IChO Team Philippines Returns Home with Three Awards

By Dr Eric Punzalan

The Philippine team which competed in the 51st International Chemistry Olympiad held in Paris last July 21 to 30 returns with a Silver, a Bronze and an Honorable Mention Certificate.

The Philippine Delegation to the 51st International Chemistry Olympiad: Dr. Rochelle Papasin, Israel Augba, Michael Tantoco, Arthur De Belen, Julius Macling, Mr Julius Victorius Saluria and Dr Jose Andaya (left to right). Photo courtesy of Dr Andaya.

The team consists of Michael Tantoco, Julius Macling, Israel Aguba, and Arthur De Belen. De Belen captured a Silver, Aguba received a Bronze while Macling came out with an Honorable Mention Certificate. The four students came from the Philippine Science High School Main Campus. They were accompanied by three adult mentors: Mr. Julius Saluria (PSHS Main Campus), Dr. Jose Andaya (PSHS-Calabarzon), and Dr. Rochelle Papasin (PSHS-Southern Mindanao Campus).

The four students earned the privilege to represent the Philippines after emerging as the top four competitors in the 2019 Philippine National Chemistry Olympiad(PNCO) National Finals held last January 2019. The PNCO is conducted annually under the auspices of the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Socities, Inc., particularly by the Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas, Inc. (KKP) and the Philippine Association of Chemistry Teachers, Inc. (PACT).
First held in Czechoslovakia in 1968, the International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) is an annual competition where a team of up to four high school students per nation may compete in various topics including analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, and spectroscopy.
The 51st IChO featured 390 students from 80 countries.