By Pauline Cleo A. Olpoc
The Junior Chemistry Congress (JCC) 2013 was successfully held last September 28, 2013 (Saturday) at the University of Santo Tomas with the theme “Chemistry: Transcending Boundaries”. Organized by the Philippine Association of Chemistry Students, Inc. for junior and senior high school students, whose aim is to introduce high school students a wide perspective of field options for aspiring chemists. It commenced with a symposium in the morning followed by the inter-high school chemistry quiz bee in the afternoon.
Ten schools participated in the event including, Bulacan State University, Imus Institute, Jubilee Christian Academy, Malate Catholic School, MGC Academy, New Era University, Parañaque Science High School, Philippine Science High School – Main Campus, St. Stephen’s High School and UP Rural High School. The morning session was held at the Engineering Conference Hall, Roque Ruaño Building while the afternoon session was held at the Civil Law Lobby, Main Building.
The program hosted by Mr. Joannes Luke Asis and Ms. Hannah Mae Xyza Montaner, formally opened with an opening remarks from Ms. Mary Rosary de Leon, PACS president. Series of lectures delivered by chemists from various sectors of the industry and the academe, were delivered. The first talk discussed the application of chemistry in the field of human nutrition given by Dr. Gracia Fe B. Yu, associate professor 6 from the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila. The second talk was about the way of life of chemists in the industry given by Ms. Gina Narvaez, presently Product Manager at Green Cross Incorporated, Alabang. The last talk was about what is in store for chemists in the academe given by Dr. Christina Binag, PACS adviser who is also currently a professor at the Chemistry Department, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas. A fifteen minute forum followed each presentation to allow students to discuss and interact with the speakers.
The afternoon session was an inter-high school quiz bee which started with an elimination round divided into easy, average and difficult round, for the ten schools that participated: Imus Institute, Malate Catholic School, New Era University Team A, New Era University Team B, Parañaque Science High School Team A, Parañaque Science High School Team B, Philippine Science High School Team A, Philippine Science High School Team B, St. Stephen’s High School and UP Rural High School. After the elimination round, the top five teams were selected for the final round. Parañaque Science High School Team B, Philippine Science High School Team A, Philippine Science High School Team B, St. Stephen’s High School and UP Rural High School all landed in the top five. The final round filter through the top 3 teams are: Philippine Science High School Team A, St. Stephen’s High School, and Philippine Science High School Team B, who emerged as the 2nd runner up, 1st runner up and champions, respectively. The judges for the said event were: Mr. Kevin Anthony Sison, from Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, University of the Philippines Manila; Mr. Leonardo Guevarra, from University of Santo Tomas – Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Ms. Christina Felicidad Ramirez, from University of Santo Tomas – Chemistry Department, College of Science. The quiz master for the said event was Ms. Maritess Cation, from University of Santo Tomas –Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy.