By Edward Santos
In line with the objective of raising awareness in chemistry at a young age, the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies recently concluded its 5th National Children’s On-the-Spot Chemistry Poster Making Competition. This year, 12 universities from around the country hosted the elimination round of the contest. The following universities functioned as host schools:
- Ateneo de Davao University
- Ateneo de Manila University
- Central Luzon State University
- Central Philippine University
- De La Salle University
- Mindanao State University- IIT
- Silliman University
- University of the Philippines- Diliman
- University of the Philippines- Los Baños
- University of San Carlos
- University of Santo Tomas
- Xavier University
The contest is open to students from Grade 4-7 from public and private schools. They were given 2 hours and 30 minutes to create a poster having the theme “Chemistry and the ASEAN.” Every host school selected three (3) local winners, each winning PHP 2,000.00 and these winners automatically qualified for the national award. The board of judges for the national award consisted of Armand Guidote, Ph.D. (President, PFCS), Nick Tan (ICP, St. Scholastica’s College), Karen Santiago, Ph.D. (UST), and Danne Halzey Mantilla (DLS-College of St. Benilde). Vince Andrei Reyes (Holy Cross College) won first place, Angelica Torniado (M. Agoncillo Elementary School) won second place, while Gyla Jane Nismal (Sto. Domingo Elementary School) won third place.
The awarding of the national winners will take place on April 15-17, 2015 at Ateneo de Davao University, during the 30th Philippine Chemistry Congress. Vince Andrei will be receiving PHP 7,000.00 cash prize, and round trip airfare for him and his coach to Davao together with accommodation. The 2nd and 3rd place winners will be receiving PHP 5,000.00 and PHP 3,000.00, respectively.
The 5th installment of the poster making competition was headed by Glenn Alea (DLSU), in partnership with C&E Publishing, Inc., CHEMREZ Technologies, Shell, and Boysen.