OBJECTIVES

The Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies recognizes outstanding contributions to Chemistry through the PFCS Awards.  The awards aim to:

1. Inspire the youth to take up chemistry
2. Recognize outstanding contribution of chemists to development of discipline
3. Recognize outstanding and exemplary contributions to society through chemistry

The PFCS AWARDS will be given under four categories:

1. Chemistry Education
2. Chemical Research
3. Chemical Industry
4. Service to the Chemistry Profession

AWARDS CRITIERIA

I . Chemistry Education

Separate awards will be given for chemistry educators at the secondary and tertiary levels. Thus, nominations are invited from high school and college level chemistry teachers. The criteria for the nominee in each level are:

1. Nominees must have at least three years of teaching experience at the institution.
2. Nominees must have made an outstanding contribution to the teaching of chemistry such as the development of innovative approaches/tools to the teaching of chemistry researches in chemistry education and development of teaching materials. Please attach supporting documents.   
3. Nominations may be made by a school/university official or by a regular member of any of the chemical societies under the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies (PFCS).
4. Nominations must be endorsed by the school/principal department chair or by an officer of the regional chapter of one of the chemistry societies under the PFCS.

II. Chemical Research

1. The nominee must be a chemist who has conducted chemical research in the Philippines or must have contributed to chemical research through linkages with a Philippine researcher.
2. The nominees must have made significant contributions to his/her field as evidenced by any of the following: 1) papers published in the last five years, 2) research mentorship as measured by the number of theses advisees (B.S., M.S., and Ph.D.) and trainees supervised in the last five years. Please attach supporting documents including proof of completion of the project supervised.
3. Nominations must be made by the department chair/head of institution/ or by a regular member of any of the chemical societies under the PFCS. The nomination must make a statement of the significance of the work done.      

III. Chemical Industry

1. The nominee must be a chemist who has made a contribution to the chemistry related aspects of an industry in the Philippines through leadership, entrepreneurship, R&D management, process development and other means. Please attach supporting documents.
2. Nominations must be made by the head of institution or by a regular member of one of the chemistry societies under the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies. The nomination must state the significance and impact of the nominee’s contributions to the industry. 

IV. Service to the Chemistry Profession

This is a special award to recognize individuals (not necessarily chemists) who have made outstanding contributions to the upliftment of chemistry in the Philippines through leadership advocacy and exemplary work.

AWARD GUIDELINES

1. The following are excluded from the nominations: members of the PFCS board, members of the PFCS Awards Committee and the members of the National Organizing Committee and the Steering Committee for the 30th Philippine Chemistry Congress (PCC).
2. The nomination will be evaluated by the PFCS Awards Committee which may consult experts as needed. 
3. Submit three (3) copies of all documents including recent passport size picture of the nominee.
1. Comprehensive Resume
2. List of Publications
3. List of Awards, Dates of Awards and Award-Giving body
4. The deadline for submission is on or before 16 February 2015.              

Kindly submit the requirements  to: 

Dr. Armando M. Guidote, Jr.
c/o Department of Chemistry
Rm. 112, Schmitt Hall
Loyola Schools
Ateneo de Manila University
Katipunan Ave., Loyola Heights
Quezon City 1108

By Glenn Tan

The Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies (PFCS) recently concluded the 4th National Children’s Chemistry On-the-Spot Poster Making Competition. The awarding ceremony was held during the 29th Philippine Chemistry Congress last April 9-11, 2014 at the Villa Caceres Hotel in Naga City, Camarines Sur. Daniel Aaron Lucban (Bambang Elementary School) won first place; Carlos Miguel Lacson (Ambray Elementary School) won second place; and Ainer Brean Padrigo (Philippine Tiong Se Academy) won third place.

Deniel Aaron Lucban
(Bambang Elementary School)
FIRST PLACE

Carlos Miguel Lacson
(Ambay Elementary School)
SECOND PLACE

Ainer Brean Padrigo
(Tiong Se Academy)
THIRD PLACE

The Poster Making Competition, open to students in Grades 4-7 from private and public schools all over the country, provided an opportunity for its participants to show artistic ability and critical thinking. The elimination round was held on February 15, 2014 at the following host schools.

1. Ateneo de Davao University
2. Ateneo de Manila University
3. De La Salle University (DLSU)
4. Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology
5. Silliman University
6. University of the Philippines – Diliman
7. University of the Philippines – Los Banos
8. University of Santo Tomas
9. University of San Carlos
10. Xavier University

Contestants were given 2 hours and 30 minutes to create a poster on the theme “Health, Energy, and Chemistry”, and poster submissions were evaluated on creativity, originality, and relevance to the theme. Three local winners were each given PHP 2000 and qualified as finalists for the national award. The Board of Judges, comprised of Armando Guidote, Jr. PhD (PFCS President), Emmanuel Garcia (PACT), and Nick Tan (ICP, St. Scholastica’s College), selected one poster for each of the top three national awards. The first prize winner received PHP 7,000 and free overnight accomodations and round-trip airfare tickets to Naga City, while 2nd and 3rd prize winners received PHP 5,000, and PHP 3,000, respectively.

The Poster Making Competition was coordinated by Glenn V. Alea, PhD. (DLSU) and was sponsored by C&E Publishing, Inc., CHEMREZ Technologies, Shell, and Boysen The No. 1 Paint.

By Fortunato Sevilla III

A symposium on Quality Assurance in Analytical and Testing Laboratories was held on 10 April 2014 during one session of the 29th Philippine Chemistry Congress in Villa Caceres in Naga. It was organized by the Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas – Division of Analytical Sciences (KKP-DAS) in cooperation with the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies (PFCS).

The symposium opened with a keynote lecture presented by Dr. Aida Aguinaldo, a consultant of ASEAN Food Data Systems, on “Philippine Analytical / Testing Laboratories and ASEAN 2015”. Dr. Aguinaldo highlighted the challenge to meet the demand for quality analytical and testing data as basis for important decisions, particularly as the commencement of an ASEAN community approaches in 2015.

A series of talks on best practices and outcomes were delivered by speakers from a number of industry and testing laboratories. The speakers highlighted success stories, problems and adopted solutions in Philippine analytical and testing laboratories. The talks focused on the various important topics involved in quality assurance. Noel Lopena, quality assurance manager of San Miguel Brewery, discussed “Method Validation”, as practiced in their laboratories. Patricia Parales, laboratory manager of F.A.S.T. Laboratories talked on good practices in the “Calibration of Laboratory Equipment”. Benilda Ebarvia of the DOST- Industrial Technology Development Institute shared her experience on the “Development Of A Proficiency Testing / Reference Material For Benzoic Acid In Fruit Juices”.

A talk on “Measurement Uncertainty in Chemical Analysis” was presented by Rubylene Lasmarinas-Osila , Technical Manager, Manila Geochem, SGS Philippines Inc. The importance of “Internal Quality Control” was discussed by Frances Evelyn Palaris-Robles , Technical Director of the Philippine Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry, Inc. and of the Association of Drug Industries of the Philippines Quality Control Cooperative). “Proficiency Testing” was the topic of the talk of Ena Bernal, Group Manager of the Central Laboratory of the Universal Robina Corporation. The experience of their laboratory in “Laboratory Accreditation” was related by Lily Molina, Laboratory and Quality Manager of the International Rice Research Institute. The good practices in “Environmental Sampling and Sample Handling” were described by Juliana C. Oriña, Laboratory Director, CRL Environmental Corporation. The presentations were well appreciated by the audience in the SRO sessions of the symposium. The sessions were chaired by Dr. Florenda Valera of the University of the Philippines and Dr. Christina Binag of the University of Santo Tomas.

By Admer Rey C. Dablio

Various laboratories in Mindanao participated in the Training-Workshop on Chemical Safety and Security organized by the Northern Mindanao Laboratory Consortium Foundation, Inc., in collaboration with the Chemistry Department of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Rio Verde Water Consortium Foundation, Inc. and the Regional Standards and the Testing Laboratories of the Department of Science and Technology Region X (DOST-X). The event was held at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel, Limketkai Center, C.M. Recto Avenue, Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City on 12-14 May 2014.

The three-day workshop aimed at increasing safety and security awareness of laboratories handling chemicals. This training was designed for all safety and security officers and laboratory personnel from private, government, and academic laboratories, processing plants, agricultural chemical producers or distributors, chemical transportation industry, inspectors for health, environment, customs, and higher education, and safety and security enforcement agencies. Participated chiefly by chemists and chemical engineers, nonetheless there were biologists, medical tech-nologists, food technologists, laboratory technicians, safety supervisor, disaster risk reduction officer, safety, health and environment officer, sanitation officer, licensing officer, and owner of a chemical distribution company.

Chemists who completed the Chemical Safety and Security Officer (CSSO) Training facilitated by Sandia National Laboratories under the United States of America Department of State, held in Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines were the resource speakers of this training-workshop.

Jomarie P. Enerio, M.S. Chem is currently a Chemical Safety Officer at Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan. She attended the CSSO Training in 2012 in Davao City. Faustino M. Tarongoy Jr., M.S. Chem is also a Chemical Safety Officer at Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan and Chairman of the Chemistry Department in 2008 to 2011 and 2012 to 2013. Tarongoy actively participated in the 2009 CSSO Training in Bangkok, Thailand and he shared his knowledge on the subject during the 2012 training in Davao City. Tarongoy represented the Philippines in 2011 in the Associate Program on the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in Netherlands, United Kingdom, and Germany.

The lead resource speaker of the training-workshop was Patrick John Y. Lim, Ph.D. of the University of San Carlos in Cebu City. He became involved in chemical safety and security through collaborations with experts from Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, U.S.A., culminating with his appointment to a U.S. National Academies Committee on Promoting Safe and Secure Chemical Management in Developing Countries from 2009 to 2010. His engagement in chemical safety and security included travels to conduct training in Pakistan and Yemen, and to attend workshops in Australia, Thailand, Switzerland, and the U.S.A. His latest travel to Spiez, Switzerland was as a discussant for the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Workshop 2012, on Impacts of Scientific Development on the Chemical Weapons Convention.

Participants appreciated the productivities borne out of the training-workshop because these learning have practical upshot in the improvement of their laboratories and in the assessment of the hazards involved with handling chemicals and chemical wastes. Julebelle A. Eltanal from the Department of Health Region 10, a medical technologist assigned at the licensing division of the agency checking on the laboratories, facilities, and services for drinking water testing in the region, said that she is very thankful of this training because she is now more aware of what are the things she should check during the conduct of laboratory safety inspection or audit and she can now give inputs and suggestions for the improvement of the audited laboratory.

Participants similarly visited the Regional Standards and Testing Laboratories of the DOST-X where a laboratory inspection and chemical safety and security audit were conducted. They noted some good features and practices of DOST-X laboratories which they may adopt in their own laboratories.

Engr. Joffrey E. Hapitan, President of the Board of Trustees of NorMin LABCON and Senior Vice-President for Operations of Rio Verde Water Consortium, Inc., said that more training-workshops will be conducted by NorMin LABCON as the foundation’s desire to improve its capabilities is continually burning.

By Jan Patrick Calupitan

Dr. Marites P. Melancon, a US-based scientist, visited Philippine universities and research institutions last March 15 to Apr. 14, 2014 to share her expertise, strengthen research linkages, and generously conducted workshop-seminars. Dr. Melancon is an Assistant Professor in the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center where she specializes on developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic agents for cancer therapy based on nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is research field focusing on materials in the nanometer scale. At this level, materials have new emergent properties that promise a wired range of applications in medicine, energy, computer science and information technology.

Dr. Melancon gave lectures in the University of San Carlos, De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, and The Medical City on nanotechnology-based innovations in the biomedical field. These include simultaneous detection and therapy of cancer using gold and magnetic nanostructures. She also facilitated a workshop on the synthesis of nanostructures at the Ateneo de Manila University on April 3 and 4, 2014. Participants learned the basics of making magnetic gold nanoparticles, which they used to image cancer cells. Researchers, medical doctors, and faculty members from The Medical City, University of the Philippines – Diliman, University of the Philippines – Los Baños, and Ateneo de Manila University benefited from the talk. “There are many opportunities for research in the biomedical field here in the Philippines,” she quoted in one of her lecture talks.

Dr. Melancon graduated bachelors in Chemistry from the University of San Carlos, MS Chemistry from the Ateneo de Manila University, and PhD in Biomedical Science from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, Texas. Besides her numerous journal publications, she won several research awards, including the Specialized Programs of Research Excellence from the National Institutes of Health. She is presently a reviewer of various specialized journals in biomedicine, medical physics, and nanomedicine.

Besides having a hectic schedule in her visit to the country, she was able to attend the Philippine Chemistry Congress in Naga City on April 9-11, 2014 where she gave a presentation on polymeric materials. Her research visit made possible through the Balik Scientist Program of the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), which was hosted by the Chemistry Department of the Ateneo de Manila University thru Dr. Erwin P. Enriquez.

Three outstanding posters presented during the 29th Philippine Chemistry Congress were awarded as Best Posters. Yomkippur Perez, Hilbert Magpantay, Espejo, Jhonard John Garcia, Riza Gabriela Bonifacio, Maria Myrelle Quiambao, Arianne Marie Aquino and Lawrence John Paulo Trinidad, of the Institute of Chemistry at UP Diliman garnered the first place for her paper entitled Mango Peel Extract Mediated Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Its Application on Biosensor Current Response Enhancement. Christine Joy Querebillo and Michael Zarnikov of the Ateneo de Manila University garnered the second place for her paper entitled Mercury-drop Junction: A Method for Determining Molecular Conductance of Thin Self-Assembled Films while Ana Katrina Mapanao, Micaela Cristina Perlada, Fabian Dayrit and Nina Rosario Rojas of the Ateneo de Manila University garnered the third place for her paper entitled Coconut Water as Possible Growth and Differentiation Factor for Bone Regeneration.

First place awardee Yomkippur Perez, et al. and Drs. Armando Guidote and Drexel Camacho.

The awards were given by Dr. Armando Guidote, PFCS President, and Dr. Drexel Camacho, KIMIKA Editor-in-Chief, at the closing ceremonies of the congress at the Villa Caceres Hotel, Naga City on April 11, 2014. The judges were Dr. Maritess Melancon (MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas), Ms. Olivia Erin Buenafe (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium), Dr. Francisco Franco (De La Salle University Manila), Dr. Edgar Paski (British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, Canada), and Mr. Jacob Glenn Jansalin (Visayas State University, Baybay City, Leyte). The criteria for judging were content, poster quality and Q&A.

The cash prizes of 7000, 5000 and 2000 pesos awarded to the first, second and third place awardees, respectively, were sponsored by the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies (PFCS), host of the 29th Philippine Chemistry Congress, and KIMIKA: The Journal of the Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas.

By Judy Del Valle-Perez

After a very hectic day of intellectual sessions on Day 1- April 9, 2014, a banquet was prepared in the evening for the participants to enjoy, relax and know a little more about Naga City and CamSur.

The evening was hosted by the couple from AdNU Natural Sciences Department, Mr Levi Francisco and Dr. Ma. Teresa Francisco. The program was started by a doxology followed by the Philippine National Anthem given by the Ateneo de Naga University Choir headed by Mr. Joseph Reburiano as the conductor.

A native dance was first presented by the Ateneo de Naga University Dance Troupe that promotes Bicol culture. Then Dr. Armando Guidote Jr., the President of PFCS, together with Mr. Dean Lao, Chemrez Technologies, Inc. Managing Director and Dr. Glenn Alea, Secretary of the PFCS, presented the winner for the 4th National Children’s On the Spot Chemistry Poster Making Contest. The winner was Daniel Aaron Lucban from Bambang Elementary School in Candaba, Pampanga.

Ateneo de Naga University Dance Troupe

This was followed by the 2014 PFCS Awards. Dr. Merle C. Tan was the awardee for Chemistry Education. Dr. Erwin Enriquez was the awardee for Chemical Research and the Philippine Alliance of Laboratory and Equipment Users (PALEU) was the awardee for Chemical Industry.

The night was added with excitement and all were surprised as the 5c7en group danced on the floor with some acrobatic moves. The all-male (real men) group swayed very gracefully in their high heeled shoes.

After the very energetic dance, Mr. Tito Valiente, the director of the Institute of Bicol History and Culture, Ateneo de Naga University talked about the very interesting Bikol Culture and Tradition. He also mentioned some Bicol songs and it was wonderfully sung by Mr. Salvador Saavedra, a senior mentor from the Natural Sciences Department of AdNU.

Mr. Tito Valiente, Director of the Institute of Bicol History and Culture

The last part which was very important for the evening was the dinner. Everyone enjoyed the food while being serenaded by the AdNU choir as they fabulously sang until the end of the dinner.

Ateneo de Naga University Choir