A Physics student of the University of the Philippines-Diliman who once dreamed of becoming a garbage collector produced the “Best Project of the Year” at the 2009 BPI-DOST Science Awards held at the Bank of the Philippine Islands in Makati City, recently, a press release from organizers said.

Mikhail Solon, a graduating BS Physics student, bagged the title for his project, “Analysis of Selected Non-linear and Non-Local Systems,” besting five other finalists from BPI Foundation’s 10 partner-universities.

Stephen Alec Baluyot, a BS Physics and Materials Science and Engineering student from the Ateneo de Manila University, was first runner-up for his research on cadang-cadang disease that afflicts Philippine coconuts.

Another UP-Diliman student, Marvin Masalunga, was cited second runner-up for his work on the genetic diversity of a microorganism that causes a commonly overlooked sexually transmitted disease, the press release said.

A joint undertaking of the BPI Foundation, Inc. and the Department of Science and Technology, the “Best Project of the Year” Awards aims to recognize and provide incentives to graduating students in selected colleges/universities who excel in specialized fields of science.

The first-prize winner was offered a research grant of P200,000 on top of the P50,000 cash incentive and a trophy. The first  and second runners-up each received P30,000 and P10,000 in cash prizes, respectively, and a trophy. All 30 BPI-DOST Science Awardees who vied for the “Best Project of the Year” award each received P25,000 and a trophy, the press release said.

Awarding ceremonies for the BPI-DOST Science Awards will also take place in BPI Foundation’s 10 partner-universities nationwide on the following dates: University of Santo Tomas (Feb. 9), Xavier University (Feb. 11), Ateneo de Davao University (Feb. 13), UP- Diliman (Feb. 16), De La Salle University (Feb. 17), Saint Louis University (Feb. 20), Silliman University (Feb. 26), University of San Carlos (Feb. 27), Ateneo de Manila University (March 4), and UP Los Baños (March 5), the press release said

This year’s panel of judges was composed of: Virginia Cabrera, Dr. Maria Isabel Garcia, Dr. Ma. Luisa Daroy, Dr. Raymond Tan, and Dr. Christopher Pineda Monterola, the press release added.*

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AT USLS
Broadcast, acoustic
lab blessed today

The University of St. La Salle in Bacolod City will hold the blessing and inauguration of its SMART Broadcast and Acoustic Laboratory in the College of Engineering Building today, a USLS press release said.

The laboratory will serve as a training ground and simulation facility for Electrical Communications Engineering and Computer Engineering students, and venue for broadcasting communications of the Mass Communications program using a campus-based radio broadcasting facility, the press release said.

It is part of the grant given by SMART Communications to USLS after its ECE team won over 58 other entries in the 4th SMART Wireless Engineering Education Program Innovation and Excellence Competition held in Cebu City last year, the press release said.

Expected at the event are SMART representatives Ma. Hiyasmin Quiñal, Edgardo Albay, Wyatt Hinolan, Cynthia Capua, Raymundo Bulos Jr., Darwin Flores, and Marylou Gocotano, and SWEEP Bacolod coordinator Donnie Senomio.

A lecture on “Corporate Social Responsibility: Technology and Education” will follow at the Santuario de La Salle, the press release added.*

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PARM gab to start Feb. 19

The Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine will hold its 19th annual convention on the theme "The Complete Filipino Physician," Feb. 19 to 22 in Bacolod City, a PARM press release said.

The convention will gather about 400 guests and speakers from all over the country, Asia, United States of America and Europe. It was organized by Dr. Filipinas Ganchoon, over-all chairperson and Dr. Manuel Gayoles Jr., PARM president for 2008-2009, the press release said.

The academy is composed of Physical Rehabilitation Medicine specialists who help people with illnesses that result in pain, weakness and disability, the press release said.

The program is aimed at giving the latest updates on the management of arthritis, osteoporosis, sports injuries, stroke, headache, parkinsons, polio, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, depression, and painful conditions.

The convention is open to all doctors in Negros Occidental. For registration details,  interested parties may call the local secretariat at the Place of Wellness and Effective Rehabilitation, The Doctor's Hospital, BS Aquino Drive, Bacolod City, or call Tel. Nos. (034) 4570718, 4575818 or +639209271250, the press release added.*

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Teatrokon  mall
show set Sunday

In line with the National Arts Month celebration, the TEATROKON West Visayas Theater Network will perform live at 4 p.m. Sunday, at the Northwing Event Centre of SM City Bacolod, a press release from the mall said.

TEATROKON is an alliance of theater groups in Western Visayas recognized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. It is composed of the MassKara Theater Ensemble of the University of St. La Salle, Kalingaw: Teatro Hiligaynon – WNC, Kanlaon Theater Guild – Colegio San Agustin and Poseidon Dance Theater – Visayan Maritime Academy.

The group will show excerpts of their entries to the Ikatlong Tanghal, the National University Theater Festival in Calamba, Laguna, next month, the press release said.

The Kanlaon guild, originally called the CSA-B Drama Guild, was established in 1990 with Rudy Reveche as artistic director. It represented Negros Occidental and the entire Visayas in “Ikalawang Tagpo: the 2nd National Theatre Festival in February, 1996 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the press release said.

The Poseidon group of VMA Global College was formed in 2006 with Danny Vale, an alumnus of the Kasadyahan Dance Company of the University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos and also of Teatro Amorseco of the province, as artistic director.

The group won the 2006 Modern Dance Competition of the Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports, Cultural and Educational Association and the 2007 Modern Dance Competition of the Western Visayas PRISAA Meet in Roxas City, Capiz, the press release added.*

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