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| by Loche Mata |
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Saturday, June 23, 2012
OUnCES joins the 6th Chemical Engineering Week Celebration
By Shiela Mae Rotas
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Tree planting activity during the Opening Ceremony
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SEPTEMBER 18 to 24 marked this years’ nationwide celebration of the 6th Chemical Engineering Week with the theme ‘PIChE+LGU = PROGRESS’. It is an annual fete that commemorates the significant achievements of chemical engineers and chemical engineering students all over the archipelago.
Here in Panay, the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChE) – Panay Chapter, in cooperation with the Junior Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (JPIChE) – Panay Chapter, organized the week-long celebration. The 23rd PIChE-Panay Day was also celebrated in September 24.
Engr. Chamaigne Luz D. Jamandre (PIChE-Panay President) emphasized that this year’s celebration focused on:
1. Forging solidarity among PIChE-Panay members and chemical engineering students by engaging in a
laudable environmental activity;
2. Provide continuing professional education to PIChE-Panay members;
3. Awareness campaign on chemical engineering and its contributions to society among the graduating
high school students in both public and private schools in the province of Iloilo; and
4. Forging partnerships with Local Government Units (LGU) towards progress.
Opening Program
The week-long celebration kicked off with a motorcade from the Central Philippine University (CPU) to the UPV campus in Miagao on September 18. Professionals from PICHE-Panay together with chemical engineering students from CPU and University of San Agustin, and students from John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation, Inc., and St. Therese–MTC Colleges joined in the motorcade.
They were welcomed by a spectacular dance number performed by freshmen OUnCES members at the Covered Court. Afterwards, a short briefing was made by the UPV reforestation office prior to the tree planting at the UP Visayas Tree Park. About 300 seedlings were planted by the group.
An opening program of the 6th Chemical Engineering Week was then held at CFOS Audio Visual Room. Prof. Leticia Ami of the CFOS Institute of Fish Processing Technology (IFPT) gave a lecture on Bio-Processing. The chemical engineering students were then grouped for the sports fest on the afternoon after the lecture. Various ball games such as basketball, volleyball, and dodge ball were played. The OUnCES men’s basketball team defeated players from CPU and USA while the combined women’s basketball team of UPV and USA also won. The purple team composed of randomly chosen students from the three schools was victorious in volleyball and dodge ball. It was really a fun-filled activity.
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Career Orientation at Miagao National High School
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To be able to create awareness on chemical engineering and its contributions to society, the council of officers of OUnCES held a career guidance and orientation at the Miagao National High School on September 20.
The group gave a vivid explanation of chemical engineering as a degree program, its basic subjects, and the possible jobs of a chemical engineer in the future. Twelve sections of the junior and senior students of the said school participated.
Lecture Series
The ChE Week celebration also included a lecture series held on September 23 at the CPU Media Center. Engr. Susan C. Benitez, PIChE Vice President for Visayas, talked on Wastewater Treatment Plant Design. Dr. Rex B. Demafelis, former PIChE National President and faculty member of the College of Engineering and Agricultural Technology (CEAT), U.P. Los Banos, shared his expertise on Plant and Equipment Design.
The lectures were eye-openers for the future chemical engineers. Around 70 students from the UPV, CPU and USA attended the lecture series.
Fellowship Night
This year’s Fellowship Night theme was “Fruits” wherein everyone was required to bring any kind fruit. The Fellowship Night was held at Smallville21 Hotel in Iloilo City on September 24. This event was the closing activity of the ChE Week and also marked the 23rd foundation anniversary of PIChE-Panay. Dashing chemical engineering students and professionals in their semi-formal attire attended the event, with around 70 from SOTECH alone.
The program started at 7 p.m. Engineer Aurora Alerta Lim was the invited guest speaker. In her speech, she invited ChE professionals and students to be aware about the need and become active in environmental protection activities.
The night was full of entertaining activities. At the start, students from different schools as well as the professionals showcased their outstanding talent presentations. It was then followed by amazing games prepared by JPIChE Officers from UPV which almost everyone loved the most.
Awarding of winners in the various games followed afterwards. The professionals won first place in their song-and-dance number. Nikki Quitasol, 5th year ChE student of SOTECH, won the Best Fruit of the evening. Kristel Malayan and Jason Henderin, both from UPV were also declared as the Faces of the Night. Dr. Jose Ali Bedaño, a SOTECH faculty member, consistently won in the group games.
The celebration ended successfully, and the goals were achieved excellently. More successful celebrations were hoped for in the coming years.
Onward chemical engineers! ■
SOTECH PAFT-i joins 50th Annual Confab
By Mary Louise Magpusao
Twenty-five PAFT-i members from SOTECH joined the 50th Annual Philippine Association of Food Technologists Convention held at SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City last June 6-8, 2011. convention theme was “Food Technology Beyond Boundaries”.
For the past few years, the Philippine Association of Food Technologists-Iota (PAFT-i) of the School of Technology actively participated in the annual convention. With the continuous exposure to the different food industries and food technology-related realities, the students’ interests in conferences also heightened.
In the history of PAFT-i of SOTECH, this year has certainly the most number of attendees. Eighteen students from the fourth year and seven students from the third
A myriad of topics were discussed by experts such as the current and emerging global issues on food safety; the recent innovations in food packaging to ensure safety and quality on food and ingredients; the important consideration in cross cultural sensory and consumer research; sustainable health chain from farm to folk; present and future challenges for food analysis; health, wellness and food technology – the golden triangle; an overview of food science and technology at the nanoscale level; global importance of food defense; health & flavour: striking the right balance; updates on sugar used in food and drink in the Philippines; and many other significant and current realities that have great impact in the food sector not only in the country but also to the other parts of the world.
Most of the topics may be mind-numbing due to their technical-nature yet the speakers have the ability get our attention and made us realize that those topics were absolutely interesting. The students and other professionals even have their pictures taken with the speakers as an appreciation for the lectures they imparted.
“Food Technology is a CRAFT,” said Dr. Miflora M. Gatchalian, the founding president of PAFT, Inc. “CRAFT is an acronym for Customer-oriented, Responsive to changing needs, Aiming at continual improvement, Focused on food safety and Total quality.”
Food Technology is indeed a craft for the reason that Food Technology produces something with care, skill and ingenuity. With this, everyone returned home not only with a bag of freebies in hand but also with priceless knowledge in mind. ■
OUnCES Grand Prefect is the new JPIChE’s Prexy
By Shiela Mae Rotas
JPIChE – Panay Chapter is composed of three universities in Panay that offers chemical engineering: Central Philippine University (CPU), University of San Agustin (USA) and University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV).
Voting started at around 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Officers of chemical engineering group in each school took part on the selection of the new set of officers for JPIChE-Panay.
OUnCES members garnered 4 more officerships: Hilda Luzelle Medrano, Assistant Secretary; Crystal Jade Aranguez, Assistant Treasurer; Lurence Arguez, PRO; and Jason Henderin, Escort. The other 10 remaining posts were distributed to CPU and USA.
In his acceptance speech, Almaquer remarked: “I am happy and at the same time honoured. I’m sure there’s a pressure in there somewhere as well. However, I see it mainly as a challenge. I’m confident we‘d do good. This year is our time to shine”. ■
SOTECH “invades” UPV’s 64th Foundation Celebration Week
By Jasmine May de Leon
LAST July 20-23, 2011, UPV celebrated its 64th year of existence with various activities participated in by the staff and students of the university.
The celebration kicked off with an opening program held at the Iloilo City campus in the morning of July 20. Simultaneous activities were also conducted such as the launching of the UPV Wellness Program, fellowship among staff and students, and exhibit of UPV’s unique achievements.
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Murals of School of Technology and other student organizations
during the Pinta Banas, Pinta Alagyan.
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Spearheaded by the University Student Council, Pinta Banas, Pinta Alagyan was held at the main building of the city campus from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. It was participated by the different academic groups and student organizations. An inter-collegiate debate was conducted at the UPV Auditorium in
On the second day, the UPV Debate Society hosted a Fun Run last July 21 with the aim to raise funds for the upcoming 32nd World Universities Debating Championship at LaSalle University, Manila. Fortunately, with a total of 380 runners both in 3k and 5k, the DebSoc was able to raise P 25,450.00.
The School of Technology didn’t just sit around and watch the whole university work. It initiated the Tanom Kahoy which was a community tree planting at the proposed site of the college building last July 21. Also, the Philippine Association of Food Technologists- Iota (PAFT-i) co-hosted the Carinderia Convention of the same day. It was participated by the owners of the different food stalls inside Miagao campus.
SOTECH proved its power with its growing population as the students bagged awards in the various Larolympics which was initiated by the USC. They brought home the bacon with the following awards: first place in Pinoy Garter, Kadang-kadang, Patintero, Sack Race and Kick; second place in Lamonay; and third place in Imnanay Tuba and Amazing Race. Only five competing teams joined the ever-challenging and ever-tiring amazing race, sponsored by the different fraternities and sororities.
Time to do the catwalk as Hinugyaw 2011 took place on the night of July 22. With the theme: Maroon Out of the Spectrum: UPV Stands Out, the different academic organizations showcased their creativity and intellect with the unique concepts they have come up with. SOTECH wasn’t left behind as they project the unique concept of the Ugly Duckling. The night ended with SOTECH proclaimed as 4th in the Modelling Competition and 5th in the Mascot Competition.
UP was indeed out of the spectrum as to how they celebrated the foundation week and it could just get any better every time. ■
UPV Student Councils call for greater state subsidy
By Shelyn Mae Bajala
ON JULY 19, 2011, the different student councils of the UPV joined forces by affirming full participation, commitment and attendance in launching the State of the Youth Address (SOYA) at the UPV Iloilo City Campus.
Together with the UPV constituents, staff and faculty; the UPV University Student Council (UPV-USC), College of Arts and Sciences Student Council (CAS-SC), College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS-SC, College of Management (CM-SC), School of Technology Student Council (SOTECH-SC) and the Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa U.P. (KASAMA sa UP) gathered to press their call for greater state subsidy and fight for democratic access to UP education on the following grounds:
1. The STFAP new bracketing scheme has become a big burden for most students who seek financial assistance and a conspicuous apparatus for virtual tuition fee increase. Hence, STFAP is used as a mechanism for justifying tuition and other fees increase and an apparent smokescreen for such—giving face to commercialization of education;
2. State Colleges and Universities
3. The recent budget cut also worsened the present condition of the university and further pushed UP to railroad commercialization and privatization schemes to generate more funds. This has lead to virtual increase in tuition and other fees in the university specifically in the STFAP mechanisms;
4. The recent virtual tuition fee increase and the decadent commercialization of UP education deflect the public character of UP as a people’s university that caters brilliant yet unprivileged individuals who want to pursue tertiary education;
5. Education as a basic social service is a right not only for elementary and secondary levels but also in the tertiary level, as mandated in the constitution, hence it should be held by the state, accessible to all by allocating greater subsidy on tertiary education; and
6. The misprioritization of education just aggravates the current characteristic of the Philippine education – commercialized, colonial and fascist.
Believing that education is necessary for one’s life to flourish and a tool for nation building, the group, after having a short program at the front of Oblation in UPV Iloilo City Campus, march and meet other SOYA participants from other schools in front of the Provincial Capitol, Iloilo City, announcing to the public their call for greater state subsidy. ■
OUTLIVING NATURE'S WRATH
by Katrina May Parañal and Clarence Lopez
Barangays in Bulacan submerged, power was disrupted, and classes were suspended. The surprising strength, winds and rains of Typhoon Pedring, Quiel and Ramon cost much with damages to property and killed thousands of people.
Natural calamities, just like what we have experienced earlier, are acts of God so we all know that there’s no way that we can stop it from occurring. Unusually strong typhoons, unusually heavier rainfall, resulting in unusually destructive floods and greater number of landslides, are believed to be the effects of global warming. Scientists say that a higher heat level provokes more evaporation of earth water, causes more water to be absorbed by the cloud, and brings heavier rain and stronger typhoons as a result. More rain, stronger winds. But, we can at least minimize the damage it leaves to human life and property by taking good care of our surroundings and Mother Earth.
Polluting acts against nature leads to a cycle where there are stronger typhoons, stronger rains which is clear to us to be the cause of global warming. Global warming is measurably causing a deadlier nature pattern here in our country, and in Earth. It modified rainfall patterns, amplified coastal erosion, lengthened growing season in some regions, and altered the ranges of some infectious diseases.
Rivers full of garbage causes heavy floods that destroy property and kills people. People do not know how to segregate their garbage, and so throw them anywhere which traps waterways to the seas or rivers. They fill up the streets and other low-lying areas if water cannot be released. Deforested mountains and hills are also one of the reasons for these calamities to occur. With no trees to holdback the water, we should not be shocked why waters come cascading down, destroying crops and risking lives. Aside from floods, we also experience landslides and mudslides, and even tsunamis.
As humans who were made to take good care of our nature, we can do a lot to minimize the damage caused by calamities through solutions that we are ought to follow.
Flood happens all the time in which caused by the clogging of waterways. Our government or even the LGUs must penalize those who do not throw their garbage in proper places. They must also keep canals and drainage systems clean. Planting trees as a replacement for the trees that were cut down is also important so that there would be something holding back the water if there’s flood. These can also prevent landslides. The trees will absorb the extra water to minimize the damage of floods. Clean and green program which was done before, and even until now but in only few areas of the country, is also effective.
We must also discipline ourselves to segregate our garbage, separate the biodegradable and non-biodegradable, and put them on where it must be put. Also, people should not abuse the environment but rather take good care of it so that we can assure our survival in every calamity that comes.
An average of 20 typhoons comes in our country every year. We can’t just easily predict how many of these will leave a lot of damage, and if how many will just pass by. And in every strong typhoon that comes in the country, we see the same situation in affected areas. Thousand or even million pesos of damage are recorded, and thousands of people were dead. Schools used as evacuation areas, and houses’ roof became the homes of people during high level floods.
Filipinos already take typhoons, floods and landslides as normal events in the country. They haven’t thought that it was due to their wrong doings. These are taken as ordinary problems such that people still ignore them. They don’t give much importance on these things. This neglect has a greater possibility of causing another problem in the future, even bigger and worse than they think. They talk about the end of the world but they don’t keep in mind what kind of surrounding they have right now, abused and destroyed nature. ■
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