4 young Pinoy scientists bag awards in international science fair

– Rainier Allan Ronda
www.philstar.com


Fourteen-year-old Angeli Yap-Dy, an incoming junior at the Capiz National High School, won a 2nd Special Award given by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry and a $1000 cash price for her research on the anti-oxidant properties of the bangus or milkfish and their possible use to fight lung and colon cancer.

Jovani Tomale, 16, won a 2nd Special Award from the American Statistical Association for his mathematical formula that determines the gender of the Philippine eagle. Tomale graduated last March from the Davao City National High School and is an incoming freshman at the Ateneo de Davao University taking up accountancy.

Arlita Narag, Intel Philippines’ corporate affairs manager, expressed pride in the Filipino students’ impressive performance at the ISEF, where they were pitted against the best and brightest foreign students on science and engineering.

Intel Philippines presented the winning students to education and information technology industry reporters at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong City yesterday.

All four winners said that their victory at the ISEF was a “life-changing” experience that gave them confidence and spurred their interest in science research.

Tomale said that while they were somewhat intimidated by their fellow students, especially those from developed countries such as the US, Japan and Canada, they knew that they can hold their own in science.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus also expressed his elation over the students’ win in New Mexico.

“We salute our young scientists who again made the country proud in the international science fair. Congratulations too to Intel for being a strong partner of DepEd in helping develop a culture of science, math and engineering research in our schools,” Lapus said in a statement.

This year’s ISEF was dominated by women, with the top prizes being won by three female high school students namely Tara Adiseshan, 14, of Charlottesville, Virginia; Li Boynton, 17, of Houston; and Olivia Shwob, 16, of Boston. The three won a $50,000 scholarship from the Intel Foundation.  

_______________