Three students from Pampanga added to the pride that Filipino students have been giving to the country by receiving recognitions abroad.
Grade 10 student E’van Relle Tongol, together with Grade 11 students Shaira Gozun and Neil David Cayanan of Angeles City Science High School bagged an honorable mention at the recent 2019 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Isef) in Phoenix, Arizona.
They were recognized for their project, titled “Hibla,” a sound-absorption material made from locally available fibers abaca, bamboo and water hyacinth.
Their research was one of the Philippines’s six entries to the prestigious science competition.
The recognition was given by the Acoustical Society of America, which aims to “generate, disseminate, and promote the knowledge and practical applications of acoustics.”
The team got their inspiration for their project from the noise that they observed in public schools. Many public schools divide one room to accommodate two or more classes, where noise has been inevitable.
They also found out that the main cause of the annual flooding in their home province Pampanga is the overabundance of water hyacinth.
“We thought: How do we solve one problem with another problem?” Tongol said in Filipino.
“Hibla” was sent to Isef after it won as Best Team Research in Physical Science during the 2019 Department of Education National Science and Technology Fair.
The researchers’ dedication was also recognized when they received the first Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) Award.
The award is given by GBF to students who exhibit excellence in Science and Technology. Besides the award, GBF also supported the team, and the other nine Philippine delegates, with an all-expense paid trip to Arizona.
“We are proud to have supported these brilliant students to this year’s Isef. Their victory is a testament that Filipino students, despite having limited resources, are capable of developing ingenious products and high-quality research,” said GBF Executive Director Grace Colet.
“This inspires us to stay true to our thrust of advancing STEM [science, technology, engineering and mathematics] education in the Philippines. We hope that with this victory, more students will be motivated to pursue a STEM track and develop their own research projects,” Colet added.
Besides “Hibla,” the Philippines has two other team entries and three individual entries to the international competition.
Taguig Science High School’s John Eric Aggarao, Kathleen Chloie Antonio and Anna Beatriz Suavengco studied the possible organic solution to brown eye spot disease attacking Kapeng Barako plants.
Meanwhile, Alpha Acain, Lester Sabadao and Lia Denise Tan of Cagayan National High School designed a prototype that can assist farmers in drying and storing their rice harvests.
For the individual research, Maria Isabel Layson of Iloilo National High School presented the antidiabetic properties of aratiles and how it can help produce dietary supplements.
Quezon National High School’s Nathaniel Reyes also demonstrated how cornstalk biochar composite can treat algae infestation in lakes and fish ponds.
At the same time, Maryjoise Karla Buan of Pangasinan National High School invented a device that can detect illegal logging activities in forest areas.
Image credits: Lester Sabadao/Philippine Delegate 2019 Intel Isef