MANILA, Philippines — Department of Science and Technology Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) scholar and International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) second grand award winner Miguel Arnold Reyes and 2010 International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics (IOAA) honorable mention awardee Gerico Sy, won bronze medals from the recently-concluded International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) held at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.

Reyes hails from the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) main campus while Sy is from the PSHS Southern Mindanao campus. Reyes is presently taking BS Computer Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman under a DOST-SEI scholarship.

The IPhO is the second oldest international olympiad after the International Mathematical Olympiad. The Philippines started joining the competition in 1993.

The Philippines has consistently won bronze medals in the IPhO, the most recent in 2008 when Tobit James Narciso of Philippine Science High School – Main Campus won a bronze at the Hanoi IPhO.

Prior to the IPhO in Bangkok, Reyes returned to the country after winning the second grand award at the

2011 ISEF held in Los Angeles, California bringing home $1,500 cash prize and the honor of having an asteroid in his name.

Assumption offers new courses

Assumption College is now offering courses on Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship with specialization in Tourism Management.The college, known for its excellent AB Psychology program, has added the BS Psychology program as a Pre-Medicine course. The Tourism Management program is a Business course that earns graduates a Bachelor of Science degree in Entrepreneurship.

“The increase in the population of the institution means that more young women are opting to be inspired by an education system anchored on a strong foundation of faith and spirituality, academic excellence for service, and social responsibility. We hope to contribute to these fields by developing spirited women leaders committed to service and excellence,” says Sr. Anna Carmela Pesongco, r.a., Ed.D., president and College dean.

The institution continues to offer its popular courses in Education, Communication, Business, and AB Psychology. For more information, call 817-7773 or visit www.assumption.edu.ph.

AboitizPower con ducts youth summer eco camps

AboitizPower recently conducted summer eco camps in Laguna and Bicol to continue engaging the youth in its advocacy of protecting the environment and preserving the country’s natural resources.

In April, a summer camp was organized by AP Renewables, Inc. (APRI), a wholly owned subsidiary of AboitizPower for its Makiling and Banahaw (MakBan) power plant's host communities in Laguna. Some 150 youth leaders from 10 public high schools joined the three-day environmental workshop.

The camp, which is a part of the corporate social responsibility program of AboitizPower, includes the Eco-Action Planning Workshop and the Eco-tour at Makiling Botanic Garden in the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). The youth camp also encouraged the youth to increase their involvement in various environmental advocacies.

Meanwhile, about 104 high school students including the Sangguniang Kabataan chairpersons from the different barangays of the municipality attended the summer camp in Tiwi dubbed as “Bunyog Kaakian Para Sa Kapalibutan” (United Youth for the Environment).

The highlight of the Tiwi camp is Solidarity Night, wherein the campers showcase their outputs from the camp’s art, dance, and music classes as well as their leadership training. Other activities included a foot parade, coastal clean-up, and tree planting.