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.
This year’s JCC marked as the biggest JCC to date, as it was participated in by more than 100 high school students from Metro Manila and Luzon. There were twelve schools who joined in this years’s JCC – Assumption Antipolo, Batasan Hills National High School, Manila Science High School, Paco Catholic School, PAREF Woodrose School, Pasig City Science High School, Philippine Science High School – Main Campus, Philippine Science High School – Central Luzon Campus, Roosevelt College Science High School, St. Mary’s College of Baliuag, Vicente Madrigal National High School and Xavier School.
Four sub-events graced the congress – JCC Symposium, JCC Quiz Contest, JCC Poster-making Contest, JCC Laboratory Tour. The program started with a doxology and national anthem led by the UP AChES (Alliance of Chemical Engineering Students) and was followed by an opening remarks from the President of PACS, Incorporated, Ms. Beatrice Nicole Naidas.
The first talk for the JCC Symposium was delivered by Dr. Armand Guidote, the President of Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies. Dr. Guidote shared his research interests in Chemistry and encouraged the students to take courses in Chemistry when they go to college. Mr. Henry Siy, the General Manager of Chemrez Technologies shared insights of how useful is Chemistry to his company. The third talk was made by Mr. Jan Vicent Arafiles who currently worked as a laboratory scientist at Globetek Science Foundation. The speakers shared insights of how Chemistry has changed their lives and how it is important to study the center of all sciences.
By 1:30 PM, Unilever Philippines gave a company talk. Ms. Eleanor Dorado, the R&D Technical Management Executive of Unilever, delivered the difference between Chemistry from its allied fields such as Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry. She also shared insights about her works in Unilever.
At 2:30 PM, the JCC Symposium ended. The Quiz Contest and Poster-making Contest immediately began. The Quiz Contest which was a 25-item multiple choice exam challenged the intelligence of high school students. The Poster-making Contest also happened simultaneously. This year’s theme is “Rebuilding the World Through Chemistry” with a motif of “Chemistry Saves the Day”.
The JCC Laboratory Tour followed right after. The students were given the opportunity to witness a real laboratory for Chemistry undergraduates. Organizers briefed them with some of the most important equipment seen in a laboratory.
By 4:00 PM, winners for the Quiz and Poster-making contests were announced. The team from Philippine Science High School – Central Luzon Campus won the Poster-making. 2nd and 3rd places were given to St. Mary’s College of Baliuag and Assumption Antipolo, respectively. For the Quiz Contest, Joshua Martin Kalaw from Philippine Science High School – Main Campus emerged victorious for getting the highest score. Peter Onglao and Elijah Mojares both from Xavier School were awarded as 2nd and 3rd place, respectively. Onglao and Mojares had same scores in the Quiz and were called again by the organizers to take another 15 items to break their tie. Onglao was declared 2nd placed for leading Mojares by just one point.
The Junior Chemistry Congress 2012 was made possible through the efforts of the PACS, Inc. Executive Committee 2012-2013 and the PACS, Inc. General Assembly. JCC 2012 was co-presented by the Manila Review Institute Incorporated (MRII), Unilever Philippines and Clear. JCC 2012 was also brought by DZUP 1602 as media sponsor, Peakflow and Piknik.