By Manny Balbin/Philippine News Agency
CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — A Bulakenyo student bagged a silver medal in the recent 51st International Chemistry Olympiad (iChO) in Paris, France.
Arthur Reiner Ventura de Belen, a graduating student of the Philippine Science High School main campus in Diliman, Quezon City and resident of the mountainous town of Doña Remedios Trinidad in this province, is one of the three Filipino students who won in the international competition on July 21-30.
His father, Rustico, a former Bulacan Environment and Natural Resources officer, confirmed to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the younger de Belen, together with Israel Mina Aguba, Julius de la Rosa Macling and Michael Cole M. Tantoco, are all students of Philippine Science High School and represented the Philippines in the international tilt.
Besides the silver medal of de Belen, the iChO website said Aguba got a bronze medal while Macling is included in the honorable mention.
The proud father said “this is the third time the Philippines has sent delegates to the most difficult science Olympiad.”
“A total of 85 countries with four delegates each participated in the said event,” the elder de Belen said.
“As emphasized in the program, chemistry is a natural science that studies the matter and its transformations, thus making science together. It’s key to human progress and environmental preservation,” he said.
“Arthur has just enjoyed his last competition in high school representing our country,” the proud father added.
Jean-Michel Blanquer, France’s Minister of Education, in his message at the iChO website, said the development of science as a whole, and of chemistry, in particular, is an essential step in the technological and social progress of humanity and in the protection and the future of the planet.
“That is why I place my faith in the younger generation of scientists who, I know, will rise to the challenges of the 21st century, and lead the ecological transition and digital revolution that will ensure a more balanced world,” Blanquer said.
He added that 300 and more IChO candidates, from 80 countries in five continents, will “make science together.”
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