Phl math, science medalists hit highest number since 2007
21 February 2018
HISTORY MAKERS. The 2017 Youth Excellence in Science (YES) awardees pose for a group photo with DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña during the awarding ceremony at the PICC.
There’s no stopping our young math and science geniuses on their record-breaking trend.
When the Youth Excellence in Science (YES) Awards first started recognizing the victories of young students in international science and math competitions, there were only 70 awardees. Ten years after, the number of awardees reached a record-breaking 1,195 – an impressive 45.55 percent increase from the previous year’s already historic 821. It’s also the highest total since the event began in 2007.
“If the number of YES medals awarded is any indication of our future in science, I’m happy to say that it looks more than promising,” shares Dr. Josette Biyo, Director of the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) which organizes the YES Awards.
Biyo welcomed the 548 awardees from the national capital region and nearby regions in an awarding ceremony held on February 20 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila. The 647 student-medalists from other regions will be honored in separate events courtesy of DOST regional offices.
DOST-SEI extends scholarship aid to Marawi’s STEM students
02 February 2018
Helping Marawi rebuild. DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña leads in the signing of the memorandum of agreement with MSU System President, Dr. Habib W. Macaayong (second to right), and MSU-IIT Chancellor, Dr. Sukarno D. Tanggo (leftmost), for the implementation of the DOST Bangon Marawi Program in Science and Technology Human Resource Development, which will provide scholarships to students enrolled in STEM courses who were affected by the Marawi siege. The ceremony was held last January 26 in Iligan City.
When Nestor Acala decided to head back home to Marawi after completing his Doctorate in Mathematics as a scholar of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), he was full of hope for his would-be students at the Mindanao State University (MSU) – Marawi Campus.
However, the siege that began in May of 2017 and lasted five months left severe damages that have taken aback thousands of lives in the area. Acala and his students, for one, had to put their respective growths on hold at the onset of the war. What was supposed to be a time for moving up turned into chaos in an instant.
The war is over and the rebuilding begins for Acala and his people. Thankfully, the government’s Bangon Marawi Comprehensive Recovery, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Program is going full swing to help rehabilitate infrastructures and restore peace and order in the city. In support of this national program, DOST through the Science Education Institute (SEI) is initiating DOST Bangon Marawi Program in Science and Technology Human Resource Development (STHRD) as an educational assistance strategy for students affected by the conflict.
New winners join Dulay as 20th PMO Champions
24 January 2018
Familiar and fresh. Top winner Kyle Patrick Dulay of Philippine Science High School – Main Campus (center) is part of PMO’s winning trio again. With him are new PMO winners Emmanuel Osbert Cajayon of Emilio Aguinaldo College (left) and Vincent Dela Cruz of Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science (right).
It was a big night for Pinoy math geniuses as the 20th Philippine Mathematical Olympiad (PMO) held its final round of competition and awarding ceremony at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.
While it was a momentous event for all 21 National Stage Finalists, victory was sweetest for the top three winners – Kyle Patrick Dulay of the Philippine Science High School – Main Campus (1st place), Emmanuel Osbert Cajayon of Emilio Aguinaldo College (2nd Place) and Vincent Dela Cruz of Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science (3rd Place).
Dulay finally claimed the top spot after his first runner up victories in the 2016 and 2017 PMO finals while it was the first national stage win for Cajayon and Dela Cruz. Even DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo noticed that the final stage is home to some familiar faces, but she aptly added that this stage is not short of surprises.
