BPI DOST 2015 Science Awards by Vitalstrats Creative Solutions

THE BPI FOUNDATION

he Bank of the Philippine Islands believes that science, research and technology development are essential components in nation-building.

The Bank of the Philippine Islands has been a leader in the world of finance since its establishment in 1851. It is known for its network of branches spread all over the country and its wide array of innovative products and services.

In instituting the annual BPI-DOST Science Awards, the BPI Foundation aims to encourage budding scientists and researchers to scale higher levels of excellence in their chosen fields.

BPI is more than a financial institution. Aware of its corporate responsibility, the BPI Foundation was established in 1978 with a mission to uplift the social and spiritual well-being of the community-whether the terms refer to the town or city where it operates or to the country as a whole.

With its inception in 1989, the Awards has recognized and given incentives to outstanding young men and women from all over the Philippines whose efforts made them excel in specialized fields of science, namely: mathematics, physics, engineering, chemistry, biology, and computer science. Each year, three exceptional students from leading universities and colleges nationwide are selected for their achievements in their respective fields. To date, over 600 science awardees have been recognized in view of their potential contributions to industry and nation-building. An awardee is selected on the basis of his academic performance and must be nominated by the school. The awards are given to the top three senior students of the following universities: Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Silliman University, Saint Louis University, University of the Philippines (Diliman and Los Ba単os), University of San Carlos, University of Santo Tomas and Xavier University.

The BPI Foundation has since then instituted and run the following outreach and development programs

EDUCATION

ENVIRONMENT

BPI-DOST Science Awards, BPI for Teachers (Build, Promote, Improve), Professorial Chair, Scholarship Program

Climate Change Adaptation Study in partnership with World Wide Fund for Nature - Philippines, E-donate, Solar Light Initiative

ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

OTHERS

Financial and Credit Literacy Sessions for Micro, Small & Medium Entrepreneurs, Capacity Building for Social Enterprises, Building Partnerships with Indigenous Communities via Social Development, Financial Education for OFWs and their Families

Bayanihan Para sa Inang Bayan (BPI Bayan) Employee Volunteerism Program, Art Collection Management, Library and Museum Management, Financial Assistance to other Institutions and Organizations

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

OFFICERS

Fernando Zobel de Ayala - Chairperson Cezar P. Consing - Vice Chairperson Aurelio R. Montinola III - Director Cielito F. Habito - Director Mercedita S. Nolledo - Director Antonio V. Paner - Treasurer Carlos B. Aquino - Corporate Secretary Cezar P. Consing

President

Fidelina A. Corcuera

Executive Director

Gina O. Astilla

Finance and Administrative Officer

Ma. Teresa Lea L. Calalang Program Officer

Ebony Ariane G. Lautner

Communications & Program Officer

BPI SCIENCE AWARDS COMMITTEE Fidelina A. Corcuera Chairperson

Heidi P. Ver Vice Chairperson

MEMBERS Heidi P. Ver Manuel C. Tagaza Tomas S. Chuidian Reginaldo Anthony B. Cariaso Genaro IV N. Lualhati

BPI-DOST SCIENCE AWARDS SECRETARIAT: Gina O. Astilla Ni単a Mirrela C. Bautista Catherine U. Evangelista

MALACAĂ&#x2018;ANG PALACE MANILA

MESSAGE Congratulations to the winners of the 2015-DOST Science Awards. Science and technology have provided us with the tools to improve out liver and realize our aspirations. It thus important for us to make use of the findings of these fields to sustain our present growth and ensure the continued competitiveness of our nation. I thank the Department of Science and Technology and the Bank of the Philippine Islands for spearheading this yearly search for outstending university who exhibit significant aptitude in the realm of scientific research. Your efforts will be instrumental in developing the minds of our young and encouraging them to excel in their various sciences. With activites such as these, I am certain that we will be able to build a highly-skilled and competent workforce that will lift our country to the heights of equitable progress. In this time iof renewal, we hope to tap all sectors of our society, particularly the youth, to realize our great potential and bring the benefits of a resurgent Philippines to the broader spectrum of society. To the organizers, I thank you for your solidarity with the government in this endeavor. To the awardees, may you never rest on your laurels; may you remain intelectually inquisitive and restless, and keep exploring the horizons of your subject matter for the benefit of science, our people, and the rest of humanity. Again, congratulations to this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awardees.

Benigno S. Aquino III

MESSAGE Dubbed the “millennials”, today’s generation of young, energetic and concerned individuals dominate the project entries for this year’s BPI-DOST Science Awards. This generation is most admired for its drive to lead, innovate and constantly challenge the status quo. As we look at this year’s entries, we were impressed by the exceptional talent and innovative thinking behind this young generation and how these permeate into many areas such as agriculture, medicine, smartphone technology and the environment. We are delighted to support the passionate minds behind these stimulating ideas. We wish to thank and congratulate this year’s finalists and awardees for continuing to spark excitement among us. Their generation is fully aware of the social gaps in our communities and is stepping up to the challenge of creating positive change through science and technology.

Once again, thank you and congratulations.

Fernando Zobel De Ayala

MESSAGE The past few years have witnessed unprecedented economic gains for the Philippines, particularly in terms of economic freedom and global competitiveness. A recent report by the National Competitiveness Council cites the Philippines as “the most improved ASEAN economy, and now, as the most improved economy in the world since 2011.” While there are many factors behind this improvement, experts have cited the role that Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) education plays in bolstering a country’s competitiveness and overall development. We at BPI Foundation are big believers of this, which is why we have supported the BPI-DOST Science Awards - and many of our country’s brightest young scientific minds – for the past 26 years. We believe science and technology go well beyond the walls of a laboratory; they have the potential to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems, create massive impact, and change lives for the better. All of our BPI-DOST Science Award finalists and awardees represent some of the Philippines’ best and brightest – each one with potential for significant achievement. Let us as one community support their endeavors, and help keep their passion for discovery and innovation alive. Indeed, there is much that we can do if we invest in our youth and harness their potential to contribute to our country’s future. To our finalists and awardees, CONGRATULATIONS! May you always find new reasons to explore, discover, innovate, solve problems, and make a difference where it matters the most. May you never tire of learning, and may other young Filipinos follow in your footsteps.

Cezar P. Consing

Department Of Science and Technology

MESSAGE I am delighted to present the culmination of our joint efforts for the BPI-DOST Science Awards Program this 2015! Great changes are looming over us— our changing climate and the upcoming ASEAN economic integration are posing to rapidly and drastically change our country and our world. To survive and surmount, we Filipinos must learn how to chart our own course; and for us from the Science and Technology (S&T) sector, this paradigm translates to “technology self-reliance”— believing that the innate Filipino innovativeness and creativity, when capacitated with the appropriate tools, have the power to solve pressing national problems, distinct to the unique Filipino situation and culture. To our awardees— the role you play is critical towards realizing this change. Foreign solutions and technologies will not solve problems that are local and indigenous to us. We need the capability and capacity to develop and craft our own solutions and technologies. Above all, your minds and hearts— these are our greatest resource as we march ahead to tomorrow. It is our shared belief that you, our awardees, are the leaders and innovators that will lead our country once again to prosperity. Mabuhay!

Mario G. Montejo

AWARDEES 7

Ateneo De Davao University

In Vitro Evaluation of Selected Bacteria Against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense Tropical Race 4 Christian John S. Capirig B.S. Biology

A consistent Dean’s Lister, Christian John explores right-brained pursuits as much as he does scientific experiments. He can write in Korean and Japanese, aside from English and Filipino, and plays musical instruments such as the piano, violin, guitar, flute, and recorder. He shares, “My ultimate ambition is to be a medical specialist (such as a radiologist, neurologist, or oncologist) someday. One of his “greatest ambitions”, however, is “to establish an educational institution.”

About the Project: Fusarium Wilt of Banana, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (Foc TR4), has led to banana plantation wipeouts and economic losses for the domestic and international banana industry. Several control methods have been employed against it, yet these remain relatively ineffective due to resistant properties of Foc TR4. In light of that, the main focus of this study is to determine the antifungal ability of the soil bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Streptomyces aureofaciens against Foc TR4 in Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and bacterial selective media. The experiment was done through in vitro antagonistic bioassay using dual culture technique, where antagonism was comparatively evaluated. Results of the bioassay yielded varying degrees of inhibition on Foc TR4 in vitro among the different bacteria. Statistically, B. subtilis and P. fluorescens proved to be potentially effective inhibitors mainly because of the metabolites they produce whereas S. aureofaciens did not inhibit Foc TR4 in vitro. Moreover, fungal inhibition by the bacteria is not dependent on the type of culture media, suggesting that inhibition is neither dependent on the in vitro conditions favoring the bacteria nor on the fungal pathogen. Further studies on determination of other antifungal compounds of B. subtilis and P. fluorescens and in vivo studies may be done.

Ateneo De Davao University

Isolation and Molecular Detection of StyA Gene in Soil and Bacillus megaterium John Lorenz Mirhan B.S. Biology

Chosen as the “Most Outstanding Student” of his class in 2014, John Lorenz has been passionate about science since his childhood because, according to him, “everything around me sparked my interest.” He hopes to earn a scholarship to St. Luke’s College of Medicine, become a successful doctor and scientist, and contribute to research in the fields of biochemistry, genetics, immunology, oncology, and environmental science. John Lorenz also hopes to “inspire people to become great scientists, doctors, and engineers especially in a culture where pursuits in science are not yet all that popular and accepted.”

About the Project: Styrene, a chemical chiefly used in the production of resins and polystyrene plastics, is an extremely toxic compound that poses a threat to the environment and to public health. The degradation of styrene can be facilitated by microorganisms commonly found in soil where styrene wastes are dumped. This study aims to detect the StyA gene in total soil DNA to confirm the presence of styrene-degrading organisms in the dumpsite soil—and to isolate Bacillus megaterium, a suspected styrene degrading soil bacterium. The StyA gene that was amplified from the total soil DNA produced an amplicon which was approximately the same with the StyA amplicon of a related study by Peso-Santos et al., (2006) hence, indicating that the consortia of microorganisms in the soil samples had styrene degradingcapabilities. Isolation of B. megaterium—using different morphological, microbiological, and biochemical tests—produced 10 candidate isolates. From these 10 candidate isolates, one isolate was confirmed to be B. megaterium. Furthermore, molecular detection of styA gene from B. megaterium’s DNA was confirmed. This result indicates that B. megaterium has the capability to degrade styrene and contributes to the styrenedegrading ability of the bacterial consortia in the dumpsite soil.

Ateneo De Davao University

Validation of a High-performance Liquid Chromatographic Method for the Determination of Aldehydes and Ketones in Ambient Air Samples

Kenon Gabriel C.Vinson B.S. Chemistry

A consistent Dean’s Lister, Kenon Gabriel believes in “[pushing for] a more science-informed Philippines by joining science-centric organizations and movements.” He believes in the capacity of Filipino scientists to contribute to the larger body of knowledge in the international scientific community, and says that “the fight for science… [must become] all the more intense, enlightening, and rewarding” outside the halls of the academe. Aside from his passion for science, Kenon Gabriel also has interests in gaming, the arts, and music, and can play the violin.

About the Project: A method developed for the collection and the quantification of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone by high-performance liquid chromatography was optimized and validated. The method was able to resolve the three compounds. The method had a linear response to formaldehyde at the 0.67 – 651 ng/mL range, acetaldehyde at 0.63 – 613 ng/mL, and acetone at 0.68 – 663 ng/mL. The method was most sensitive to formaldehyde and least sensitive to acetone. The trueness for all three compounds at 90 – 460 ng/mL was found to lie within the 80% - 110% recovery standard. The precision of the method had below 2% RSD for the three compounds at the repeatability level and around 2% at the intermediate level. The limits of detection were found to be 403 ng/mL, 105 ng/mL, and 142 ng/mL for formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone respectively. The limits of quantitation were 605 ng/mL, 165 ng/mL, and 322 ng/mL for formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone respectively. All these revealed that the sampling procedure was effective for collecting air samples for acetaldehyde and acetone; formaldehyde, on the other hand, suffered from ozone interference. From preliminary results, the formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acetone levels at the test sampling sites did not exceed ACGIH and NIOSH recommended exposure limits.

Ateneo De Manila University

Boron Toxicity and its Effects on the Photosystem II Electron Transport Activity of Zea mays Wrench Chester S. Canicosa B.S. Biology

His fascination with the television shows X-Men and Heroes¬¬—and with the whole idea of genetics and mutation—led Wrench Chester to study Biology, but beyond that, he is serious about pursuing a career in molecular genetic to “revolutionize the way we do and look at medicine.” He hopes to “explore the human genome” and see what will “let us transcend the bounds of humanity and tap our maximum potential.” An idealist who believes that he can “make a difference to society” through science, Wrench Chester’s research project could potentially have an impact on crop efficiency and corn production in the Philippines.

About the Project: Boron, as an essential micronutrient, is required by plants of different species in specific amounts and concentrations—the deficiency or excess of which may have detrimental effects on plant growth and development. While boron deficiency has been found to cause the impairment of photosynthetic activity, the relationship between boron toxicity and photosynthetic function has not been well-elucidated. Boron toxicity in Philippine agriculture comes from the use of irrigated groundwater, from volcanic materials, and from the industrial use of boron. This study aims to determine the effects of increasing concentrations of boron on the photosynthetic efficiency of Zea mays, a major food crop in the Philippines. This was done through the Simple Nutrient Addition Program (SNAP) hydroponic growth of maize plants in modified nutrient solutions of varying boron concentrations. Photosynthetic activity in extracted intact chloroplastic fractions from leaf samples was measured in terms of dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP) reduction by chloroplastic photosystem II enzymatic activity. Results show that as boron concentration increases, DCPIP reduction—hence, photosynthetic activity—decreases. Morphologic examination of leaf samples also shows increased degrees of wilting and leaf discoloration as boron concentration was increased. Boron toxicity, thus, is inferred to affect photosynthetic activity, as it allows for the activation of photooxidative stress responses and causes structural damage to the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts—both of which have indirect effects on photosynthetic pathways.

Ateneo De Manila University

Molecular Identification and Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of a Magnetotactic Bacterial Isolate from Nagsasa, Zambales, Philippines

Ma. Celina L.Guillermo B.S. Life Sciences

A consistent honor student since her youth, Celina seems to be a “renaissance woman,” who enjoys the arts just as much as she does the sciences. Working toward a minor in Literature, she also draws and plays the piano and violin. However, Celina’s real passion lies in helping others through the medical sciences—particularly through research on mental disabilities and a medical practice in developmental paediatrics. Celina confesses that, since her youth, she has been “mesmerized by the inner workings of the cell: how different mechanisms are seemingly molded into perfection or how each organism contains a lot of inner machineries to survive.” Aside from having won the Gintong Kabataan Award from the Government of Bulacan, Celina is also a delegate of the Ayala Young Leaders Congress in 2014.

About the Project: Some of the most unique microorganisms are the magnetotactic bacteria that produce intracellular, nano-sized magnetic particles called magnetosomes. These magnetosomes, in turn, enable cells to migrate along their nutrient gradients through the Earth’s geomagnetic field lines, in a phenomenon called magnetotaxis. The Philippine archipelago is steeped with untapped microbial diversity; however, Philippine magnetotactic bacterial species remain unreported. This study aims to identify and establish the phylogeny, based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of a magnetotactic bacterium, previously isolated from an estuarine sediment in Nagsasa, Zambales, designated here as strain ADMU-10. ADMU-10 demonstrated magnetotactic response by moving towards and forming a biofilm around a magnet. Previous transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of ADMU-10 also revealed intracellular nanoparticles. Phylogenetic analysis shows that ADMU-10 is affiliated to Gammaproteobacteria class, under the genus Pseudomonas. Currently, only two magnetotactic bacterial strains belonging to this class are reported. ADMU-10 is thus one of the rare strains of magnetotactic bacteria to belong to this diverse class of prokaryotes. This initial study of isolation, cultivation, and identification of Philippine magnetotactic bacterium may ultimately serve as an industrial bio-resource of indigenous, cost effective, and non-toxic nanoparticles for nanotechnological use, such as the early and rapid detection of cancer cells and pathogens of national concern.

Ateneo De Manila University

Glycerol-Modified Poly (ε-Caprolactone): An Approach to improve the Hydrophilicity of Poly (ε-Caprolactone) James Nicolas M. Pagaduan BS Chemistry / BS Materials Science and Engineering

Ranking first in his class among Chemistry and Materials Science and Engineering students at the Ateneo de Manila University, James Nicolas looks at science not only from the perspective of research, experimentation, and discovery; he wants to apply his skills to introduce innovations that will help “rebuild the nation.” He envisions his research project to “[pave] the way for new applications in the medical field for the improvement of health and livelihood.” Aside from his academic pursuits, James Nicolas is also the Executive Vice-President of the Ateneo Chemical Society (ACheS), and has implemented projects that have used chemistry as a take-off point for livelihood, and to inspire young people to be future scientists.

About the Project: Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a water-insoluble polymer, which has gained much attention through the decades as an ideal material for drug delivery, tissue engineering, 3D cell culture, and other clinical applications. However, due to its high degree of crystallinity and hydrophobicity, PCL degrades rather slowly and is less biocompatible. This study aims at making PCL more hydrophilic by condensing it with the hydrophilic and nontoxic glycerol, in the presence of the biocatalyst Novozyme-435. The research established that condensation of PCL with glycerol altered its properties. Glycerol-modified PCL (GMPCL) became partially soluble in methanol, whereas PCL was not; it was also less viscous than PCL. Crystallinity of PCL had been reduced upon tagging of glycerol to PCL as shown in the XRD profile. DSC thermogram proved that this modification also lowered the transition temperature of PCL. Contact angle measurements and thermogravimetric analysis showed that GMPCL has more affinity for water as compared to PCL and can be considered as more hydrophilic than PCL. In addition, GPC confirmed the branched nature of GMPCL, the film of which disintegrated faster than PCL film in phosphate-buffered saline solution of pH 7.3. This GMPCL can be explored further for the fabrication of surfactant, fast-degrading suture, encapsulation, and controlled release vehicle for amphiphillic and hydrophilic drugs. Keywords: poly(ε-caprolactone), glycerol, Novozyme-435

De La Salle University

Breadcrumb: An Indoor Simultaneous Localization and Mapping System for Mobile Devices

Alron Jan F. Lam BS Computer Science with specialization in Software Technology

A true Millennial who dreams of developing the latest technological innovations to help society, Alron Jan aims to complete his Master of Science in Computer Science after graduation, and soon be a professional software engineer. His recent project aims to push the boundaries of location tracking and be able to track movements while indoors—something that is as useful for firemen entering and leaving a burning building, as it is for a parent looking for a missing child in a mall. Currently at the top of his class of Computer Science students at the De La Salle University, who has had previous research featured at the 10th National Natural Language Processing Research Symposium, Alron Jan believes that science and technology are “unquestionably powerful tools for nation-building.”

About the Project: Despite being a reliable method of locating a user, Global Positioning System (GPS) performs poorly indoors. Other methods have since been developed for indoor navigation; however, most of these methods require external infrastructure, making them environment-dependent. One approach that does not require external infrastructure is known as “dead reckoning”. In the context of a user with a smartphone, “dead reckoning” can help users find their way around places by keeping track of their position and mapping their environment, a procedure known as Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM). One way SLAM is achieved, in turn, is through the Inertial Navigation Systems (INSs), which is “step-based” and which estimates motion based on the number of steps a user takes. However, INSs are inherently erroneous due to what is known as “sensor drift” and also due to the accumulation of error. Thus, various modifications to INSs have been made. One such modification is the use of a camera in order to improve estimations, producing systems called Vision-Aided Inertial Navigation Systems (V-INS). While V-INSs have the correction capability to counter sensor drift, they have poor motion estimation because they typically integrate accelerometer readings. This research, thus, aims to improve a V-INS by using an INS for its motion estimation.

De La Salle University

Design and Development of a Computer Vision-based Breast Self-examination Instruction and Supervision System

Rey Anthony A. Masilang BS Electronics Engineering

Currently at the top of his class of Electronics Engineering students at the De La Salle University, Rey Anthony has found simple yet innovative ways to integrate technology and the advancement of medical diagnosis. His current research proposal aims to provide “a costless alternative [or] complement to other methods of detecting breast cancer,” the second most prominent cause of cancerrelated deaths among women globally. Before this, he also authored a research proposal on the “design and development of an electronic diagnostic system for peripheral artery disease.” Rey Anthony is also currently an intern at a telecommunications firm, and hopes to someday join the telecommunications industry while working as a part-time instructor at the De La Salle University.

About the Project: Breast cancer is the most widespread cause of cancer-related deaths among women globally. Early detection significantly affects its curability. Breast self-examination (BSE) is a cost-effective and non-invasive alternative which can be performed by women themselves. However, BSE is difficult to master especially without supervision and guidance from a professional. In light of this, a computer vision-based BSE instruction and supervision system, which can monitor and guide women with BSE, is developed in this thesis. The proposed system, which requires just a personal computer and a webcam, is comprised of four modules. The first one is devised to identify the entire left and right breast areas using color features, edges, contours, and curves. The second module divides the breast area into smaller blocks, which the user will be instructed to examine consecutively, using integral images and genetic algorithm. The third module tracks the hand of the user using corner features and sparse optical flow. The fourth module detects palpation motions using time series regression analysis. All modules are validated using a number of statistical metrics. Finally, these algorithms were integrated together to create a complete BSE instruction and supervision system, with additional features such as real-time audio-visual feedback and graphical user interface.

De La Salle University

Spatial analysis of the distribution of reported dengue incidence in the National Capital Region, Philippines

Mark Anthony P. Pangilinan BS Statistics Major in Actuarial Science

Although it was his love for Mathematics that led Mark Anthony to pursue studies in Statistics and Actuarial Science, it was a deeply personal—and almost-tragic—experience concerning his older brother and dengue that led him to his current research project. Mark Anthony believes that “results of the study can help health experts in many ways, such as proper resource allocation and early prevention of possible outbreaks.” To this aspiring future public servant, “public health is a great concern when we talk about nation-building, especially for developing countries.” He believes that his training in Mathematics will help him make better decisions and “broaden [the] knowledge, understanding, and analytical skills that are necessary… [for] national development.”

About the Project: The World Health Organization’s Global Strategy for Dengue Prevention and Control states that effective disease monitoring and prediction through epidemiological surveillance can reduce the morbidity rate of dengue fever. This study aims to analyze the spatial distribution of dengue incidences in the National Capital Region (NCR), across four years of reported dengue cases. The analyses identified significant clustering of dengue incidence using Moran’s I, and revealed that the northern cities of NCR—such as Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela—exhibited high spatial autocorrelation (i.e., neighboring cities tend to have similar dengue incidence rates) using local Moran’s I and spatial scan statistics. A temporal analysis of the results also suggested movement in dengue incidence through time, from the northwest cities spreading to the northeast cities. Results of these analyses will be able to provide policymakers and health experts with bases for the proper allocation of funds and resources, which, in turn, can help prevent and treat dengue fever.

Saint Louis University

Taxonomy and Characterization of Epiphytic Lichens in Adams, Ilocos Norte: With New Records and Putative New Species

Arianne Stephanie B. Calera B.S. Biology

An aspiring doctor, Arianne Stephanie was inspired by the beauty and the biodiversity in the well-conserved municipality of Adams, Ilocos Norte for her research project. She believes that it is “humbling and thrilling to have the opportunity to study and record this under-documented lichens of the Philippines, especially from a place that hasn’t been touched or studied that much.” She believes that it is important to remove the “compliance mentality” in conducting research at the undergraduate level and, more importantly, believes that science and technology education in the Philippines should become a priority. Aside from being at the top of her class, Arianne Stephanie is also an active public speaker and debater.

About the Project: Lichens, associations between fungi and algae which grow different thallus forms and grow on different substrates, are some of the most understudied organisms in a “megadiversity” hotspot such as the Philippines. This study aimed to identify and characterize the epiphytic crustose (crust-like) and foliose (leaf-like) lichens that grow on tree surfaces (lignicolous and corticolous types) found in Adams, Ilocos Norte, a critical wildlife habitat in the Philippines. Lichens were collected in July, using purposive sampling. Identification of the lichens was done through the examination of their morphoanatomical and chemical properties, and guided by taxonomic keys. Fifty species of lichens were identified: 17 foliose and 23 crustose types. Among these, four putative new species (two Bulbothrix species, one Pyxine species and one Hemithecium species) and 15 new records (Graphis lineola, Graphis luluensis, Graphis chlorotica, Graphis oligospora, Myriotrema cf. Microporellum, Sarcographa heteroclita, Thalloloma anguinaforme, Thalloloma janeirense, Acanthothecis corcovadensis, Coccocarpia glaucina, Coccocarpia pellita, Leptogium cf. Propaguliferum, Hyperphyscia adglutinata, Hyperphyscia isidiata and Eschatogonia minuta) were determined. These results show that Adams is a haven of lichen flora; hence, it supports the protection and preservation of the area as a habitat for Philippine flora and fauna.

Saint Louis University

Proton Exchange Membrane from Graphene Oxide Blended Sulfonated Waste Polystyrene

Darren Mark T. Jasmin BS Chemical Engineering in Actuarial Science

An aspiring chemical engineer and professor, Darren Mark sees that there is value in being a “rebel” if one is rebelling against the notion that “It’s impossible” and “It can’t be done.” To him, engineers are thinkers, dreamers, and doers all at the same time who can play a large role in national development. Darren Mark believes, furthermore, that “Science and Technology are the bedrock of a successful economy. They are intimately connected with development because they have a historical record of bringing advances that have led to healthier, longer, wealthier, and more productive lives…” After his studies, he hopes to work for a petroleum refining company.

About the Project: The research is geared towards the production of an inexpensive proton exchange membrane that is intended for fuel cells, by sulfonating waste polystyrene blending with graphene oxide. Here, varying amounts of sulfuric acid were used as the sulfonating agent, while the degree of sulfonation (DS) was measured using titration. The study revealed that the membrane with 13.0760% DS gave the highest proton conductivity and electrochemical selectivity. Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized using the modified Hummer’s method. Different amounts of GO were blended in the 13.0760% DS -sulfonated polystyrene. The GO-blended membrane showed higher selectivity than the non-blended. As the amount of GO blended increased, so did the proton conductivity. Meanwhile, the membrane with 0.1 g GO has the highest electrochemical selectivity of 8473.81. This value is lower compared to the selectivity of the Nafion, which is 8615.9170. However, the membrane developed has a conductivity six (6) folds higher than in previous literature. These results indicate the potential of graphene oxide-blended sulfonated waste polystyrene as a potential membrane for fuel cells. Performance of the membrane in a fuel cell is still to be determined. Future work will involve the design of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell for use in electronic gadgets and vehicles.

University of the Philippines - Diliman

Design and Implementation of UHF Bi-Directional Amplifier for WiFi Over TV White Space

Steven Matthew C. Cheng BS Electronics & Communications Engineering

Believing in the quote from social philosopher Eric Hoffer that “A busy life is the nearest thing to a purposeful life,” Steven Matthew has always believed in taking his academics seriously in order to “excel, innovate, and find novel ideas.” Aside from pursuing his masters and doctorate degrees, Steven Matthew aims to conduct more research projects, develop patents that will benefit society, and also be part of the academe. His current research project “aims to provide rural areas with [mobile] signals especially when there is a calamity,” which can also “serve as a back-up communication system when the primary network fails.”

About the Project: Rapidly Deployable Base Stations (RDBS) are widely used as backup communications systems. When applied in disaster response scenarios—for example, for people outside a disaster area to communicate with people within—these RDBSs need to connect with existing telecommunications infrastructure in unaffected areas. In this case, TV White Space (TVWS) is used as the frequency of operation due to the abundance of unused spectrums in this band. To achieve this, there will be a need to amplify the transmitted signal and filter the received message. Hence, a UHF BiDirectional Amplifier (BDA) is an attractive option. This project aimed to implement a UHF BDA that will operate within the UHF TV band (450MHz-900MHz). The BDA provides two-way filtering and amplification of signals. The transmitter and receiver were implemented separately. The receiver block was measured to have a gain of 16dB and a noise figure less than 1dB. The receiver block was tested with off-the-shelf Power Amplifier (PA) for operation as BDA. Automatic switching between transmit and receive modes by power detection for plug and play operation with UHF radios and antennas was confirmed. A PA that was compatible with the receiver module was designed and measured to have an output power of 36dBm at 500MHz.

University of the Philippines - Diliman

One-step Fabrication of Superhydrophobic/ Superolephilic Electrodeposited Polythiophene for Oil and Water Separation

Raiza Elmira S. Imperial BS Chemistry

Fueled by curiosity and motivated to give back to Philippine society, thanks to her being an “Iskolar ng Bayan,” Raiza Elmira chose to study Chemistry because of her fascination with “the central science.” Having heard of oil spills in her youth—and the destruction that they caused not only to the environment but also to the livelihoods of coastal communities—she chose a research project that would potentially impact the way oil spills are cleaned up. To her, the real reward for her work is not just an award, but “being able to contribute to society… and change the lives of our generation and of the generations to come…”

About the Project: The release of crude oil and refined fuels into the marine environment, caused by offshore oil spills and tanker ship accidents, severely damages the natural ecosystem. Meanwhile, it has been a long-standing scientific challenge to effectively separate oil from water. In this study, one-step, single-component fabrication of a superhydrophobic and superoleophilic coating by electropolymerization of polythiophene on a stainless steel mesh was developed to separate water and oil. Different techniques—such as Fourier Transfer Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)—were performed to characterize the fabricated coating. The coating, in turn, has the necessary requirements of a superhydrophobic surface: a low surface energy and a rough surface morphology. The outstanding wetting property of the coating was confirmed by measuring the contact angle, which was found to be 1521° and 0° for water and oil, respectively. The SEM imaging of the coated mesh showed that even without pretreatment, the coating has a rough surface morphology. To test the coated mesh, different water samples, organic solvent, and petroleum products were used. Salt water and water of different pH values, were blocked by the coated mesh from passing through, whereas dichloromethane, gasoline, kerosene, dodecane, and crude oil easily passed through the mesh.

University of the Philippines - Diliman

Quantum Entanglement in a Low-temperature Superconducting State

Xavier M. Puspus BS Applied Physics

A UP-Government Scholar since he began his studies at the University of the Philippines, Xavier has “always been fascinated by how things are and how things work.” He is challenged by the fact that there is a scant body of work on quantum entanglement, and therefore hopes to be “one of the few Filipinos who does research” on the subject. One who is into athletics and music aside from the sciences, Xavier believes that “the advancement of knowledge… increases human power.” “We need to get back our hunger for knowledge just to fulfill felt needs, but, more importantly, to know and further understand nature,” he writes. His ultimate goal, aside from taking further studies abroad, is to someday work at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) or the United States’ National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA).

About the Project: The next generation of computers relies on quantum entanglement and other quantum effects to simultaneously analyze multiple potential solutions to some computational problems. These parallel functions allow quantum computers to perform much faster than classical computers at certain tasks, such as large-scale optimization, data decryption, and materials simulation. In this study, we complete a theoretical investigation on the nature of quantum entanglement in a model of low-temperature superconductors known as the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer state (BCS) state. The fundamental understanding of entanglement in many-body states, such as the BCS state, is essential for the advancement of quantum computation and quantum information processing theory. In particular, the calculations in our work show that: (1) the entanglement between electron spins in the BCS state obeys a sub-extensive area law in momentum space; (2) the associated entanglement entropy is also a measure of the fluctuations in the number of Cooper pairs; and (3) zerotemperature quantities can be used to estimate the phase transition temperature of the BCS model. The first result means that spin entanglement is a surface (not a volume) effect and thus has strong implications when engineering devices with maximum entanglement. The second result opens up a new possibility for experimentally measuring entanglement entropy, whose measurement is currently a technical challenge. Finally, the third result provides a potential unifying example between the theoretical fields of quantum information theory and statistical mechanics. PACS: 74.20.Fg, 03.67.-a, 03.65.Ud

Silliman University

Effects of Audible Sound Waves on Larval Condition and Cocoon Development of Mulberry Silkworm (Bombyx Mori L.)

Charlene S. Caduhada B.S. Biology

A person of varied interests, Charlene was drawn to study Biology by the sense of adventure that it cultivated in her. Years before becoming a finalist in the BPI-DOST Science Awards, she and her high school team had already competed in the Association of Science Educators in the Philippines (ASEP)-National Science Fair, thanks to a research study that they conducted on white pea beans and their effects on culled chickens’ capacity to lay eggs. At present, her research project aims to study the effects of music and noise on silkworms—which may have an economic impact on the textile industry. Aside from aiming to study genetics counselling, Charlene also hopes to be a doctor, and to also someday open her own coffee and pastry shop.

About the Project: Audible sound waves are considered to be some of the stressors in the environment that can alter the physiological, physical, and behavioral aspects of an organism. This study aims to determine the effects of these audible sound waves (i.e., noise and music) on the larval condition and cocoon parameters of mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori L. Sixty (60) 3rd instar larvae were divided into three treatments and were exposed to audible sound waves: Treatment A (noise), Treatment B (music), and Treatment C (control). Larval conditions were recorded at the 3rd, 4th, and 5th instars of the larvae, whereas cocoon parameters were noted after the full formation of the cocoon development. Results show that there is a significant difference in the larval condition of Bombyx mori in terms of their larval weight and mortality rate only at the 3rd instar implying that audible sound waves (noise and music) affect the larval condition of Bombyx mori. Noise and music significantly decreased the weight of the said larvae. Also, there were significant differences in some of the cocoon parameters of Bombyx mori. These show that audible sound waves do affect the shell weight, cocoon thickness, and single strand diameter of silkworm cocoon. However, audible sound waves do not have an effect on the said specie’s cocoon weight, pupal weight, cocoon diameter, cocoon length, and tensile strength. Also observed were behavioral changes in the silkworm exposed to audible sound waves.

Silliman University

An Analysis on the Gamma Radiation Spectra of Soil Samples from Dumaguete City Dumpsite and Ecological Park

Raymart Jay E. Canoy B.S. Physics

An aspiring physicist and physiologist, Raymart Jay was drawn to science “because it gives me the opportunity to lead the process of unravelling the mysteries of [God’s] creation.” He laments the “low state” of science and technology in the Philippines, and believes that investments in our human resources and infrastructure—specifically, science and technology education and state-ofthe-art laboratories—will help place the country among the world’s developed nations. A student of the Korean language, Raymart Jay hopes to take his graduate studies in a Korean university. He also hopes to contribute to science and technology education by training out-of-school youth on the scientific method and how to apply this to the workplace.

About the Project: One of the health and safety concerns associated with improper solid waste management is potential exposure to radiation. To enable a community to assess any possible radiological risk of waste generation and disposal on human health and environment, this study aims to determine and assess the specific activity of 40K, the most abundant and naturally occurring radioisotope in the earth’s crust, in the topsoil, and subsoil samples collected from fifteen (15) sampling locations around the Dumaguete City Dumpsite and Ecological Park. In this study, the apparatus used to collect the gamma radiation spectra of the soil samples is GDM 10. The computed detection limit is 64.699 counts per 3600 seconds or 0.037222 Bq/g. The counts that yield specific activities below this detection limit are considered as essentially background radiation. The results of the analysis on the gamma radiation spectra of the soil samples show specific activities of 40K ranging from 0.21400 Bq/g to 0.36656 Bq/g. These results show that in all sampling locations, the amount of radioactivity of 40K is relatively higher than its natural radioactivity level; that is, it shows a significant level of radiation. And when the spectra were further analyzed, several radioisotopes, mostly the product of the three naturally occurring radioactive decay series, were identified. There were artificially produced radioisotopes identified also, such as 189Re and 187W.

Silliman University

Niche Modelling of Endangered Philippine Birds: A Comparative Study between Garp and Maxent

Lorraine Allie E. Solitario B.S. Computer Science

Raised between the idyllic locations of Mount Makiling in Los Baños, Laguna and the City of Dumaguete in Negros Oriental, Lorraine Allie was drawn to science and to nature at an early age. Believing that stewardship of the Earth’s resources is just as important as business and economic interests, her research project aims to help track endangered bird species in Dumaguete, in hopes of aiding in the preservation process. Her ultimate goal, however, is to be a game developer. Aside from honing her skills in traditional and digital illustration, she also hopes to pursue further studies in this field.

About the Project: Two of the most commonly used and most efficient methods of niche modelling using climatic data are called Genetic Algorithm for Rule-set Production (GARP) and Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt). Research in the area of environmental niche modelling has been using climatic parameters in modelling niches of bird species. However, local experts believe that human activity is a great contributor to the birds’ habitat status, a condition not often tested on niche model accuracy. This study thus aims to test the accuracy of the bird niche models produced by both GARP and MaxEnt when dealing with human-related parameters. Bird sightings of six endangered Philippine bird species found in Negros—Zosterornis nigrorum, Stachyris speciosa, Gallicolumba keayi, Rhinomyias albigularis, Penelopides Panini, and Aceros waldeni—were used for the study. Niche models/prediction models from GARP and MaxEnt then underwent partial-area ROC analysis for model evaluation. Results of the tests showed that the prediction models of the two niche modelling algorithms are mostly positive, with GARP showing more accurate results than MaxEnt. In addition, GARP showed lower accuracy results when human-related parameters were introduced as compared to having no human-related parameters during the modelling phase. MaxEnt, on the other hand, showed accuracy improvements when the parameters were used. MaxEnt was also proven to be an ideal algorithm, as opposed to GARP, when dealing with species with very few recorded occurrences /sightings.

University of the Philippines Los Baños

Electrochemical Recovery of Nickel from Acid Extracts of Plant Ash of Hyperaccumulator Rinorea bengalensis

Ian Lorenzo E. Gonzaga BS Chemical Engineering

Ranking first in his class of Chemical Engineering students at the University of the Philippines – Los Baños, Ian Lorenzo was drawn to engineering because of its exactness. “I love how even the most complex of things can be explained in exact, definite mathematical relationships,” he writes. His research project excites him because of the potential to extract waste from an abundant metal such as nickel and “[convert] it into something useful.” According to Ian Lorenzo, “Though economic progress is a major factor [of] human development, it becomes a hindrance once it degrades our resource base.” He sees science and technology as keys to achieving “ecological balance.”

About the Project: Several unique plant species, known as hyperaccumulators, have the ability to store heavy metals, such as nickel, in their above-ground shoots at high concentrations. These plants provide an advantageous approach to simultaneously decontaminating polluted soils and to recovering precious metals. However, there are still very few studies on this technology. The technical and economic feasibility of the recovery of nickel via electrodeposition—particularly from acid extracts from the plant ash of nickel hyperaccumulator Rinorea bengalensis—is explored in this study. The effect of the operating parameters, namely current and time, on the removal efficiency of the electrodeposition process is investigated. Likewise, the secondary effects of temperature, pH, and the presence of other metals are assessed. Through the use of the charge dose concept, scale-up factors are investigated, thereby providing insight on the cost of the electrochemical recovery.

University of the Philippines Los Baños

Pre-Scale Up Studies for the Extraction of Phytohormones from Waste Coconut Water

Mart Merwin C. Magboo BS Chemical Engineering

Drawn to his research project by an interest in orchid-growing—a passion that he shares with his mother—Mart Merwin aims to fulfil two objectives through his research: first is to lessen the “pollution load” of wastewater from the coconut processing industry; next is to extract from the wastewater “high-value-added products called ‘phytohormones’… [which] have been proven to promote growth and flowing in plants.” He looks forward to seeing its commercial potential for the Philippine cutflower industry. He believes in the importance of writing and sharing knowledge, saying that this “leads [to the] building up of ideas into a useful reality through the collaboration of the different arms of science and technology.”

About the Project: Waste coconut water contains a class of biochemicals known as phytohormones, a value-added product which can be recovered using fixed-bed resin adsorption. To determine pre-scale parameters for the extraction, batch and column adsorption experiments were performed and ultraviolet (UV) absorbance was utilized as a crude indication of phytohormone content for these experiments. Analysis of the coconut water indicated peak absorbance at 265 to 269 nm wavelength confirming the presence of phytohormones, based on literature. Batch adsorption studies showed that the system follows a Freundlich isotherm, with an estimated equilibration time of two hours and an effective resin loading of 25 grams per liter of coconut water. Column adsorption studies reflected non-ideal breakthrough curves which necessitated the use of exhaustion time, compared through breakthrough time, as a better parameter for analysis. Moreover, it also revealed the interplay of linear velocity and contact time on column adsorption behavior, which further justified optimum linear velocity with maximum phytohormone extraction as a suitable scale-up parameter. Mass spectrometric analysis identified six classes of phytohormones in the column extracts. Adsorption runs on larger columns are on-going. The results will enable the calculation of scale-up parameter which will hopefully lead to a more reproducible adsorption column design and operation.

University of the Philippines Los Baños

Optimization and Scale-up Studies for the Production of Biosurfactant by Saccharomyces cerevisiae 2031 In a stirred Tank Bioreactor Using Molasses and Coco Paring Meal as Substrate

Jhun Marc S. Salvador BS Chemical Engineering

A proponent of “green” technologies, Jhun Marc chose his research project in order to lay the “groundwork for future commercial production of… a ‘green’ alternative to chemical surfactants”—one that is locally produced and which can promote the local economy as well as environmental protection. He believes in “an interdisciplinary approach” to sustainable development, and hopes to pursue graduate studies in Bioengineering in order to complement his current studies in Chemical Engineering. For Jhun Marc, it is important to support the development of investigatory projects—such as in the BPI-DOST Science Awards— because these are “seeds of change which can sprout into deeper understanding… and [can] promote critical thinking.”

About the Project: Biosurfactants are structurally diverse surface-active compounds from microbial sources, and can potentially replace less environment-friendly chemical surfactants. In this study, the production of biosurfactants from Saccharomyces cerevisiae 2031 was optimized in a 5L stirred tank bioreactor via Response Surface Methodology (RSM), and the results were used to scale up the process to a 30L stirred tank bioreactor. RSM experiments showed that maximum yeast biomass (proportional to biosurfactant content) was achieved at combinations of either: (a) high aeration and high agitation; or (b) high aeration and low agitation. On the other hand, the effect of aeration and agitation on the emulsification index was not clearly determined, indicating possible inadequate extraction of biosurfactant from yeast cell wall. Considering the proportionality of biomass and biosurfactant concentrations, numerical optimization was applied to maximize biomass concentration in the 5L bioreactor. The optimum solution was 1.34 vvm aeration rate and 159 rpm agitation speed. Using the volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient (kLa) as a scale up factor, the equivalent aeration/agitation conditions were determined for the 30-L bioreactor (1.34 vvm and 88 rpm). Verification of the reproducibility of optimum fermentation performance in the scaled-up 30L bioreactor is presently ongoing.

University of San Carlos

Low-cost Acoustic Tweezers for Biomedical Applications Kit M. Gerodias BS Applied Physics

Drawn to the science books and the encyclopedias that he saw around him as a child, Kit took up Applied Physics in hopes of “[uncovering] the secrets of the universe.” He plans to study advanced degrees in the field and someday win a Nobel Prize in Physics in order to “inspire and fuel the hearts of the youth to take up science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).” Kit laments the fact that there are only “81 scientists for every million” Filipinos, and that there is “only one physicist for every million” Filipinos. He believes that, “if we focus on developing our population [into] a scientific-minded people, [we] will surely reach the level of a developed country.”

About the Project: The use of acoustic tweezers for the manipulation of colloidal particles has been reported in various biophysical and medical research applications, such as single molecule or polymer manipulation, cell sorting, and particle separation. Among the major advantages of using such tweezers are: higher yields, a low power requirement, and lower cost. In this project, a prototype of low-cost acoustic tweezers is developed. In order to implement acoustic trapping and/or manipulation of colloids (including living cells and micron-sized particles) inside a microfluidic chamber, an acoustic tweezers setup utilizes ultrasonic standing waves (USW). Piezo element transducer was glued to a glass slide serving as one plate of the microfluidic chamber. Polystyrene beads, 1.5 micron, were used as a sample. Particle tracking was done using a CCD camera through a LabView software to track the movement of the beads. It was found out that the beads moved on the average 2.17 μm.

University of San Carlos

Erythrocyte Nuclear Abnormality (ENA) Test on Bufo Marinus Linnaeus (Anura: Bufonidae) from the Selected Rivers in Cebu Province with Implications on River’s Health Status

Ma. Cherry Ann A. Gorgonio BS Biology

An aspiring environmental scientist and consultant, Cherry Ann was drawn to the fact that science “deals with new discoveries, innovations, and research that can explain the existence of absence of certain things.” She chose a research project that would have a potential impact in assessing and monitoring rivers not only in her hometown of Cebu, but also possibly in the entire Philippines. In the past, Cherry Ann has conducted research studies related to biodiversity and to the impact of an oil spill on a mangrove.

About the Project: The Erythrocyte Nuclear Abnormalities (ENA) Test is a method for assessing DNA damage at the chromosome level. The ENA Test was conducted on toads, Bufo marinus, from the Butuanon River, the Guindaruhan River, and the Guadalupe River. Mature female Bufo marinus were collected from each site. Blood smears from the heart were prepared and fixed in methanol and stained with 10% Giemsa. Erythrocytes were examined under a compound light microscope. Results revealed that ENAs such as nuclear protrusion, double nucleus, nuclear pycnosis, micronucleus, and nuclear concavity were observed, and the number of the abnormalities increased as the level of water quality decreased (p-value <0.05). Class A toads had the lowest number of ENAs, because this site had the lowest exposure to anthropogenic activities compared to the other sites. Classes B, C, and D had a higher number of ENAs because these areas are known to be contaminated with genotoxic compounds such as heavy metals and NPAHs, and had been exposed to more anthropogenic activities like quarrying. The findings support the proposal that the ENA test be a potential method that could be added in the program and applied by our environmental monitoring bodies in assessing and monitoring the state of water bodies in the Philippines.

University of San Carlos

Image Recognition and Solver for Algebraic Systems of Linear Equations for Android Carl Stephen C. Tan BS Computer Science

An honor student since his youth, Carl Stephen has always been drawn to computers and to the “world of possibilities” that it opens up that, according to him, “[when] combined with other disciplines of science develop tools that help society.” Believing that linear algebra is a tool that can solve many problems in the real world, Carl Stephen has already used his skills to develop applications and solutions for companies. He hopes to someday open his own company, “which can, in turn, provide opportunities to future young professionals.”

About the Project: This research demonstrated a stand-alone application running on the Android platform that is capable of using an image as an input, in which the system of linear equations contained was extracted and solved. This research compared recognition results from different image pre-processing implementations. Tesseract OCR Engine was used for text recognition and a novel algorithm was developed to translate the text representation of a linear system to matrix representation, which was then solved through LU Decomposition or Gauss-Jordan reduction, depending on conditions of the matrix size. The accuracy rating was determined based on a small test set, and an accuracy rating of roughly 55% was recorded. A survey was given to a small sample to gather information on the applicability of the research, as well as the user acceptance level in terms of accuracy rating. Measures of central tendencies were used to process the obtained results. Responses from the sample showed that the research was deemed useful and applicable.

University of Santo Tomas

Turbidimetric Water Hardness Determination Based on Photoresistor Sensor

Maria Pia Isabel N. De Leon BS Chemical Engineering

Drawn to the sciences because of her fascination with “how things are made, where they originated, and how they came to be,” Maria Pia Isabel found in Chemical Engineering the intersection of her interests and innate abilities. As early as in her high school years, she already conducted research on pandan leaves as an insect repellent, and on malunggay seeds as a coagulant in water. Through her current research project, she hopes to contribute to assessing water quality for household and industrial use. Maria Pia Isabel also believes that more investments in science and technology education should be made, as this is one of the keys to developing the country’s potential and ensuring national development.

About the Project: Water hardness is a useful parameter in assessing the quality of water for households and industrial use. This study aims to evaluate the potential of a photoresistor sensor as a water hardness sensor. The turbidity—produced by precipitates formed from the reaction of calcium with oxalate— causes changes in the amount of light reaching the photoresistor, a semiconductor material whose electrical resistance decreases with increasing light intensity, thus causing a change in the voltage reading. The device was tested according to the stability of the voltage readings, the sensitivity to changes in the amount of precipitates formed, repeatability of the method and readings, and the behavior and limit of detection of the device. The test results exhibited percent relative standard deviations below 10%. The UST recycled water tested using the sensor had a 3.11% difference from the Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) titration. In conclusion, the device produced a reliable response for turbidity. A correlation between concentration and voltage was established. The results obtained were not significantly different from those gathered using conventional methods for testing turbidity. This study thus finds application in water treatment facilities and water quality testing. Additionally, a potential “smart system” may be developed that will relate water hardness to softening treatment through this sensor.

University of Santo Tomas

Refactoring Duplicate Codes in Java Using Code Clone Detection and Automated Extract Method

Anne Christine C. Gonzales BS Computer Science

An aspiring programmer, Anne Christine chose her current research project in order to “decrease, if not eliminate, multiple lines of code” that cause inefficiencies in particular programs or applications. She deems Artificial Intelligence as “a feat [of] the human race”, and hopes that “this project may serve as a stepping stone in automating more processes that were originally done manually, to increase efficiency and productivity.” For her, everything that people need to live and thrive—from agriculture and food manufacturing, to public health, urban planning, and even national security—involve innovations in science and technology.

About the Project: Duplicate codes are the same lines of codes, in function or in text, which cause programs to run slower and to be more vulnerable to bugs. To eliminate duplicate codes and optimize programs, code clone-detecting programs and refactoring methods are used to improve the design of the code. Code clone detection is the process of identifying duplicate codes, using different methods such as Greedy String Tiling algorithm, Burrows-Wheeler transform, and Karp-Rabin string matching algorithm—all of which were used in the software PMD, a Java source code analyzer. Refactoring the duplicate codes should not affect the logic, hence, maintaining the correctness and the behavior of the code. These refactoring methods are already being used to aid programmers in restructuring codes. However, they are also done manually and are timeconsuming, depending on the code and the programmer. The purpose of this research is to automate refactoring for Java source codes through the Extract Method. Duplicate codes detected by PMD will be extracted to form a new method, where the existing code clones will be formed as one. Automation of the refactoring process can help computer science students, programmers, and information technology practitioners alike in improving their source codes.

University of Santo Tomas

Functionalization of Raffica with Carbon Black and Self Dispersible Carbon Black for Supercapacitor Electrode Material: Flexible Energy Storage Device

Ina Andreia O. Mauleon BS Chemistry

Raised by parents who were also educated and working in scientific fields, Ina Andreia early on developed a passion for science. She believes in the key role that the advancement of science and technology plays in national development—a process which she describes as “multi-dimensional” and not just pertaining to economic growth. She chose her research project because of a keen interest in renewable energy, a field she also studied briefly in high school. Ina Andreia looks forward to exploring the potentials of Raffia as an “eco-friendly energy source” as well as a natural fabric that is endemic to the Philippines.

About the Project: The rapid depletion of fossil fuels and climate change have driven society to shift to renewable sources of energy (Cao et al., 2013). The intermittent behavior of renewable energy sources, however, creates a need to develop energy storage devices, such as batteries and supercapacitors (Shi et al., 2013). Research efforts are being carried out to create flexible supercapacitors that can be used with wearable and portable electronics (Hu et al., 2010). The Raffia fabric (buri) was studied as possible electrode material. Electrode materials need to be conductive with a large surface area. Raffia was made conductive by brushing carbon black (CB) (2.83 mg, 13.18% RSD, n=7) and self-dispersible carbon black (SDCB) (1.58 mg, 15.11% RSD, n=5) on the fabric’s surface. The conductivity was tested, obtaining a value of 0.0015 Scm-1 (42.16% RSD, n=7) and 0.0031 Scm-1 (34.16% RSD, n=5) for the CB and SDCB composites, respectively. The carbon loading transformed a non-conducting flexible Raffia fabric to conducting Raffia-based composites. Both prepared Raffia composites are thermally stable even if there will be small amount of heat generated when these are used as electrode materials. The extrapolated onset temperature (To) of CB-Raffia was at 264.98oC and SDCB-Raffia at 236.09oC. These temperatures at which weight loss begin are still very high compared to the very low heat generated in the electrodes. The electrochemical performance of the Raffia composites showed good specific capacitance of 9.281 F/g (49.86% RSD, n=5) and 47.851 F/g (76.37% RSD, n=5), for the CB-Raffia and SDCB-Raffia composite, respectively. The results show that SDCB-Raffia is a better candidate for a supercapacitor electrode material with better conductivity, higher surface area as well as higher specific capacitance.

Xavier University

On Symmetry Groups of Two-dimensional Euclidean Patterns Paolo B. Araune BS Mathematics

A young man of both left- and right-brained pursuits, Paolo decided to pursue a degree in Mathematics because of his belief that this “universal language” is “pure, absolute, indisputable, and always right.” He understands that, while some elements of Math tend to be abstract, it still has many elements that are applicable in everyday life. Paolo’s current research project shows the interesting intersection between Abstract Algebra, History, and Anthropology. By exploring patterns in historical sites, he hopes to contribute to body of knowledge that is rarely examined but which may be of use to society later on. He firmly believes that, for a country to progress and develop, it must be “rooted [in] science and technology advancements to attain sustainability and stability.”

About the Project: This paper discussed the symmetry groups found on two-dimensional Euclidean patterns, particularly the cyclic and dihedral groups, frieze groups, and plane crystallographic groups. An exposition of the work by B. Lynn Bodner was written, where the patterns found in the Alhambra in Andalusia, Spain were analyzed by their symmetry groups. Furthermore, the work of Dom Martin Gomez displayed at the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Bukidnon was also analyzed. Here, the priestly vestments were categorized also by their symmetry groups.

Xavier University

Crowdsourcing as an Input for a Crime Mapping System Karen Kate B. Gepanaga BS Computer Science

A young achiever with a strong sense of morality and civic duty, Karen Kate was inspired to pursue her current research project, a system for crime analytics, after working on a project for the Cagayan de Oro Police Office. Her group decided to use “crowdsourcing” as an information base, because of the wider benefits that information sharing and transparency would have on the community. Prior to this, she had also worked with the City Accounting Office, for the City Hall of Cagayan de Oro City, to develop a documents tracking system that, according to her, aimed to “improve performance and productivity” of that particular department. After her studies, Karen Kate hopes to pursue graduate studies, on scholarship.

About the Project: TThe research aimed to use crowdsourced data as an input to a crime-mapping system. By providing a channel to gather various sources of information, this study aimed to significantly address the lack of information that results in unresolved crimes in Cagayan de Oro City. The research utilized mobile devices as an input interface to provide convenience in reporting. It utilized a modified waterfall methodology with a sub-iterative process between implementation and debugging phase. The mobile component was a mobile application on an Android platform, while the Web component was a Web application that plotted the data on the digital map of the city through the Google Maps API. Both components accessed a single hosted database to store, update, and read data. This research affirmed the possibility of designing and developing a crime-mapping system that will use crowdsourcing as an input source. The researchers used the Codeigniter PHP Framework for the Web application, Android Studio for the mobile application, and Hostinger for Web and database hosting.

Xavier University

Information Response System for City Emergency Dispatch and Information Control (CEDIC)

Zamina C. Sabenecio BS Computer Science

Currently first in her class among Computer Science students at Xavier University, Zamina is a proud product of the Philippine Science High School-Central Mindanao Campus, an institution that instilled in her the passion for science and engineering. Inspired by how technology has allowed for the automation of formerly manual processesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;such as business registration, elections, and even shoppingâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;she now turns to life-and-death situations, such as in emergencies and disasters, and explores how an automated system can help authorities respond better and save more lives. After completing her studies, Zamina plans to continue on to graduate studies, but she also hopes to establish a startup enterprise that will be of service to society.

About the Project: In emergency situations, it is important for various entities to coordinate in order to respond efficiently, based on the state of each incident. Without proper communication, responders end up crowding into one specific emergency situation while only a few are left attending to other emergency situation occurring simultaneously. This is where mismanagement of resources and crucial manpower can occur. This research aims to yield an information response system for a City Emergency Dispatch and Information Control (CEDIC). It acts as a centralized system for communicating between a command center and involved authorities in emergency situations. It is comprised of three components: (1) the CEDIC Main System; (2) the CEDIC for Authorities; and (3) the CEDIC for Mobile Application. The proponents gathered primary and secondary data from the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of Cagayan de Oro City. Outcomes of analyzed data were used to develop the design of the system. The proponents used PHP framework, AngularJS, and MySQL for the development of the two main components. Meanwhile, Android Studio 1.0 was used to develop the mobile application component. The results of the system showed the desired output of the study. An efficient communication system between authorities in emergency situations can be fulfilled by the CEDIC System and can be readily used by the local government unit of Cagayan de Oro City.

BEST PROJECT OF THE YEAR 37

TOP FINALISTS Christian John S. Capirig BS Biology Ateneo de Davao University In Vitro Evaluation of Selected Bacteria Against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense Tropical Race 4

Maria Celina L. Guillermo BS Life Sciences Ateneo de Manila University Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of a Magnetotactic Bacterial Isolate from Nagsasa, Zambales, Philippines

James Nicolas M. Pagaduan BS Chemistry / BS Materials Science and Engineering Ateneo de Manila University Glycerol-Modified Poly (Îľ-Caprolactone): An Approach to improve the Hydrophilicity of Poly (Îľ-Caprolactone)

Alron Jan F. Lam BS Computer Science with specialization in Software Technology De La Salle University Breadcrumb: An Indoor Simultaneous Localization and Mapping System for Mobile Devices

Steven Matthew C. Cheng BS Electronics and Communications Engineering University of the Philippines - Diliman Design and Implementation of UHF Bi-Directional Amplifier for WiFi Over TV White Space

Raiza Elmira S. Imperial BS Chemistry University of the Philippines - Diliman One-step Fabrication of Superhydrophobic/ Superolephilic Electrodeposited Polythiophene for Oil and Water Separation

Xavier M. Puspus BS Applied Physics University of the Philippines - Diliman Quantum Entanglement in a Low-temperature Superconducting State

Ina Andreia O. Mauleon BS Chemistry University of Santo Tomas Functionalization of Raffica with Carbon Black and Self Dispersible Carbon Black for Supercapacitor Electrode Material: Flexible Energy Storage Device

BEST PROJECT OF THE YEAR

WINNERS

GRAND WINNER Christian John S. Capirig BS Biology / Ateneo de Davao University In Vitro Evaluation of Selected Bacteria Against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense Tropical Race 4

FIRST RUNNER UP

Raiza Elmira S. Imperial BS Chemistry / University of the Philippines - Diliman One-step Fabrication of Superhydrophobic/ Superolephilic Electrodeposited Polythiophene for Oil and Water Separation

SECOND RUNNER UP

Alron Jan F. Lam BS Computer Sciencewith Specialization in Software Technology / De La Salle University Breadcrumb: An Indoor Simultaneous Localization and Mapping System for Mobile Devices

BEST PROJECT OF THE YEAR

WINNERS

2005

2006

Vanessa Grace M. Devilla - Saint Louis University (2nd runner-up), Johnny F. Balidion - UP Los Ba単os (Grand Winner), Sarah Camille M. Concepcion - University of Santo Tomas (1st runner-up) Maydeline P. Que - UP Diliman (1st runner-up), Christian Danve M. Castroverde - UP Diliman (Grand Winner), David P. Peralta - Ateneo de Manila University (2nd runner-up)

2007

2008

Kevin Francis U. Ang - University of Santo Tomas (2nd runner-up), Alexander Edward S. Dy - UP Diliman (Grand Winner), Paulo Isagani M. Urriza - UP Diliman (1st runner-up) Christina Lora M. Leyson - UP Diliman (1st runnerup), Carla Gisela Ysabel P. Concepcion - UP Diliman (Grand Winner), Juan Paulo M. Antonio University of Santo Tomas (2nd runner-up)

2009 2010

Stephen Michael H. Co - Ateneo de Manila University (2nd runner-up), Mikhail P. Solon - UP Diliman (Grand Winner), Marvin C. Masalunga - UP Diliman (1st runner-up)

Michael A. Casas - Ateneo de Davao University (2nd runner-up), Ma. Ivy S. Dela Cruz - UP Los Ba単os (Grand Winner), John Carlo M. Malabad - UP Los Ba単os (1st runner-up)

2011 2012

Kimberly B. Lucero - University of San Carlos (2nd runner-up), Ahmed C. Abdullah Khayef - Saint Louis University (Grand Winner), Jomuel A. Velandres - UP Los Ba単os (1st runner-up)

Chiliast B. Juan - UP Los Ba単os (1st runner-up), Sarah Jane M. Calpo - Saint Louis University (Grand Winner), Maxine Andrea T. Garcia - Ateneo de Manila University (2nd runner-up)

2013 2014

Napoleon Salvador B. Antonio - Ateneo de Manila University (2nd runner-up), Jann Adriel C. Sy - UP Diliman (Grand Winner), Jose Paolo P. Aguilar University of Santo Tomas (1st runner-up)

Jessa Marie V. Makabenta - UP Diliman (2nd runner-up), Alexander John Cruz - UP Diliman (Grand Prize Winner), Kevin S. Colina - University of San Carlos (1st runner-up)

BPI SCIENCE AWARDEES

(1989-2000)

Ateneo De Davao University

Ateneo De Manila University

De La Salle University

1989

Joselyn M. Concepcion lvira P. de Lara Enrique V. de Leon

Catherine S. J. Andaya Arnold Martin E. Ablaza Michael A. Gamo

1990

Nina Rosario L. Rojas Neil Raymund Y. Caranto Virgilio B. Velasco, Jr.

Federico L. Obsequio Edwin R. Tajanlangit Robin Michael L. Velasco

Joyce F. Teofilo Ma. Janette G. Ratilla Memee G. Puracan

1991

Robertson S. Chiang Ibet Marie Y. Sih Anthony P. Suarez

John Paul D. Mijares Rommel O. Salvador Judes B. Sarmiento

Ceasar B. de Leon Isidore Perry L. Loo Maria Althea N. Masangkay

1992

Maria Justina L. Bautista Eloisa N. Kempis Francis Ted J. Limpoco

Allan D. Ching Jose Mari L. Jimenez Maite G. Padua

Allan L. Alcober Dominic A. Cede単o Gamaliel N. Garcia

1993

Cheryl Jasmin T. Manua Rommel G. Regis Luis Francisco G. Sarmenta

Michael F. Garcia Voltaire M. Mistades Charlie R. Salvador

Heartie Hyacinth E. Almrante Leodegario P. Rosales Michael Stanley D. Tan

1994

Janice F. Bacani Meliza B. Donato Eduardo Tadeo J. Hagad

Raymond Anthony N. Alimurong Jonathan John B. Paz Rommel V. Songco

Yvonne Virginia C. Castro Jenny G. Du James L. Lim

M. May A. Luchavez Marie Teresita E. Jules C. Silva

1995

Sonny R. Datoy Jeffrey R. Sarmiento Melanie C. Labendia

John Erwin S. Lavilles Joseph Frederick S. Hans Rico R. Rodriguez

Nelson B. Arboleda Jr. Ma. Stara C. Cabbab Zelton R. Santos

Jo-an T. Vera Cruz James Francis V. Paraon Anna Marie T. Verzosa

1996

Alaramanav M. Lorejo

Genevieve Go Co Stephanie Yiu Chua Rhonald Co Lua

Mabel N. Hong Carl H. Oliveros Chimmy C. Young

Mark Jason O. Alcala Carolyn Joy J. Lumapguid Jonathan B. Velasco

1997

Arnold Rex L. Kintanar Carol B. Aqui Anna Marie M. Ando

Paolo Augustus S. Aranjuez Helen U. Co Rael I. Limbitco

Aimee L. Uy Favian Nelson S. Ong Ariel B. Amarillo

Dinah Rose M. Baseleres Christopher O. Damaso Sundy Lorence C. Lachica

1998

Marie Fides U. Antig Josie May L. de Castro Rochelle T. Tan

Paul H. Bernardo Zandro Luis M. Gonzales Jason N. Lunas

Leila H. Casta単eda Fernando Rey R. Fernando Vicente Eduardo G. Velarde

Sheila Lynn M. Catacutan Jose Leo C. Mission Rodolfo C. Quibot, Jr.

Marie Antonette T. Jimenez Ace V. Nolasco Mariann A. Tada

1999

Maridith D. Lastimoza Lorelie R. Zapanta Grace V. Migri単o

Anne Margot F. Aaron Mia Isadora L. Loyola Erwin M. Sabio

Conrado del Rosario Ruiz, Jr. Edzel Racsa Lapira Richard Naje Marquez

Juvelyn S. Reniva Minette L. Natividad Enriczar T. Tia

Perry A. Agustin, Jr. Ranilo John C. Rabaca Davidson O. Sevilleja

2000

Marvin M. Dalian Mark Henry T. Wee Antonette S. Me単oza

Richard B. Eden Catherine Denis R. Jayme Duncan Bertulfo E. De Lima

Lewellyn V. Celestino Bryan Christopher N. Que Jek Charlson S. Yu

Karen Rose R. Yocor Stanley R. Galanza Ana Marielle T. Lim

Odette M. Bundang Mary Libeney D. Canlas Emerson G. Toquero

Silliman University

St. Louis University

University of the Philippines Diliman

University of the Philippines Los Baños

University of San Carlos

University of Santo Tomas

1989

Dairene K. Uy Noel G. Mediodia Jose Gregorio C. Labanda

Maria Genalin S. de Borja Edilberto A. Alcanzare +

June N. Uy Farley L. Baricuatro Caroline U. Yu

Novaliza V. Valera Michael Paul B. Munarriz Jefferson C. Phi

1990

Marlon Rosendo H. Daza Kenrick V. Chua Christine Chua

Rizaldy P. Scott Lygia Emily P. Baskinas Francis L. delos Reyes III

Corazon R. Quimbo Leila P. Andrino Carolyn I. Kho

Eva M. Chua Eugene J. Zshomack Rosanna Florence S. Pascual

Heraldo L. Cañajero Elvy F. Egama Jeanette B. Fabul

1991

Victor Arni D. Sicam Luis G. Sison Nikolai N. Leung Rolando P. Martinez

Jovita A. Marquez Roy Roberto L. Gerona Leopold L. Ilag

Roy Y. Andales Celeste C. Momongan Jacqueline Hayley C. Sim

Jose H. Bergantin Jr. Roberto P. Santos Henry Villanueva

Ellenitta G. Nuñez Lilibeth L. Perez Mary Ann R. Deveza

1992

Russel Job S. Umandap Frances Joy O. Uy Kirk S. Yap

Emmanuel S. Baja Ma. Xenia U. Garcia Joseph C. Lim

Dia S. Alibo Jack Hess Baricuatro Josefino A. Tapia

Aileen Y. Dujon Loralie Monina A. Gallo Wendell A. Salumbides

Aileen D. Guirrea Zaynab D. Ramirez Llely E. Yana

1993

Rowel O. Atienza Mara Milagros L. Del Callar Joanne Jill T. Olazo

Mark Jesus M. Magbanua Brian Albert S. Ocfemia Armand M. Yambao

Lydwena R. Eco Al A. Mendoza Peter U. Tan

Cynthia C. Abacan Jeanne Therese P. Hilario Robin K. Mitra

Francisco S. Catigbe Jr. Roel S. Lawagon Tobias O. Rempillo, Jr.

1994

Jennifer G. Dy Jose Emie C. Lope Agham-Bayan S. Posadas

Aldwin M. Anterola Hipolito M. Custodio III Dorothy June M. Hamada

Ermelindo S. Andal Jr. Neil M. Antiquina Albert Y. Woo

Rolando Joson Paulino Jr. Joanne D. Tabora Liza Marie Ylescupidez

Adler F. Ferrer Bruno Antonio C. Siaotong Jennifer N. Sia

1995

Jeffrey G. Chan Alexander P. Reichert Karl Leonhard F. Solis

Romeo E. Capuno, Jr. Jonathan Y. Mane Tricia Mari-len P. Natural

Raoul N. Alo Lee Marie T. Alvarez Theresa C. Maxino

Rolan H. Carreon Jeanette M. Yoingco Li Li Wong

Michael Y. Calo Marlon Godwin T. Echalico Lennie K. Ong

1996

Wilbin S. Chan Amelita R. Martija Ignatius Gerardo E. Zarraga

Lourdez Pia H. Lopez Neily P. Ona Jayson D. Rodriguez

Jerome J. Auza Fe Ellamae S. Cerico Mary Ann O. Dizon

Thadeo G. Catacutan Joseph A. David Girlie D. Miralles

Ricky S. Eran Navvab D. Ramirez Rachelle Marie A. Verdote

1997

Marc C. Llaguno Honesto Franz Maximillian A. Nuqui Cattleya J. Sanchez

Alfonso P. Gonzales III Krishlex Anthony G. Gruezo Abdalin L. Esmade

Lulette S. Yau Mary Chris Y. Damiao Hazel O. Arceo

Neptali P. Cruz Christopher de los Santos Cristy Y. Lao

Tyrene P. Tanaka Michael Jones L. Sia Rizaline C. Leonar

1998

Jeffrey T. Angeles Wyant S. Chan May T. Lim

Prudence Mary P. Marasigan Glenn A. Neira Teresita L. Tolentino

Ronn R. Canono Neal Allen Asensi Castro Kathleen Jade D. Lim

Anne C. Buenavista Maria Marilon C. Consulta Amado O. Tandoc III

Angelita P. Alvarado Lilibeth U. Caresma Jhody C. Esperante

1999

Cinderella T. Chavez Angelo Kris G. Marcos Voltaire Jerome S. Cruz

Aletta Concepcion T. Yñiguez Hilbert M. Libres Gilbert E. Tumambac

Reynor M. Buenaflor Marichel A. Cobcoban Claire C. Maxino

Ma. Criselda R. Cruz Nida C. Pangilinan Noel O. Tecson

Roxanne Rea Piloton Hyacinth Lee Pituc John Paul L. Oliveros

2000

Gold G. Lim Nikholas G. Toledo Carlo Amadeo C. Alonzo

Aniway A. Duhaylungsod Marivi G. Colle Remil M. Aguda

Wella Marie T. Yu Rudina Ann D. Pescante Catherine C. Maxino

Rhandy E. Regulacion Gardelio P. Malgapo Donnabel P. Kuizon

Jordan K. Cañete Edelita N. Remegoso Basilio M. Cadeliña

Xavier University

BPI SCIENCE AWARDEES

(2001-2014)

Ateneo De Davao University

Ateneo De Manila University

De La Salle University

Silliman University

St. Louis University

2001

Maria Leah Flor A. Alderite Chito Joseph L. de Castro Diane Faith D. Sanchez

Roselle R. Ambubuyog Lito P. dela Rama Paul Ignatius D. Echevarria

Jan Arman D. Figuero Faith Victory A. Mejor Donna-Zea T. Rosete

Cecille A. Monton Giselle Ann J. Alcoran Ritchie D. Ramos

Cheryl D. Agdaca Jennifer Rose F. Caluza Lorie Joy P. Mindaro

2002

Christopher M. Jabonero Mary Glen T. Montales Ana Karenina R. Pahimalan

John Matthew T. Ng Paul Dominic B. Olinares Adrian Wendil R. Serohijos

Richard D. Abalos Joel L. Panugayan Tanglaw A. Roman

Vanessa J. Alpeche Jeffrey Joseph Y. Araula Raymund Vincent A. Piñero

Michael C. Agustin Rhowella Macay Alexander Basilio Safran

2003

Victor V. Landeta, Jr. Benjie B. Manatad Ruby Jane S. Uy

Denis Joseph C. Amparo Sandra Jean V. Chua Katrina Mona M. Santiago

Jose Eduardo O. Ang Karen Joy P. Nomorosa Nicklaus Erick C. Sy

Andres C. Abaño Aubrey E. Maro Roda Vee C. Talingting

Daryl C. Abiog Zander Marius B. Alviar Michelle D. Zarate

2004

Russel J. Aprecia Jalika Mae F. Rosello Carla Mae R. Suñer

Aileen Lorraine C. Dy Charlotte Kendra G. Castillo Ellazar V. Niangar

Beauregard Grant L. Cheng Aldrich B. Seriales St. Anthony E. Tiu

Ryan S. Locsin Christian Nigel B. Po Ramon Antonio D.A. Ruperto

Giovanni William F. Empizo Rachel P. Manalo Michael P. Padilla

2005

Jovelyn A. Ababon Mar Ulysses M. Relacion Bryan M. Ty

Joseph Patrick D. Echevarria Clifford Ian G. Lim Frances C. Vega

Kristine Mae N. Cadoc Wilfrido D. Kabiling Charmaine C. Muya

Ernest Dale M. Acar Carm Albert A. Boiser Athalia G. Briones

Marlon C. Dawas Vanessa Grace M. de Villa Marivic M. Salvador

2006

Marvin Louis Roy Y. Lu Krizelle C. Pasig Ebony Miles Roselli L. Wong

David P. Peralta Mark C. Punzalan Varsolo C. Sunio

Kiran S. Budhrani Hans Walter P. Chua Margiorico G. Salaveria

Johan N. Diaz Wilheim Janssen O. Go Vanrick Seferino H. Sagario

Jonathan M. Barcelo Cess Mari Joy M. Frias Jordan S. Zamoranos

2007

Liezel A. Lumangtad Lesley Ann M. Nifras

Jesus Martin A. Generoso, Jr. Michelle D. Jose Janine L. Quijano

Raymond B. Gavino Mikhail Francisco R. Geronimo Herbert Klaus Martin C. Hallig

Franz Josef I. Crispo Randy Carl C. Lim Abegail Carmie N. Luardo

2008

Josef Rene L. Villanueva Katherine Ann V. Soledad Jetter G. Gaviola

Timothy James L. Yusun Carole M. Loable Cesare Mikhail R. Cejas

Alvin Edward L. Gillo Mary Ann S. Ngo Maureen C. Sy

Alan G. Ricardo John Lawrence T. Sun

Karla Mae P. Abaya Maricris B. Cacdac Melvin Charles O. Dy

2009

Cheryl Mae P. Insong Karlo R. Palenzuela Krystle Mae M. Labio

Maria Donna S. Enriquez Stein Alec C. Baluyot Stephen Michael H. Co

Ryan Joseph P. Bitanga Charles Edric T. Co Karyl Anne B. Factora

Michael L. Coo Marvin M. Flores Eliel C. Paglinawan

Bernard A. Demot Franklin Anthony M. Go Bernardino D. Mazon

2010

Michael A. Casas Chris Anthony G. Limen Aliw-iw Irene B. Zambrano

Leo Miguel Paolo M. Baylon Emerson G. Escolar Mari Kaira O. Leal

Paul Michael B. Abrasaldo Alvin John A. Chua Marie Loren Y. Palero

Luigi Jess O. Jaro Harmone Jay O. Naparota Howell D. Palca

Marianne N. Caluza Carlos C. Galunza II Madeleine A. Montes

2011

Charmaine B. Espinas Joyce Ann J. Nacorda Jenny Marie O. Quiao

Philipp M. Gotico Leo Albert G. Sala Miguel Antonio D. Sulañgi

Samantha Stefanie Ann S. Ang Nellie Margaret S. Chua Fredric Eron C. Tan

Jason L. Coo Kaiser Josef T. Sedillo Jonathan Andro P. Tan

Ahmed C. Abdullah Khayef Humbeline H. Gaboy Janelle P. Esconde

2012

Rea Sayne R. Deniega Mowalim P. Kalim Jr. Tomas Miguel P. Rodriguez

Marie Gene D. Cruz Maxine Andrea T. Garcia Cheem C. Razonabe

Aibar Rabi Rashad F. Bibi Katherine Marie J. De Asis Neil Stephen A. Lopez

L. Athena Gene E. Duran Kia Angela B. Gargantiel Jayson Jun B. Patula

Mark Jasper V. Casabar Sarah Jane M. Calpo Leanne Angel U. Eusebio

2013

Vincenzo L. Lao Ylujean C. Sarmiento Louis Miguel C. Sta. Rita

Napoleon Salvador B. Antonio Nikita P. Bacalzo Jr. Sarah Jaye C. Oliva

Courtney Anne M. Ngo Martin Spencer T. Sy Joseph P. Talampas

Rosette Jill Q. Fernandez Kharyl Mae Q. Fulmaran Kin Israel R. Notarte

Diana C. Bandong Jordan Luther L. Basawil Karen Rose I. Dacanay

2014

Kevin M. Barrosa Leandro Val L. Sayson Jael Victoria D. Supan

Jean Meir P. Jardeleza Jonni Fay C. Teves Alyssa Tricia Eloise L. Vintola

Kevin Matthew C. Panuelos Ferdyn Genesis I. Rañosa Deneisha Gayle B. Tieng

Roman Christopher T. Arellano Dean Moses D. Cuarte Khristine Hazel G. Baroña

Louis Gerard C. Rotea Johara M. Villanueva

University of the Philippines Diliman

University of the Philippines Los Baños

University of San Carlos

University of Santo Tomas

Xavier University

2001

Mark Ian A. Arcedera Clarina R. de la Cruz Joseph Ryan A. Victoria

Irces T. Galvan Leilani S. del Rosario Ramil G. Mijares

Juvy Anne R. Agravante Lecel C. Ando Giovanni L. Aniñon

Michael G. Baltisoto Ronald Lance M. Mellow Valarie S. Ku

Franz Albert G. Go Mellanie T. Gomez Noel Peter B. Tan

2002

Marko E. Arciaga Ericson G. Chua Karen Kate O. David

Jericho S. Bautista Rosa Paula O. Cuevas Mariefel B. Valenzuela

Annely Jane R. Celecia Emily Joy C. Gobok Karl Owen L. Suan

Francis D. Castro Brian S. Go JohnPaul B. Lorredo

Rey A. Lumayon Emil D. Malferrari Noel Eddie S. Saracanlao

2003

Joselito F. Bartolome Jr. Kathrina L. Marcelo Eugene Alvin S. Villar

Joel Niño G. Bugayong Julius Cesar G. Laban Rrobenzon E. Lorenzana

Joni Flor L. Monteveros Frederick Norman O. Oplado Philip Maynard O. Ortega

Jaymie Claire G. Ang Carlo S. Isidro Abelyn Mathanie R. Laurito

Charity Rose B. Absin Ronald Rey D. Jacalan John Peter L. Paiso

2004

Juliene Kimberly G. Co Mary Rose Diwata L. Italia Leah L. Shiong Shu

Leah Anne SM. Abueg Mark Lester L. Altoveros Irvin B. Domingo, Jr.

Cynthia B. Fabian Jonathan O. Flordelis Mavreen Rose S. Tuvilla

Warren Bacorro Caroline R. Prado Winston R. Wang

Higinio R. Barros Jr. Vincent Mari Angelo W. La Guardia Abel Santini G. Permites

2005

Juan Paolo R. Asis Lou Bryan E. Lucas Mark Irvin M. Manzano

Crisita Carmen H. Atienza Johnny F. Balidion Jesus Felix B. Valenzuela

Alnald C. Javier Gilbert Adam Y. Sab-a Carl Bryan G. Taguiam

Allan Norman F. Baldonado Christian A. Bendicio Sarah Camille M. Concepcion

Butch Ellen Grace Q. Salem Maryshayne F. Tagaro Melodina F. Valde

2006

Christian Danve M. Castroverde Geomar C. Lubaton Maydeline P. Que

Cherrys O. Abrigo Jeffrey C. Bunquin Joan O. Narciso

Dexter C. Inoc Chariz Y. Peñalber Leilani A. Solera

Jennifer A. Balog Jasper C. Lim Ma. Criselda R. Nuevo

Jariz L. Baculio Helen Gay S. Bahian

2007

Alexander Edward S. Dy Allan N. Estrella Paulo Isagani M. Urriza

Michael B. Gamalinda Hannah Rissa E. Forio

Ricardo C. Amistoso Brandon P. Briones Mel Jairus B. Jabol

Kevin Francis U. Ang Eric Q. Bajanas Mc. Robart Steeler G. Dela Peña

Rondel B. Alfeche Jabbar C. Angni Larson E. Taruc

2008

Carla Gisela Ysabel P. Concepcion Christina Lora M. Leyson Dan Christian D. Llaneta

Nonoy B. Bandillo Flor Adrian C. Simborio Mahalia Adelina Corazon P. Serrano

Amanda D. Encallado Val B. Salares Fabrienne Michelle D. Yu

Juan Paolo M. Antonio Timothy L. Tang See Say Xyza Jane S. Templonuevo

Paolo Antonio S. Fudalan Steffi Christel C. Sepe Kris Niño G. Valdehuesa

2009

Luther Paul R. Caranguian Marvin C. Masalunga Mikhail P. Solon

Jeella Z. Acedo Godfrey Josef R. Torres Marie Jeremy B. San Pedro

Rexonni B. Lagare Kate Eden Claire Y. Chua

Mark Benedict T. Santos Rose Ann Z. Tamolang Mike-Kenneth G. Doratan

Jhon Ralph D. Enterina Gilbert B. Nailon Cyril Jonas M. Planilla

2010

Danielle P. Canlas Miguel Carlos I. Gonzalez Ma. Isabella C. Pamintuan

Nathaniel T. Carolina Ma. Ivy S. Dela Cruz John Carlo M. Malabad

Hazel Henrisha T. Chua Alchris W. Go Marc Louie J. Yap

Franklin V. Amandy Lei Angeli S. Morenos Aki Charles R. Saito

Maria Jo Anne T. Ang Alvie B. Cabañez Nyttili Ann O. Soriano

2011

Sean Vincent L. Aquilino Herdeline Ann M. Ardoña Luke Wicent F. Sy

Jared William G. Barker III Mart Benson M. Castillo Jomuel A. Velandres

Faith A. Biongcog Kimberly B. Lucero Francis M. Tallo

Kim Hazel V. Arafiles John Carlo B. Columna Josyl Mariela B. Rocamora

Rick Arneil D. Arancon Anna Marie A. Hallasgo Kristy Xue Mei Kwong

2012

Annabellee D. Chua Maria Katrina D. Guevara Patricia Maria Gregoria V. Mina

Chiliast B. Juan Luis Felipe D. Lopez Cristina C. Uclaray

Geraldine P. Cercado Denniell Ann J. Hurboda Ferdinand Renfred A. Zapata

Jose Albert V. Cruz Ernesto E. Paruli III Jayson T. So

Frances Mae O. Gumapon Franz Daryl Q. Magriña Jun Rangie C. Obispo

2013

Angella Rainbow H. Lim Jann Adriel C. Sy Jean Ramon D. Yap

Rona Karmela D. Bravo Fernando C. Lit Ryo M. Toyoda

Kevin Clyde Y. Chu Julius M. Manolong Charles Anthony R. Yu

Jose Paolo P. Aguilar Gemmilyn R. Chu Julius Christian Conrad A. Puentes

Sugar R. Estrada Janssen Blaise U. Jumau-as Lanesa Faith Mechico A. Olais

2014

Arjelle D. Agupitan Alexander John Cruz Adrian C. Salces

Alvin James E. Asaytono Jessa Marie V. Makabenta Bernard O. Sanchez

Rosa May B. Belarmino Armstrong A. Calinawan Kevin S. Colina

Francisco G. Bolinao IV Rikki Q. Macolor Dan Jeric A. Rustia

Virgil Christian G. Castillo Fernan S. Roa Flordeliza W. Salazar

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY

ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J., Ph.D. Fr. Gabriel Jose T. Gonzalez, S.J., Ph.D. Mr. Renante D. Pilapil, Ph.D. Mr. Dominique Gerald Cimafranca Ms. J-ney B. Zapanta, Ph.D. Engr. Randell U. Espina, Ph.D. Engr. Renyl B. Barroca, D.Eng.

Science Awards Committee Ms. J-ney B. Zapanta, Ph.D Members Engr. Ma. Theresa M. Espino Engr. Tender P. Ferolin, D. Eng. Ms. Jeselle M. Casi単o, M.S. Bio Mr. Antonio G. Bulao, MIT Ms. Grace S. Tacadao, MSIT

President Academic Vice President Dean, School of Arts and Sciences OIC Asst. Dean, Computer Studies Cluster Asst. Dean, Natural Sciences and Mathematics Cluster Dean, School of Engineering & Architecture OIC Assistant Dean, School of Engineering and Architecture

Br. Dennis Magbanua FSC

Ms. Fritzie Ian P. De Vera Dr. Rosemary Seva Dr. Raymund Girard Tan Dr. Arlene Pascasio Dr. Gerardo Janairo Dr. Merlin Suarez Dr. Raymund C. Sison Dr. Joel Ilao Ms. Courtney Ngo

Chairperson

Rev. Fr. Jessie M. Hechanova, CICM Dr. Noel B. De Leon Atty. Arnulfo S. Soriano Mrs. Evangeline O. Trinidad

President

Science Awards Committee Engr. Ma. Leonora C. Guico Members Mr. Ramon M. delos Santos Dr. Richard B. Eden Dr. Neil H. Tan Gana Dr. Erees Queen B. Macabebe Mr. Ariel A. Maguyon Dr. Teresita R. Perez Dr. Gilbert U. Yu

Dean of Student Affairs Dean, Gokongwei-College of Engineering (GCOE) University Fellow, GCOE Dean, College of Science University Fellow, COS Dean, College of Computer Studies University Fellow, CCS CCS Research Director Faculty Adviser

SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY

ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY Fr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, SJ

President, DLSU

Science Awards Committee

Chairperson

President Vice-President for Academic Affairs Vice-President for Administration Vice-President for Finance

Science Awards Committee Engr. Bonifacio I. Dela Pe単a Dr. Cecilia A. Mercado W Dr. Gaudelia A. Reyes Dr. Gaston P. Kibiten Mrs. Carmen D. Sia

Dean, School of Engineering & Architecture Dean, School of Information & Computing Sciences Dean, School of Natural Sciences Director, Research & Extension Office Registrar & Coordinator

SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY Dr. Ben S. Malayang III

President

Science Awards Committee: Dr. Enrique Oracion Engr. Jesus Amiscaray Dr. Hope Bandal Dr. Janet Estacion Prof. Roy Olsen de Leon Prof. Alice Mamhot Dr. Dave Marcial Dr. Jonathan Pa-a Ms. Annabelle E. Pa-a

Director, Research and Development Center & Chair, 2015 BPI-DOST Science Awards Dean, College of Engineering and Design Chairperson, Physics Department Director, Institute of Environmental & Marine Sciences Chairperson, Biology Department Chairperson, Math Department Dean, College of Computer Studies Chairperson, Chemistry Department University Registrar and Admissions Officer & Convenor, 2015 BPI-DOST Science Awards

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES - LOS BAﾃ前S Dr. Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr. Dr. Portia G. Lapitan Prof. Rex B. Demafelis Dr. Crisanto A. Dorado Dr. Marish S. Madlangbayan Dr. Serlie Barroga-Jamias Dr. Arnold R. Elepaﾃｱo Prof. Ma. Cristine Concepcion D. Ignacio Dr. Leticia E. Afuang Dr. Myrna G. Carandang

UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES - DILIMAN Dr. Michael L. Tan Dr. Benito M. Pacheco Prof. Virginia C. Yap Dr. Neil Martial D. Santillan Dr. Nestor T. Castro Dr. Fidel R. Nemenzo

Chancellor Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Vice Chancellor for Administration Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs Vice Chancellor for Research and Development

Dr. Giovanni A. Tapang Dr. Percival F. Almoro College of Engineering Dr. Joanna Z. Resurreccion Members Dr. Augustus C. Resurreccion Dr. Rhodora M. Gonzalez Dr. Terence P. Tumolva College of Science Dr. Giovanni A. Tapang Members Dr. Ian Kendrich C. Fontanilla Dr. Christine C. Hernandez

Dean, College of Engineering & Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT) College Secretary, CEAT Director, Office of Student Affairs University Registrar

Science Awards Committee

Science Awards Committee Dr. Benito M. Pacheco Members Dr. Aura C. Matias Dr. Joanna Z. Resurreccion

Chancellor Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension Vice Chancellor for Administration Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs

Dr. Merlyn S. Mendioro Dr. Erlinda S. Paterno Prof. Mark Rickard N. Angelia Dr. Ronaldo B. Saludes Dr. Zenaida M. Sumalde Dr. Alvin Karlo G. Tapia

Chair Dean, College of Engineering Associate Dean for Student Affairs, College of Engineering Associate Dean for Student and Public Affairs, College of Science Faculty, National Institute of Physics, College of Science Chair Associate Dean for Instruction & Research Associate Dean for Institutional Linkages College Secretary

Chair Associate Dean for Academic Affairs College Secretary

Chair, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Professor Emeritus, College of Agriculture (CA) College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT) College of Economics and Management (CEM) College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS Fr. Dionisio M. Miranda, SVD, M.A. STD Fr. Anthony S. Salas, SVD, MM Ramon S. del Fierro, PhD Fr. Generoso B. Rebayla, Jr., SVD, MM Fr. Eleno P. Bucia, SVD Delia E. Belleza, PhD Evelyn B. Taboada, PhD

President Vice President for Academic Affairs Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Vice President for Finance Vice President for Administration Dean, College of Arts and Sciences Dean, College of Engineering

UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS Science Awards Committee

Science Awards Committee Anthony S. Ilano, PhD Engr. Ricardo L. Fornis, MSC HE Yolanda C. Deliman, MS Ma. Teosania D. Natu-el Antonio E. Batomalaque, MS Bio, EDD-ISRM Marian R. Sionzon, MBA

Chair, CAS Assistant Dean Assistant Dean, College of Engineering Dean, School of Health Care Professions Head, Human Resource Management Office Dean, College of Education Former USC BPI Science Awards Coordinator

XAVIER UNIVERSITY Rev. Fr. Roberto C. Yap SJ

President

Science Awards Committee Verna A Lago Members Dr. Maria Theresa Cabaraban Ms. Rhea Suzette B Mocorro Mr. Higinio R Barros Jr. Mr Rene Maquiling Ms Leolinda Saab Ms Mary Ann Mercurio Ms Floramie Ortega

University Registrar College of Engineering Department of Computer Science Department of Chemistry Department of Mathematics Departmen of Biology College of Agriculture Department of Physics

College of Engineering Rev. Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P. Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P. Prof. Philipina A. Marcelo, Ph.D. Rev,. Fr. Roberto l. Luanzon, Jr., O.P. Engr. Ricardo S. Balog Engr. Alex A. Santos Engr. Evangeline E. Delena Ms. Jerralyn T. Padua Prof. Alberto A. Laurito Prof. Nancy L. Eleria Engr. Rodelio A. Tiburcio

Rector Vice Rector Dean Regent Assistant Dean, Faculty of Engineering Director, Institute of Information and Computing Sciences (IICS) Faculty Secretary, Faculty of Engineering Institute Secretary, IICS Faculty Council Member Faculty Council Member Faculty Council Member

College of Science Prof. John Donnie A. Ramos, Ph.D. Prof. Ma. Carlota B. Decena, Ph.D. Assoc. Prof. Rodrigo A. Litao, Ph.D. Assoc. Prof. Ma. Claudette A. Agnes, Ph.D. Prof. Thomas Edison E. de la Cruz, Dr. rer. nat. Asst. Prof. Mario A. Tan, Ph.D. Engr. Enrico M. Yambao, M.S. Asst. Prof. Ma. Shiela M. de Jesus, M.S. Assoc. Prof. Ma. Angelina S. Silverio, M.S.

Dean Asst. Dean College Secretary Chair, Dept. of Psychology Chair, Dept. of Biological Sciences Chair, Dept. of Chemistry Chair, Dept. of Mathematics and Physics Coordinator, Dept. of Microbiology Coordinator, Dept. of Physics

Department Of Science and Technology

Hon. Mario G. Montejo DOST Secretary

Dr. Josette T. Biyo SEI Director

Ms. Ruby R. Cristobal Chief Science Research Specialist, S&T Manpower Education Research and Promotions Division

Ms. Marren Joy J. Belgado Science Research Specialist I, S&T Manpower Education Research and Promotions Division