krizelle Pamplona
Treasurer: June Ann Bonilla
Auditor: Emerald Albores
Public Information Officer: Jodell Enero
Board Members: Carl Chris Manoos, April Aguilos

The ICP National Chapter looks forward to a more fruitful cooperation with the Tupaz Administration for the benefit of registered chemists and registered chemical technicians in their jurisdiction.

ICP Board Election 2018: Results

The ICP Election 2018 Committee is pleased to announce the results of the elections for ICP Board of Directors. The newly elected board members (in bold) who will serve from 2018 to 2021 are:

Academe
Lilibeth Coo, PhD (108)
Abstain (13)

Government
Rosalinda Torres, PhD (107)
Abstain (14)

Industry
Ms Edna Mijares (99)
Abstain (22)

Ballots received:
Valid: 121
Invalid: 14
Total: 135

We would like to thank all those who voted / participated in this election. Let us all continue to support the different activities of the ICP.

Sincerely,
ICP Election 2018 Committee
Fabian Dayrit, PhD (Chair)
Ludivinia Avendaño (Member)
Col. Victor Drapete (Member)

ICP-Bacolod President is 2018 PFCS Awardee for Chemical Industry

Ms. Roselyn Usero, chapter president of ICP-Bacolod, has been awarded by the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies (PFCS) as its 2018 PFCS Shimadzu Awardee for Chemical Industry. The award was given during the fellowship night of the 33rd Philippine Chemistry Congress held on May 30 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.

Ms. Roselyn Usero is an invaluable gem in the chemical industry and a gamechanger in shrimp culture and environmental science in the Visayas region. She is the current manager and laboratory head of the Negros Prawn Producers Cooperative Analytical and Diagnostic Laboratory (NPPCADL), a major contributor to the development of the prawn industry in Negros province. Under her leadership, the NPPCADL became the first, and currently only, private environmental laboratory in Region VI recognized by the Environment Management Bureau (EMB)-Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). NPPCADL is also recognized by the Department of Science & Technology (DOST), a status which qualifies it to obtain R&D grants. Her competence, excellence, and commendable track record have earned her various awards and recognition as principal author in various research papers presented at national shrimp congresses.

Ms. Usero is also the president of the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) Bacolod Chapter. Through her relentless dedication and leadership, ICP-Bacolod has flourished. As chapter president, she actively spearheaded the career orientation programs in secondary schools to campaign for the Chemistry Profession. She has been frequently organizing seminars and workshops for the updating and upgrading of chemical laboratories in Negros province. In 2017, she also spearheaded the first review session for the chemical technician licensure examination in Bacolod. This has been a big help in professionalizing the chemical laboratories in her home province attuned to the Chemistry Profession Act of 2015. This review session was instrumental in producing four Top 10 passers (two second placers, one 7th placer, and one 8th placer) with a 95% passing rate out of 36 takers.