by: Reisha Claffel Ferraren

Grade 9 scholars Francis Jether S. Siao, Joseph Karl C. Salva Jr., and Sean Dominic T. Abella of PSHS – Central Visayas Campus, who composed Philippines Team D, bagged the overall third place during the 5th ASEAN Plus Three Junior Science Odyssey (APT JSO) held at the University of the Philippines – Los Baños last June 12 to 18, 2016.

Philippines Team D garnered three silver medals for the team’s excellent performances in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and another silver medal for Siao’s team in the project pitching by mixed country groups.

Other PSHS - CVisC scholars Bryne Alric L. Yu, TG Giles R. Geonzon, and Aime C. Lamoste also composed Philippines Team B, which earned two silver medals for Biology and Chemistry.

Mentored by Physics teacher Mr. Benito A. Baje, they all underwent intensive trainings for the past month focusing on Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.

Aside from PSHS – CVisC, PSHS – Cagayan Valley Campus also sent two teams to represent the country.

In terms of medal haul, the Philippines dominated the event as it bagged 15 medals from the different component contests.

THE SCIENCE ODYSSEY

The APT JSO is an annual science competition for gifted students aged 13 to 15 from China, Japan, South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Sweden, and the ten ASEAN member countries.

Each participating country sent two teams with three students and one coach per team but the Philippines, as the hosting country, sent four teams.

“Climate Change and the Rainforest” was the theme for this year’s APT JSO.

The components of this year’s science odyssey were Project Pitching by Mixed Country Groups (40%), Laboratory Skills Assessment (50%), and Poster Presentation (10%).

The over-all second place was claimed by Philippines Team A, composed of Jose Benjamin Dela Cruz, Mark Ely Namoro, and Hannah Keren Duque from PSHS – Cagayan Valley Campus.

The overall champion was Brunei Team A, composed of Teo Siang Jun, Mohammad Ariff Zikry Mohammad Haziq, and Haji Ahmad Nizam Noor Manina.