- 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 28th Philippine Chemistry Congress (PCC).
- The nomination will be evaluated by the PFCS Awards Committee which may consult experts as needed.
- Submit three (3) copies of all documents including recent passport size picture of the nominee.
- Comprehensive Resume
- List of Publications
- List of Awards, Dates of Awards and Award-Giving body
- The deadline for submission is on or before 15 December 2012.
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Awards Criteria
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:
- Nominees must have at least three years of teaching experience at the institution.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
Chemical Research
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Chemical Industry
- 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.
- 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.
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.
PFCS Awards
The Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies recognizes outstanding contributions to Chemistry through the PFCS Awards. The awards aim to:
- Inspire the youth to take up chemistry
- Recognize outstanding contribution of chemists to development of discipline
- Recognize outstanding and exemplary contributions to society through chemistry
The PFCS AWARDS will be given under four categories:
- Chemistry Education
- Chemical Research
- Chemical Industry
- Service to the Chemistry Profession
The Chemistry Department: Xavier University-Ateneo De Cagayan
Xavier University- (XU) Ateneo de Cagayan is a Jesuit institution situated in the city of bloom, blossom and boom—Cagayan de Oro City. Founded in 1933 by Fr. James T.G. Hayes, S.J., the first Bishop and Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro, its measly population of 17 students ballooned to the present day enrolment of 16,000, an authentication of the Jesuit’s commitment to excellence in education. XU’s mission of forming men and women of competence, conscience and commitment has made this Jesuit academic institution to serve robustly and imaginatively the pressing needs of Mindanao.
The College of Arts and Science of XU is one of the few institutions in Mindanao which offers the BS Chemistry program under the Chemistry department since the year 1982. Just this year, the BS Chemistry program has been granted Level IV accreditation–the highest possible level from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU). With university becoming more competitive in terms of its faculty and facilities, XU’s Chemistry is coping with the trends and demands of the field of chemistry. Many of its faculty members are now masters and doctoral degree graduates from top schools in the country like the Ateneo de Manila University as well as universities overseas.
The strength of the Department’s research effort is illustrated with the recent upgrades of its research facilities. The department has acquired the high-end instruments including Gas Chromatograph, High Performance Liquid Chromatograph, Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, UV-Vis Spectrophotometer and electrochemical instruments both for its undergraduate Chemistry program, faculty researches and for the external analyses accepted by the department through the CEARS – Center for Environmental and Analytical Research and Services.
In addition to this recent instrumentation upgrade which offers undergraduate students a huge range of resources and facilities, XU Chemistry Department has an eye to be granted the Center of Development (COD) and eventually the Center of Excellence (COE) status in Chemistry in the very near future.
Basic GHS Training Conducted in Ateneo de Davao
The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) conducted a one-day Basic Training Program on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) last October 27, 2012, at the Ateneo de Davao University.
PACS Brings Back Junior Chemistry Congress
The Junior Chemistry Congress 2012, organized by the Philippine Association of Chemistry Students, Incorporated, was held September 29, 2012 at the Chemrez Room, Institute of Chemistry, National Science Complex, University of the Philippines Diliman.
Seminar on Practical and Cost Effective Solutions to Laboratory Chemical Wastes (Part II)
It was in 2008 when the ICP held its first seminar on Chemical Laboratory Waste Management. As a result of this seminar, a number of laboratories initiated changes in their chemical waste management practices. This seminar series have now come full circle and were speakers with the subsequent seminar, entitled “Practical and Cost Effective Solutions to Laboratory Chemical Wastes, part II”, which was held on October 24-25, 2012, at MetroClub, Makati.
Mr. Joel Ballesteros, PCO for UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry, and Ms. Lilia Molina, Head of the Analytical Services Laboratory at IRRI presented their respective programs and insights on chemical waste management. Rounding up the roster of speakers included Engr. Edwin Navaluna, Supervising Environmental Specialist of DENR-EMB and Dr. Veronica Migo, Head of the Central Analytical Services Laboratory of Biotech, UP Los Baños, shared the process for Hazardous Chemical Identification and the relevant laws applying to chemical waste management. Ms. Tess Cayton, former plant Manager for Bayer Crop Science and now a private Environmental Consultant, presented an overview of the best practices on chemical waste disposal as practiced at Bayer (Philippines), to comply with local regulations and national laws, in particular with respect to pesticides. And last but not certainly the least is Dr. Luerne De Sales, General Manager of All Wastes Services, Inc. (formerly Inchem) who presented how chemical wastes are treated in their facilities and Mr. Mark Castillo, an Applications Specialist of Merck Millipore, provided a review of innovations in chemical waste management.
The seminar was concluded with a workshop that involved practice exercises developed by Dr. Fabian Dayrit, on how to identify, estimate and classify chemical wastes based on procedures from laboratory exercises and analytical methods. There were 118 participants representing the government, academe, and industry sectors who were able to acquire valuable information and skills. Many were inspired to start and improve on their lab waste management in their own workplace. With the success of this seminar series, ICP plans to bring the seminar to the provincial regions in the near future. (Mutya Samonte)
Photos: Oath-taking and Induction of New Chemists
The Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP), in cooperation with the Board of Chemistry, will conduct the Oath Taking for Chemists together with the distribution of PRC Certificates of Registration and Professional ID Cards to those who passed the September 2012 Chemistry Licensure Examination. The Top Ten examinees and Most Outstanding Schools will also be recognized by the Board of Chemistry.
Two Ateneans Bag National Awards
RA Ranola
Dr. Regina C. So and Dr. Nina Rosario L. Rojas both associate professors from the Chemistry Department at the University received a special award. Dr. Regina C. So, received an Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) award given by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST).
Dr. So’s contribution in the field of Organic chemistry is by designing and rapid synthesis of biologically important unique sphinganine-containing glycosphingolipid analogs used in elucidating the relationship between structure of glycosphingolipids and the type of immune response they generate.
While Dr. Nina Rosario L. Rojas received an Outstanding Scientific Paper Award for the paper entitled “A Partial Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) Library of the economically important red alga Eucheuma denticulatum (N.L. Burham) F.C. Collins and Hervey” which she co-authored with Paulina S. Aspilla, Anna Angela Camille B. Anto-nio and Giuseppe C. Zuccarello. The paper was published in the Philippines Science Letters in 2010.
“Chem-Back,” UST Chemistry Department Celebrates 80 Years
Carlos P. Garcia
A walk around the campus, reminiscing and creating new memories at the same time, permeates in that crisp Saturday afternoon last January. The College of Science, in the grand old Main building of University of Santo Tomas, opened its doors to welcome back its sons and daughters to celebrate the Chemistry Department’s 80th Anniversary. It was a delightful opportunity to recognize the accomplishments of the graduates of the Chemistry program during the 80 years since the initiation of the Department of Chemistry’s graduate program. Graduate and undergraduate alumni, current students, and past and current faculty have been invited to the event to share their experiences and their current activities. It was in 1931 since the four-year B.S. in Chemistry program was introduced to respond to the country’s need for more technical experts for which a government recognition was obtained in June 1934 and in July 1961, a B.S. in Industrial Technology was offered.
A short-lived three-year course for chemical technicians was introduced in 1974, and then the five-year curriculum in the mid 1970’s was reorganized and condensed to a four-year program. Dr. Jose I. Del Rosario (AB Ateneo, 1901; MA Chemistry- University of Chicago, 1908; Phar.D.–UST, 1905) headed the department in the post war era when the field of chemistry was undergoing important evolution both in teaching and research. He steered the department towards receiving a citation from the Bureau of Education, as one of the most equipped and competitive departments in the country. The Department is a thriving center for teaching and research at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Its long tradition in excellence made it department in the University to be recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as a Center of Excellence (COE) in 1997.
A choice of activities started in the morning with 25th reunion of Class ’86 and a campus tour of the other returning alumni. The afternoon program opens with a solemn mass concelebrated by former rector Rev. Fr. Norberto M. Castillo, O.P. (main celebrant) with former Regents Fr. Pompeyo F. de Mesa, O.P. and Fr. Florencio Testera, O.P. A dinner reception on is followed by a recognition banquet. “We are excited about the return of our many distinguished alumni to help us celebrate this important milestone in the department’s history,” said Department of Chemistry Chair Dr. Bernard Tongol.
Part of the evening program includes the unveiling of the Periodic Table Fundraiser. The fundraising idea was conceived from a series of alumni reunions in the United States from the period 200809, attended chemistry alumni, covering the Class 1963 to 1995. A proposal to provide scholarship funds to Chemistry students and help the Chemistry department through a foundation evolve. The Periodic Table Fundraiser was suggested by Maria Erlinda Co-Sarno (Class 1966/1967) after the reunion. Planning on this endeavor
immediately began in consultation with the Thomasian Chemistry Alumni Association (TCAA) and some key persons from the US-based Thomasian chemistry alumni cluster. Current UST College of Science Dean, Prof. Maribel Nonato remarked, “I know you are also returning to the university carrying the dreams of our financially challenged chemistry students with the formal launching of the noble project “Elements for a Cause: Periodic Table Fundraiser”. A project that will affirm indeed that there is chemistry amongst our alumni and they are strongly bonded! I commend all the people who have worked hard to get this project into shape. We at the administration of the College of Science believe that your initiatives will serve as seed for other alumni to act now and assist the Science students.”
Moving ahead with the experiences of the past 80 years, the Department long-time commitment to develop professionalsthat will occupy positions in the academe, industry, and government and
non-government organizations continues. Four alumni were honored with the following citations;
Ramon Aguillon Llenado, Ph. D.(Class 1967): is recognized for his significant contributions in Analytical Chemistry and their applications in industry, particularly, in the chemistry of detergents,
surfactants, modified silicates and shampoos, as evidenced by his numerous U.S. and foreign patents, research articles, review articles, and book chapters; for the honors and awards granted him by the American Chemical Society, U. S. White House, Soap and Detergent Association, and Chemical Specialties Association; and mostly, for having the highest corporate achievement among Thomasian chemistry alumni in the U.S.A., having risen to the position of Senior Vice-President and Chief Scientific Officer of S.C. Johnson Professional Inc.
Hon. Lucila Peñaflor Payumo (Class 1960): In recognition of her outstanding achievements as Municipal Mayor of Dinalupihan, Bataan, from 1986 to 1995, where she made significant contributions to the national economic recovery program, the restoration of peace and order not only in Dinalupihan, but Bataan in general, thus, meriting recognition from the AFP, and awards as Outstanding Municipal Administrator in 1987, Outstanding Municipal Mayor in 1989, and subsequently, gaining the respect and admiration of other mayors in Bataan by electing her President of the Bataan Mayors’ League.
Maria Erlinda Co Sarno, Esq. (Class 1967): In recognition of her significant contributions in the field of human plasma fractionation, which earned for her patents and technical achievement awards; her genuine commitment to the cause of entrepreneurs in California, as evidenced by her inspiring leadership in the Advisory Council for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship, thus, enabling the state government to formulate policies leading to an increase in number of small businesses as well as their unqualified success, and earning for her the recognition as Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year 2005, given by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Asian Business Association of Orange County, and the Director Emeritus by the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of Orange County.
Frederick Aman Villamena, Ph.D. (Class 1990): Presently connected with the Ohio State University, is honored in recognition of his significant contributions in the chemistry of free radicals in biological systems, and in particular, his pioneering research in the field of spin trapping for radical detection and therapeutics, having published in various outstanding chemistry journals, authored book chapters, review articles and patents in the field of free radicals.
The tradition of excellence in instruction, research and student activities continue to permeate in theDepartment’s vision of “performance excellence” which looks ahead confidently to the next
eighty years, recognizing thatlearning from its distinguished past serves as the foundation for an outstanding future.