PSHS-MC tops 2016 Nat’l Chemistry Olympiad
Students from Batch 2019 of the Philippine Science High School — Main Campus (PSHS-MC) topped the Philippine National Chemistry Olympiad (PNCO) held last May 14 at the De La Salle University, Manila.
Arthur De Belen came home as Overall Champion, while Israel Aguba won Overall 1st Runner-up and placed 3rd as a top scorer in the Theoretical Exam. The two students were trained and accompanied by Ms. Xandra Junio of the Chemistry Unit.
The PNCO is an annual Department of Education — National Capital Region accredited competition organized by the University of the Philippines Chemical Society, open to all secondary students from both public and private schools nationwide. This inter-high school chemistry quiz bee aims to promote academic excellence in chemistry through friendly competition.
The contest was composed of three rounds — two theoretical exams, and one practical exam. Those with the highest combined scores qualified for the final round — an oral exam.
When asked what he felt about winning, De Belen replied, “I was kind of shocked… when my name was announced, I didn’t know how it happened. I was hoping to place, and I did.”
“I didn’t think I’d win in the regionals, much less the nationals, so winning was this whole rush of excitement and relief at the same time,” Aguba said.
Both of them attributed their wins to the training they had under Ms. Junio.
De Belen and Aguba represented the National Capital Region (NCR) with Mark Louis Ampong from Pateros Catholic School after topping the PNCO-NCR division test last February 6 at UP Diliman.
For more information on the PNCO, visit their Facebook page.
