OUnCES joins the 6th Chemical Engineering Week Celebration

By Shiela Mae Rotas

Tree planting activity during the Opening Ceremony

SEPTEMBER 18 to 24 marked this years’ nationwide celebration of the 6^th 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 23^rd 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.

 Career Guidance for High School Students

Career Orientation  at  Miagao National High School

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! ■