The Manila Science High School Alumni Foundation, Inc.
Masci-Alumni
News and
Features
The Official "Balik-MaSci, Lingap-MaSci" Network
Inquirer News Service
Posted: 5:25 PM (Manila Time) 21 June 2002
by Eline Santos
They're young, they've got high IQs and they won $3000 for their science
investigatory project. Richard Manapat, Jeric Macalintal and Allan
Estrella were students of the Manila Science High School when they won the
grand prize in the physics category for their work with liquid crystals.
"I am happy we won," said Richard. "Masaya rin po," Allan agreed while
Jeric added that he was thankful that their efforts paid off.
Liquid crystals are found in mood rings, color thermometers and toys that
change color when heated or cooled. They are also found in cell phones,
calculators and anything with an LCD or liquid crystal display. While it
is known that liquid crystals respond to electromagnetic waves and
electric current, it was these young scientists who discovered that liquid
crystals reacted to gamma radiation. "It's a real breakthrough, a major
discovery," the trio said. This property of liquid crystals was not known
before.
With the guidance of their adviser Dr. Leonorina Cada, the group decided
to use liquid crystals in dosimeters. A dosimeter measures the level of
radiation emitted by an object. Jeric said that normally, dosimeters take
two months before the results come out. But with their liquid crystals,
the results were immediate.
They used three kinds of liquid crystal mixtures colored violet, blue and
cream. "There is a color pattern that tells you the level of radiation,"
Richard explained. Each mixture reacts differently to a certain dosage;
together they form a distinct pattern that shows how much radiation is
around.
"Ours is much cheaper," Jeric said, giving another advantage of their
project. Imported dosimeters are expensive, he explains.
Their project began with a "literature search." From their readings, the
group got ideas for feasible projects. "We kept it simple," said Jeric. He
explained that although their project was not as complicated as a portable
nuclear reactor, it had its practical applications.
SPECIAL
REPORT
Published by
Employee Communications, Intel Philippines
Philippine Team Strikes Three at ISEF
Intel Philippines
05/20/2002
by Arnie Alcazar, Intel Philippines Media Relations Officer
Louisville, Kentucky, May 17, 2002 – The Philippine Team
stood tall at the 2002 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
(ISEF) in Louisville, Kentucky --- home of the famed Kentucky derby,
bourbon, and Muhammad Ali --- with three Big
Wins:
1st Place Grand Award
(Physics), Team Category,
2nd Place, Grand Award, Individual
Category (Microbiology); and
Top Excellence in (Science)
Teaching Award.
The team of Allan N. Estrella, Jeric V.
Macalintal and Richard K. S. Manapat from Manila Science High School won
the Grand Award First Place honors in the team category, with a US$3,000
cash prize for "A Novel Application of Locally Formulated Cholesteric
Liquid Crystals in Dosimetry."
Prem Vilas Fortran Rara of Integrated Development School won 2nd
place and US$1,500 cash in the Grand Award Individual category for his
project on the "Antibiotic Potential of the Extract from the Parotid
Glands of the Toad (Bufomarinus)."
The students joined top
Excellence in Teaching Awardee Josette Biyo of Philippine Science High
School (Iloilo, Western Visayas), whose triumph was earlier announced at
ISEF. The 44-year old mentor was a popular choice to win the award even at
the outset. Josette, a PhD holder in Biology with Distinction from De La
Salle University, was among the Philippines' Outstanding Teachers honored
by the Metrobank Foundation in 1997. In 1998, she earned the distinction
as one of The Outstanding Young Filipinos by the Jaycees and the Gerry
Roxas Foundation.
It was the best ever showing for the Philippine
delegation in the five years that the country has participated in what is
considered as the world’s annual Olympics of science
fairs.
The Filipinos held their own against some 1, 238
finalists from 39 countries and territories and 1,034 projects in 15
categories, with about a third in environmental sciences, engineering, and
medicine/health. The finalists are the top winners from Intel-ISEF
affiliated fairs in the participating countries.
It was truly a
proud moment for the Philippine team who stood out in their finest Barong
Tagalog as they received their awards. They were all greeted with wide
applause and cheers from their fellow candidates and the rest of the
audience.
Ipagpatuloy ang pagtaguyod ng Kagalingan at
Karangalan sa Pilipinas!
==========================
Young Pinoy 'scientists' win awards at
ISEF
Manila
Bulletin 05/19/2002
By Patti B.
Nisperos
In LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, Four Filipino teeners brought
honor to their country with exceptional research works in physics and
microbiology presented here at the Intel International Science and
Engineering Fair (ISEF) last week.
ISEF is dubbed as the
"Olympics" of all science fairs, a pre-college competition showcasing the
most promising inventors and scientists. Seventeen year-old Allan
Noriel Estrella, Jeric Valles Macalintal, and Richard Kristoffer Sanchez
Mana-pat, both 16, were granted the first place for a team category for
their work on a "novel application of locally-formulated cholestric liquid
crystals in dosimetry." The Manila Science High School seniors will
each bring home US$3,000 for their physics project.
In an interview
with Infotech minutes after the Friday announcement, Estrella admitted
they were confident of a triumph because each knew they "did well
explaining to (ISEF) judges" what their work was about. He also stressed
communication was key in accomplishing the "hard work" done.
Their
work covered the application of liquid crystals (LCs) in the field of
dosimetry, or that field of study that is concerned in making devices that
are able to measure and quantitate levels of radiation. The project
explored on a new property of LCs and its response to gamma
irradiation.
According to the boys, gamma radiation has many
applications in the medical field like sterilization of bone implants,
surgical gloves, and the decontamination of raw
materials.
Microbiology
In the area of microbiology,
seventeen year-old Prem Villas Fortran M. Rara
of the Integrated
Developmental School, Lanao del Norte province, grabbed
the second
place for the individual category. He is expected to bring home US
$1,500 for his work on the antibiotic potential of extract from the
parotid glands
of the toad (bufo marinus).
The Iligan-based
stu-dent's aim was to develop a type of drug from the amphibian group of
organisms ? specifically toads, and be used as a cost-effective resource
of medicine.
After their hectic schedules at ISEF, the four lads
will go on a much needed respite to Macalintal's vacation home in Los
Angeles, California. They are scheduled to fly back to Manila on the
31st and start their freshman year at the university. Macalintal will be
taking up Physics with Computer Engineering at the Ateneo de Manila while
Estrella, Manapat and Rara will be at the neighboring University of the
Philippines Diliman campus.
==============================
Manila Science High School's
electrical system needs rehabilitation!
Batches '84 and '88 have a common call:
"Let us not allow Masci to become a victim of a faulty electrical
system-induced fire". The Masci’s electrical system is
currently in a state of disrepair. The electrical system has not been
rehabilitated nor renovated since the 1970’s. This is in spite of the
development overtime in the school’s facilities and infrastructures
including the additional three new buildings and the required power
consuming fixtures and appliances like ovens, air conditioners, computers,
etc. Moreover, its upkeep is currently handled by only one person on a
breakdown-maintenance basis.
In an interview with Mrs. Susan
Yano (MSHS's Principal) in March 2002, she expressed her major concern
about the school's power supply system. Mrs. Yano recognizes that this
condition poses danger to the lives of the students and employees
including the safety of the school properties. Her concern was supported
by the results of an inspection conducted by Omar Ocampo, an Electrical
Engineer from Batch 1984. These are the inspection
findings:
1. Majority of the outlets in the main building are
not functional anymore. In fact, some rooms and laboratories were
getting power from either an octopus connection or through
extension lines, which includes power supply for an air conditioning
unit.
2. Some wires are already overloaded. One particular
cable rated for 30A is carrying a 120A
load.
3. One building is powered by a make-shift cable from
another building.
Accounts from the maintenance personnel of the
school revealed that there was already at least one instance of fire
resulting from the electrical overload within the campus. The incident was
just prevented through the quick emergency response by the school guards.
Traces of the fire extinguisher used during that incident were still
present in the electrical cables during the inspection. This was also
checked by the maintenance personnel from the Manila City Government last
year, but no action has been taken since then.
Realizing the
danger of a fire outbreak anytime emanating from this problem, Batch
1984 has immediately responded to this priority need of MaSci. The batch
has tasked Engr. Ocampo's group to repair the school's electrical system.
An estimated cost of P106,000.00 is needed to complete the project. Ground
work was conducted last 10 April 2002. The actual project
implementation started in 15 April 2002. Completion of the work schedule
is targeted within this summer, before the start of the school year in
June 2002.
Batch '84 shoulders the initial amount of the project
cost. In heeding the call for this cause, Batch '88 will also cover for
the partial amount. Batches '84 and '88 still need financial support to
cover for the remaining amount needed to finish the
project.
MaSci needs your assistance to finish its Electrical
System Rehabilitation Project. For discussions on donations, please
contact Rommel Carrera ('84) at superpie_unplugged@yahoo.com,
0917-539-1825 or 871-0731 (office hours),
or Che Prudente ('79)
at mailto:cheprudente@psdn.org.ph
Intel RP Science Fair winners bared
The Philippine STAR 03/25/2002
Intel Phils.
recently recognized the country's next generation of scientists and
engineers during an afternoon of scientific discoveries and activities at
the Intel Philippine Science Fair national finals at the UP Bahay ng
Alumni in Diliman, Quezon City.
The science fair is an annual
nationwide competition that aims to promote science and technology among
high school students. It seeks to identify the best and most creative
among the science-inclined and technology-conscious Filipino youths who
can represent the country in various international science
competitions.
The individual winners for the Cluster 1 individual
category (regular high schools) were: first place - Gerly Galindo of La
Filipina National High School, The Evaluation of a Potential Tricoderma
Harzianum on the Pathogenicity of Colletotrichum Cofeanum and Basidiomy
Cetous Fungus in Coffee; second place - Sharmila Cane of Bayugan National
Computer High School, Bioremediation of Mercury-Contaminated Soil and
Water Using Two Cultivars of Ipomea Aquatica; and third place
-
Rene John Zamora of Junob National High School, Laser Alarm
Switching Device.
For the team category, the winners were: first
place - Mary Rose Zamora, Francis Tablizo and Rainer Hernandez of E.
Rodriguez Jr. High School, The Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties of
Sphagnum Junghuhnianum Linn. Extract: An Innovation in Herbal Medicine;
second place - Mark Anthony
Coloma, Kristine Badua and Ma. Theresa
Cassandra Tolen of San Nicolas National High School, Sargassum Coffee; and
third place - Ryan Rom, Grace Ann Daraug and Roy Lagman of Notre Dame
Village National High School, Hydraulic Ram Pump.
For Cluster 2
(special science high schools), the individual winners were: first place -
Karen Christine Braganza of Cayetano Arellano High School, Bioglass
Ceramics Using Lahar; second place - Prem Vilas Fortran Moso Rara of
Integrated Development School, Antibiotic Potential of the Extract from
the Parotid Glands of the Toad (Bufomarinus); and Audrey Glenn Culliao of
Mankayan National School, Ethyl Alcohol Produced from Amylatic
Fermentation of Cellulosic Wastes.
Team Category winners for
Cluster 2 were: first place - Allan Estrella, Jeric Macalintal and Richard K.S. Manapat of Manila
Science High School, A Novel Application of Locally Formulated Cholesteric
Liquid Crystals in Dosimetry; second place - Ben Andrew Aguirre, Rachelle Anne Pitogo
and Arnel Basiliote of Mandaue City Science High School, Magnetic
Drag Force of Nonferrous Conductors; and third place - Real Mame and
Eleazar Vivas of Lipa City National Science High School, Potential
Use of Biotech-produced B-monoglyceride as Protectant to Fruits and
Vegetables Against Soft Rot Disease (Erwinia carotovora pv.
Carotovora).
Investigatory projects entered in the science fair
must belong to either basic sciences, computer and engineering sciences,
medical sciences or other applied sciences. All projects underwent
three phases: division, regional and national levels.
The Intel
Philippine Science Fair is organized yearly by the Department of Science
and Technology's Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) in cooperation
with the Department of Education.
Fully sponsored by Intel, the
science fair is credited for paving the way for young Filipino students to
earn recognition in the international scientific arena and bring honor to
the Philippines.
The top champions in the national finals
(Cluster2, first and second place winners, individual category, and first
place winner, team category) will be flown all the way to the United
States, on an all-expense paid trip, to represent the country in the Intel
International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) in
Kentucky.