Team Philippines Bags Silver, Bronze Medals in 52nd International Chemistry Olympiad

The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) is proud to announce that the country’s competing delegates in the 52nd International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) took home one silver and three bronze medals from the annual event. Slated to be physically held in Istanbul, Turkey, this edition of the IChO featured 235 high school students from sixty countries, and had to be conducted online for the first time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In its virtual closing ceremony held on July 30, the IChO awarded medals and citations to the winners. The medalists from the Philippines are:

Silver Medalist
Michael Cole Tantoco (Philippine Science High School [PSHS] Main Campus)

Bronze Medalists
Nathan Wayne Ariston (PSHS Central Mindanao Campus)
Ron Angelo Gelacio (PSHS Main Campus)
Stefan Marcus Ong (Saint Jude Catholic School)

While the gold medal is still elusive, this year’s medal haul is the country’s best-ever performance and also marks the first time that all delegates from Team Philippines will take home one medal each.

Serving as this year’s main coaching staff are: Dr Faith Marie Lagua (De La Salle University), head coach and mentor; Dr Jose Andaya (PSHS CALABARZON Campus), head mentor and country coordinator; and Dr Nestor Valera (Ateneo de Manila University) and Dr Hilbert Magpantay (De La Salle University), coaches and mentors.

First held in 1968, the IChO is an annual competition for high school students in the field of chemistry. The Philippines sent its maiden competing delegation to the competition in 2017, taking home two bronze medals.

Congratulations from the ICP!

Posted in News.