Chemical Engineering Community Hunts for Magnum Codes

By Christelle D. Navarette (February 23, 2015)

As an annual tradition of the Chemical Engineering Society, the organization launched a quiz quest titled, "Magnum: The Chemical Engineering Puzzle Hunt Game" last January 23 at the left wing of the Roque Ruaño building. This new and improved gaming scheme uses the power of technology and is definitely a leap from the customary pen-and-paper system of the Dvρ (D-v-rho, a pun on “’di biro”) quiz hunt.

The game uses an external application from Play Store and App Store called NeoReader, in order to process the QR codes scattered around Chemical Engineering rooms, laboratories and corridors. Players, who may play individually or may group up to five members, are to find codes, answer the trivial questions corresponding to each code and submit their answers online. During the hunting period, internet connection is not a necessity.

A group from 5-ChEA, including Christine Bonquin, Charise Cariño and Sharmaine Sta. Ana, emerged as the winning team among the six clusters who participated in the puzzle hunt. They were able to answer 12 out of the 14 questions and were awarded with cash prize and gift certificates from sponsors.

ChES crowns ChE Youth Ambassador and Ambassadress 2015

As part of the series of events prepared by the Chemical Engineering Society for the UST-ChE community, Voluminous: “The Search for the Next Chemical Engineering Youth Ambassador and Ambassadress” was held at the Education Auditorium, Albertus Magnus building last January 22 with the goal of building self-confidence and personality among the candidates.

                The candidates of the pageant were formally introduced to the Chemical Engineering community during the ChES Grand Acquaintance Party held on January 14 at Le Pavilion Hall, Metropolitan Park, Pasay City. Two pairs energetically represented each batch in the course of their primer.

                On the day of the coronation, the candidates were at their best conditions as they wittily jived to the beat of a song by American singer-songwriter Fergie and showed their best moves to the crowd. They showcased various classic video game characters and the ChE community applauded to the extent of the participants’ costume creativity. They also sashayed through the stage with their casual and formal wears.

Special awards were given to some of the contestants before announcing the top 5 finalists. Best in Formal and Creative Wear were awarded to Ms. Jenny Bacani and Mr. Tonee Nakanishi, having been tied with Mr. Jeremiah Villanueva as Best in Formal Wear; Best in Casual Wear to Ms. Francheska Ignacio and Mr. Ross Christien Cruz; Mr. and Ms. Photogenic to Mr. Ranel Simon Rey and Ms. Claudette Oñate; and People’s Choice Award to Mr. Karlo Matias and Ms. Claudette Oñate. The titles, Chemical Engineering Ambassador and Ambassadress, were given to Mr.Jervin Valorozo of 2ChEA and Ms. Jenny Bacani of 4ChEB. The winners will represent the department on the next year’s search for the Thomasian Engineering Youth Ambassador and Ambassadress.

"The Reaction" Goes Online

In line with its efforts to cope with technological innovation in the digital age, "The Reaction - The Official Newsletter of the Chemical Engineering Society" launched its new simple website portal last 20 February 2015.

The blogspot website of the reaction was already set up as early as January 11, 2015 but uploading of articles was deferred until Managing Editor Darwin Eugenio received Ches President Vincent Almeda's blessings to initiate the project. Almeda lauded the initiative of the administrators of The Reaction on February 1, 2015 and subsequently gave the go signal to have the news articles uploaded. Incumbent Editor-in-Chief Bob Castrence believed that it's already due time for "The Reaction" to evolve with the current technological trends. "Ako naman masaya. we have to embrace change" he said.

The Reaction's Managing Editor Darwin Eugenio admitted that the webpage maybe transferred in case that the UST Chemical Engineering Society will launch its own website. "As of now, may koordinasyon naman kami ni [Internal Vice President] Allen 'Seph' Baluyot tungkol sa website. Siya rin po nagbigay ng go signal nang pinakita namin 'yung burador o draft ng blogspot website ng 'The Reaction'. Kung ililipat ang laman nitong website, go lang naman po kami." Eugenio said.

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Food Innovation Seminar

Biomedical Seminar

Polymers Symposium

Book Scholarship Drive

ChE Chorale

Exit Exam

Community Leadership Seminar

Summer ChEARS

UST ChES holds a Biomedical Seminar

by Christelle Navarette

The University of Santo Tomas Chemical Engineering Society (UST-ChES) held a biomedical seminar last October 8 at the Education Auditorium, Albertus Magnus Building titled “Leveraging Diverse Medical Science to Fortify Humanity.” The seminar have four series of sessions that aimed to instill knowledge about the Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Industries and to showcase the influence of these subjects to the human health security through the years.

The first topic was discussed by Mrs. Marie Cris Mizal-Merz, UST Bioanalytical Laboratory Head of Center of Excellence in Drug Research and Evaluation and Studies. She discoursed about the validation of bioanalytical methods in the production of quality medicine. On the other hand, Dr. Arturo V. Estuita, a Co – Founder, first President and Chairman of Philippine College for the Advancement of Medicine (PCAM), discussed about the beauty and advantages of a new found technology called the cardiovascular chelation therapy as cure for Hepatitis B.

After a break, Ms. Zenaida M. de Guzman, the current Chairman of the Development of Philippine National Standard on Food Irradiation talked about the radiation sterilization of medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. And lastly, the Country Safety Lead for Safety Evaluation and Reporting, Worldwide Safety and Regulatory and Worldwide Research and Development of Pfizer, Inc., Mr. Byron Webb A. Romero, disclosed the reality behind drug safety.

The said seminar was attended primarily by Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Pharmacy and Graduate School students of the University of Santo Tomas.

UST-ChE Performs Better in November 2014 Licensure Examination

Three Thomasians Make it to the Top 10

by Bob Chaervin S. Castrence (December 27, 2014)

The passing rate of ChE batch 2014 in the recently held Licensure Examination for Chemical Engineers had improved with three included in the top 10 ranking. Joseph John Liwanagan led the Thomasian passers at 2^nd place (83.40%), followed by Francis Jessy Liggayu at 7^th place (82.80%) and William Macasero, Jr. at 9^th place (82.50%).

From left to right: Francis Jessy Liggayu (7th place), Joseph John Liwanagan (2nd place),
and William Macasero Jr. (9th place) 

Based on the results released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), USTChE improved its numbers with a 69.12% overall passing rate, wherein 96 out of 136 examinees successfully passed the examination compared to last year’s 58.97% wherein 69 passed out of 117 examinees.

Despite the breakthrough, USTChE still did make it to the Top 3 performing schools. University of the Philippines- Diliman dominated the licensure examination having an overall passing rate of 91.76%, followed by University of the Philippines- Los Banos (86.27%) and Batangas State University (81.03%).

USTChE is moving forward to improve its overall passing rate by means of programs that can gauge candidates’ and students’ preparedness and confidence for licensure examinations such as InDEX, an exit exam for higher years and LEChE Plan, an in-house microreview programs facilitated by faculty members of UST Chemical Engineering Department.