SMC Chem Teacher Casas and team publish research on Water Safety Plans in BMJ Open
“Research should be pursued to benefit humanity.”
This was the answer of Mr. Michael A. Casas, one of our faculty at PSHS SMC when asked about his philosophy in conducting research. He added that as a research adviser, he mentors his students to conduct researches that will have a positive impact to communities.
As an educator, Mr. Casas was involved in funded research projects on water quality, environmental science, natural products, and analytical chemistry collaborating with experts in the field.
His research project with Dr. Anthony C. Sales, Ms. Ludivina M. Porticos, Ms. Hydie R. Maspiñas, Mr. Porferio R. Jabla and Ms. Ma. Annabelle S. Jabla entitled “Assessment of the Extent of Implementation of Standards and Procedures for Water Safety in the Philippines” was published in BMJ Open, an online, open access journal.
The research looks into the extent of implementation of the water safety plans among drinking water providers in the Philippines.
The research can be accessed through the following link: https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/5/Suppl_1/bmjopen-2015-forum2015abstracts.74.abstract
Mr. Casas shared that he targets to publish more researches and the researches of his students in support of the vision of the Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus Director Dr. Jonald Fenecios to strengthen the research and publication culture of PSHS SMC.
About the Published Faculty:
Mr. Michael A. Casas is an alumnus (Batch 2006) of PSHS SMC. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Ateneo de Davao University and conducted his research on natural products under Dr. Lourdes Simpol. His undergraduate research won numerous awards including the prestigious BPI-DOST Science Award in 2010 and emerged as the 2nd-runner-up for the Best Project of the Year competition. He finished his Master’s Degree in Chemistry at Ateneo de Davao University in 2016 and conducted his research on chromatography and separation science under Dr. Agnes T. Aranas. He was also able to work on researches funded by the Department of Science and Technology. Mr. Casas is currently teaching Chemistry and Research, serves as the coordinator of the Innovation and Technology Support Office and serves as the Assistant CID Chief of the Natural Science and Research Department of PSHS SMC.
SMC Students' Research Found as Among Most Promising, Innovative Project By National Group of Chem Students
Crude extract of sweet potato leaves as intelligent food packaging?
The study of Grade 12 research team composed of Leener Kate B. Alucilja, Kaye Richelle A. Duarte, and Tom Manuel O. Piccio entitled “𝘊𝘳𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘌𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘶𝘳𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘐𝘱𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘦𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘴 (𝘚𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘗𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘰) 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘐𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘴𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘗𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨” caught the attention of the panelists during the online oral defense and eventually made the team garner the third place during the PACSiyensya (Science Investigatory Project Competition) held online on February 20, 2021.
PACSiyensya, formerly known as IP Contest, is one of the main events of the Junior Chemistry Congress 2021 organized by the Philippine Association of Chemistry Students, Inc. (PACS, Inc.).
The whole Pisay SMC community is very jubilant of this recognition. The Campus Director, Mr. Jonald Fenecios himself proudly said, “The school administration is always at your back and is proud of you dear scholars for all of your accomplishments, most especially when it comes to research and scientific innovations. Great job!”
School’s Scribes Made Their Marks in Science Journalism Competition
Bagwis-Agham writer and grade 10 student Jucille Kate Delos Santos emerged as champion in the Science News Writing (Filipino) category and Sci-Wings journalist and also grade 10 student Sophia Dominique Ann Samson won third place in the Science Feature Writing (English) category during the AURUM ONLINE PRESS CONFERENCE held online last February 17, 2021.
This online press conference with the theme “F𝚒𝚡𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚜: 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚂𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝙹𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚖 𝙰𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚄𝚜" was organized by the UP Biochemistry Society with the advocacy of making science journalism more fun and accessible for everyone.
The school paper advisers and coaches Mr. Johnel Lumacao and Ms. Sheila Allong were very proud of how the students excelled in the contest despite the inconvenient and challenging new normal setup of having to do the training and practice virtually.
Included in this post were the actual entries of the students generously uploaded by the organizers in their Facebook page.
3 SMC Scholars Dominate Regional Chem Olympiad, Qualify For Nationals
Out of 42 participants from all over Region XI, the three Grade 11 representatives of Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao led and secured the top 3 ranks in the Regional Chemistry Olympiad held online last January 30, 2021 and thereby are the official delegates of the region for the upcoming National Chemistry Olympiad.
In the said event organized by the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines Southern Mindanao Chapter, David Mendoza ranked first followed by Taj Liam Banzon in the second place, and Elle Sue Jamayo in the third place.
Their coach, Mr. Le Grande Dolino said that he is proud that the students have done well and will move to the nationals.
He added, “More importantly, I hope our students will continue to pursue chemistry beyond high school and inspire others to do well in the field.”
The National Chemistry Olympiad will be on March 6, 2021 and the winners in the nationals will proceed to the International Chemistry Olympiad to be hosted in Japan. Ganbarou (Good luck) David, Taj, and Elle!
PSHS-SMC Tops 2 Categories in 2021 UP Alchemes Research Fair
One research group from among the grade 12 students emerged as champion in the Life Science Category and another group as runner-up in Physical Science Category during the UP Alchemes Research Fair 2021 SPITZER: Rediscovering Youth Aspirations through Scientific Ventures held last January 29-30, 2021.
Indeed, even while the global pandemic has presented a variety of challenges including conveniences of the students to conduct research in school, yet, these circumstances hardly hindered our scholars from pursuing outstanding studies and even garnering recognition for their pursuit of scientific exploration and innovations.
“I hope that these winnings will serve as an inspiration to everyone to still and all the more move student-research forward and to not be afraid to go for contingency plans given circumstances surrounding Covid-19 pandemic,” said Campus Director Jonald P. Fenecios.
The whole PSHS-SMC community is very honored and thrilled for these research winnings brought home by our Grade 12 students. Great job!
Intellectual Property Rights Application Now Open in Pisay SMC
Hello everybody! We are the Young Intellectual Property Advocates (YIPA) serving as the guardians of intellectual property rights for the students of the Philippine Science High School - Southern Mindanao Campus. We are working with the Innovation Technology and Support Office (ITSO) of our school. We want you to be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor — that is, your literary works and inventions!
How do we do this, you ask? Why? By assisting you in applying for intellectual property protection of course! We’ll guide you through the basics: the importance of intellectual property rights and how to obtain them.
You may find these publication materials useful, designated by a code on their top left:
-
P1A: Provides information about the steps you should do to apply for a copyright protection or a patent through ITSO-SMC’s help
-
P1B: Teaches you how to fill in the Google Forms we have created for your copyright and/or patent application submissions.
-
P2: Informs you about the documents that you will need to submit when applying for copyright, patent, or both.
-
P3A: Guides you on how to conduct a patent search and how to determine patentable inventions.
-
P3B: Helps you determine the things you can apply a copyright for.
(Note: If you have already complied with the needed requirements for filing for intellectual property protection, you need not file again.)
Brought to you by: Joseph John Gonzales (Grade 12- Farad), Mary Catherine Therese Lemana (Grade 12- Hertz), Josh Ahiezer Sexcion (Grade 12- Hertz), and Pauline Grace Yuste (Grade 12- Hertz)
Pisay Supports 2021 National Women's Month Celebration
Of empowered #Juanas and #PurpleMondays
PISAY SUPPORTS 2021 NATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH CELEBRATION
The Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus joins the 2021 National Women’s Month Celebration in support of the Philippine Commission on Women. The theme since 2017 is “We make change work for women”, which encapsulates how women should be active contributors as well as beneficiaries of national development.
As a sign of support, PSHS SMC will execute the following PCW suggested activities for the whole month of March 2021:
March 1, 2021 - DOST-Wide Virtual Flag Ceremony
- Uploading of the official 2021 NWMC banner in the school’s website and social media account
- March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 – Wearing of anything purple all Mondays of March
- March 1-8 – Online advocacy (Uploading and using of official PCW Facebook profile frame)
- March 8 (staff) – Serbisyo para kay Juana (Provision of priority lane to female clients)
- March 8-12 (faculty) – Setting aside time in synchronous classes to highlight a woman or women in subject or field taught that can raise awareness among students about contribution of women to society
- March 11, 18, 23 – Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao Cluster fora (Topics to be announced)
- March 24 – Forum on mental health
- March 30 – DOST-wide forum
Together, let us show appreciation for women’s various contribution in the society, honor women frontliners, workers, entrepreneurs, home makers, community volunteers, and other outstanding #Juanas especially during this ongoing health crisis, open more platforms to discuss women’s experiences in dealing with different situations and challenges such as this pandemic, and likewise put the spotlight on all Juans who help and contribute in normalizing redistribution of household chores and in showing other acts of gender sensitivity and equality. Truly #WomenMakeChange!
Researches by Chemistry Teacher Le Dolino Published In Thomson Reuters, Scopus Indexed Journals
by Sheila Allong
“I'm committed to create and share new information. Hopefully my peers in Pisay also grab every opportunity they can get to share knowledge to the world.”
This was expressed by Chemistry teacher, Research 3 Unit head, and Research 2 and 3 adviser Le Grande O. Dolino pertaining to not just one but three of his research works published in Thomson Reuters/Scopus indexed journals, namely: Journal of Chemical Education, Philippine Journal of Science, and Foundations of Chemistry.
Mr. Dolino published a paper in August 14, 2020 titled “Insights from Teaching Chemistry Writing Online” in Journal of Chemical Education (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jchemed.0c00832). His research studied how teachers can better carry out writing-related activities such as laboratory reports in Chemistry and in other science subjects online.
He, in collaboration with Dr. Doris B. Montecastro and Fr. Antonio M. Basilio, likewise put out the research “Low-cost Recovery of Bromelain Solids from Industrial Pineapple Peel, Pulp, and Core Wastes Using Ethanolic Cashew Leaf Polyphenol” on September 2020 in Philippine Journal of Science (https://philjournalsci.dost.gov.ph/publication/regular-issues/next-issue/98-vol-149-no-3-september-2020/1210-low-cost-recovery-of-bromelain-solids-from-industrial-pineapple-peel-pulp-and-core-wastes-using-ethanolic-cashew-leaf-polyphenol). This study introduced an alternative procedure in getting Bromelain solids from pineapple core and pulp which could be beneficial to pineapple farmers.
Prior to joining Pisay, Mr. Dolino also published an article in Foundations of Chemistry in 2017 (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10698-017-9272-9). This study elucidated the distinction between chemistry and other allied sciences.
Campus Director Jonald P. Fenecios lauded him for his achievements saying, “Research publication is truly one great leap in human resource development. That is why it is one of my thrusts as your new Director. I would like to call on for more teachers to do the same.”
About the published faculty:
Le Grande Dolino obtained his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Ateneo de Davao University and his Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from the University of Southeastern Philippines. His main research interests include chemistry education particularly in the transfer and development of student research skill.