Phl sci, math medalists flourish amid pandemic

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

 

Not even COVID-19 can stop young Filipinos math and science geniuses from hauling medals from international competitions in 2020. 

 

This, as the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) recognized 1,395 students in its Youth Excellence in Science (YES) Awards held virtually last Oct. 29. 

 

The number of awardees is down 14 percent from the 1,631 tallied in 2019. But for DOST-SEI Director, Dr. Josette Biyo, the number remains impressive given the challenges faced by the organizers of the international competitions themselves. 

 

“This year’s number of 1,395 medalists—with a total of 3,672 awards amassed from 67 competitions—is proof that despite the pandemic, many of us continue to push for excellence. Many of our teachers and parents continue to believe in our youth’s innate talents. Many of us in the science community hold on to your fire as this country’s hope and strength going forward,” said Biyo. 

 

As with last year’s awarding, DOST-SEI recognized this year’s honorees through a virtual ceremony featuring messages from DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, Biyo, and testimonials from a medalist and a school representative. 

 

“Indeed, the past year has been an unexpected challenge for everyone. Which is exactly why your triumphs are all the more laudable and worthy of celebration, for each of you is here against great odds. You are all truly exemplars of the best young minds in the Philippines,” stressed de la Peña. 

 

Triumph amid losses 

 

Andres Rico Gonzales III of De La Salle University Integrated School spoke of his experiences in winning gold in the 2020 International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) 

 

“During international competitions, we fight not only for our own merit but also for our country. That is why, every year, we are all excited for the YES Awarding because it is the culmination of our hard work being recognized by our government. God has given us the talent and passion for reasons bigger than ourselves—that is, to help and share these gifts for the betterment of many,” he said. 

 

Gonzales began competing in the IMO in 2018 when he settled for an honourable mention. In 2019, he finally nabbed a bronze medal. He said he wants to get the goal in his last year of eligibility. 

 

“As for me, my biggest dream is to win in IMO,” he said. 

 

Gonzales revealed that 2020 was especially challenging because of how the pandemic changed his life permanently. 

 

“Last year was the most trying time in the lives of my family because we’re still grieving for the demise of my father who just died two weeks after he was diagnosed of cancer. Our business closed, and a lot of drastic changes came after this,” he narrated.  

 

He furthered, “Preparing for the IMO is rigid because we all know it is the hardest international math competition for high school students. Then came the pandemic, which delayed the competition, and subsequently coincided with the academic year. It was hard to focus. I had to juggle between studying for school and reviewing for the IMO.” 

 

“I grieved. I prayed. I fought,” Gonzales said, adding he wished to inculcate in the minds of fellow awardees that perseverance and determination truly spell success.  

 

“We don’t know what the future will be. But one thing’s for sure: whatever the challenge maybe, science and technology will serve as the backbone and the frontline of the fight” he disclosed. 

 

Gold Ribbon School Award 

 

The YES Awards also recognized institutions that consistently led the medal hauls in international science and math contests in the past three years. DOST-SEI labeled them as Gold Ribbon School Awardees. 

 

Among the finalists include St. Jude Catholic School, Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Main Campus, and De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, which had the most number of medals from 2018 to 2020. 

 

In a testimony, PSHS Main Campus Director, Dr. Lawrence Madriaga thanked DOST-SEI for the award, highlighting that the school joins international competitions not just for performance metrics but to measure their students’ competency against the best of the world. 

 

“We believe that if we want to continually improve as a school, we have to constantly challenge ourselves and aim to be at par with our international counterparts. We always look for opportunities to improve the way we nurture our students to become STEM professionals and be part of nation-building in the future,” Madriaga said. 

 

The YES Award is a DOST institutional award for exemplary achievement of the youth in the fields of science and mathematics and shall come in the form of a medal of distinction to be awarded by the Secretary of Science and Technology or the DOST Regional Director.

Almost 8 in 10 Filipinos believe that vaping devices and e-cigarettes are a ‘serious health hazard’

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

66% of those who use such devices support a ban on flavors that appeal to children, according to Pulse Asia
Almost 8 in 10 Filipinos (or 77%) believe that vaping devices and e-cigarettes are a ‘serious health hazard’. This was according to a recent Pulse Asia survey conducted to gain insight on vaping and e-cigarette habits among Filipinos.

The survey also reported that 74% of the respondents support a ‘100% e-cigarette or vapes-free policy’ in public places while 70% support a policy that restricts age accessibility to vapes and e-cigarettes at 21 years old and above. The fieldwork for the survey was conducted among 1,200 respondents and from September 6 to 11.

The survey results were released as Senators are set to resume their deliberations next week on Senate Bill No. 2239 (SBN 2239) or the Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act, more commonly referred to as the ‘Vape Bill’. Advocacy groups have criticized the measure as a ‘betrayal of public health’, citing provisions that roll back the minimum age of access to these products from the current 21 years old to 18 years old, among others.

Dr. Maricar Limpin of the Philippine College of Physicians urged Senators to ‘junk the measure’ echoing the position of the medical community against vapes and e-cigarettes’ adverse health effects, citing studies that have shown that the products contain cancer-causing agents.

At least 7 former health secretaries and 60 medical groups previously opposed the bill’s provisions that will ease restrictions on the use of flavorings, shift the mandate to regulate such devices from from the Food and Drug Administration to the Department of Trade and Industry, and allow vaping in public places, schools, and hospitals.

“Medical opinion and public opinion are in agreement: vapes and e-cigarettes are harmful to Filipinos’ health,” said Dr. Limpin. “Senators should heed the call of Filipinos and their doctors and reject the Vape Bill,” she added.

“Proponents of the Vape Bill are claiming that vapes and e-cigarettes are a healthier alternative to smoking and help smokers quit. This is not true. There are real health harms in these devices and there is not enough evidence to claim that they help smokers quit,” said the physician.

“In fact, it has been shown in other countries that a higher percentage of people who use e-cigarettes still continue to use traditional cigarettes which presents even greater harm,” Dr. Limpin also said.

Ban on flavors that appeal to children

Public interest law group ImagineLaw also pointed out that stricter regulation of vape and e-cigarette devices are sought out even among those who use such devices. In the same survey, 62% of respondents (and 66% of respondents who use such devices) said that they will support a ban on the availability and accessibility of e-cigarette and vape flavors that appeal to children and youth (e.g. cotton candy, fruity).

“Even vapers and e-cigarette smokers agree with the proposal to ban flavorings that attract young people and children,” said the law group’s Executive Director Atty. Sophia San Luis.

“The Vape Bill will introduce more young people and even children to the dangers of vapes and e-cigarettes,” she said. “The people have spoken against vapes and e-cigarettes. Our legislators’ duty is to listen and junk the Vape Bill,” San Luis added.

The Pulse Asia survey has a plus or minus 2% error margin at 95% confidence level.

It’s More Fun to Film in the Philippines: FDCP Goes to the American Film Market 2021

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The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is currently at the American Film Market (AFM) 2021, which started November 1 and will culminate on November 5, 2021. As part of the AFM’s official events and activities for this year, the FDCP, through UniPhilippines and the FilmPhilippines Office, hosted a panel discussion about the opportunities available for international partnerships with the Philippines.

A virtual panel discussion titled "It's More Fun to Film in the Philippines" was held last Monday, November 1, and was moderated by journalist and film festival consultant Wendy Mitchell. The panel was made up of American and Filipino producers and filmmakers who have had experience in working with the Philippine film industry on international productions, including Philippine Film Studios, Inc. Executive Producer Jun Juban, Director Pedring Lopez of Counterplay, writer and producer Scott Rosenfelt, Electric Entertainment's producer Francis Dela Torre and FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Diño, who joined the panel as a resource person to discuss the country's filming incentives which intend to boost international coproductions and make the Philippines more enticing as a film location option for international production outfits.

FDCP Chairperson Diño shared her excitement about the Agency’s ongoing projects and incentive programs. Through its banner program FilmPhilippines, the country offers location incentive programs to attract a range of international film and audiovisual projects for production and post-production, as well as foreign producers looking to do international coproductions with Filipino producers. One such incentive is the Film Location Incentive Program (FLIP), which grants an eligible international project a 20% cash rebate on their qualified spend in the Philippines. It also provides logistics support via the Film Location Engagement Desk (FLEX), one-stop-shop assistance for government permits, and interagency endorsements to those coming to shoot in the country.

UniPhilippines, on the other hand, has several support programs aiming to help Filipino films and filmmakers, as well as their international coproducers, intending to reach a global audience by exposure to international festivals and film markets.

But more than the incentives and support, it is in fact the people that makes the Philippines an excellent choice for collaboration and film location. Executive Producer Jun Juban relates, “the best ‘infrastructure’ is the people themselves, the enthusiasm to work… the qualified and well-trained technical staff.” He also shares that film technical personnel were even invited to overseas filming projects for their expertise, and then they go back to the Philippines with even better experience to share with the industry.

Chairperson Diño said that the film industry was one of the hardest-hit sectors in the Philippines during the pandemic. She adds, “Participation in festivals and film markets open new avenues to our films and our filmmakers to have a wider reach. Not only does choosing the Philippines as a film destination make the country more visible to the world, but it also helps our economy by creating jobs for our homegrown pool of film workers and generating revenue for service providers in the country.”

A film market is not only where films are showcased but is the place where networks are forged, titles acquired, and production and distribution deals sealed. The AFM has the reputation of being the most efficient, with more than a billion in US dollars worth of deals closed, both for completed films and those under production and development. It brings together a diverse audience of more than 7,000 film industry professionals from more than 70 countries every November. It is also a venue to discover a global catalog of available films and projects, attend world-class conferences, panels, and workshops, and connect with the independent film community’s decision-makers.

Throughout the five-day networking event, FDCP hosts two virtual booths at the LocationEXPO and Industry Offices for FilmPhilippines and UniPhilippines, respectively. Four Filipino films are on market screening as well, namely: “Hello Stranger” directed by Dwein Baltazar, “Whether the Weather is Fine” by Carlo Francisco Manatad, “A Hard Day” by Law Fajardo, and “Real Life Fiction” by Paul Soriano.

Since its first participation at the AFM in 2016, FDCP has closed numerous deals, acquired remarkable films, and made notable partnerships in this annual event. AFM will run until November 5, 2021. “It's More Fun to Film in the Philippines” panel session will be available for replay to participants of the American Film Market 2021. It can be accessed by logging in to https://afm2021.online/.

To know more about FDCP’s international collaborations and opportunities, you may check out - http://www.filmphilippines.com.