Dr. Jose Named Outstanding
Chemical Engineer by PRC

June 22, 2007 --- The Outstanding Chemical Engineer Award for 2007 was given to Dr. Wilfredo I. Jose by the Professional Regulation Commission during the celebration of the PRC's 34th aniversary and Professional Regulation Week. Dr. Jose was cited "for exemplary achievements in the field of chemical engineering, having demonstrated exceptional professional competence through his various studies and researches in the field of biotechnology and biochemical engineering, with his works having been applied by the industry in various waste management programs", among others.

PRC citation.

Go to top.

Lifetime Achievement Awardee:
Prof. Teodorico F. Festin

April 21, 2007 --- The Dean Alfredo Juinio Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Award for 2007 was given to Prof. Teodorico F. Festin today at the College of Engineering Recognition Rites held at the UP Theater. The following is the introduction for Prof. Festin during the presentation of the award.

"Prof. Teodorico F. Festin is a Professor Emeritus of the University of the Philippines --- one of the few faculty members from the College of Engineering conferred with this title. He has served the University since 1951 until his retirement in 1989. During his years of service at the College of Engineering, he has served in various positions, including the chairmanship of the Department of Chemical Engineering for sixteen years. He has held various professorial chairs and has spearheaded several research projects."

"Prof. Festin obtained his Bachelor of Science degrees in Chemistry from the University of the Philippines and Chemical Engineering from the National University, and a Master of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of California in Berkeley. He was also a Research Scientist at the prestigious Lawrence Radiation Laboratory in Berkeley."

"Prof. Festin's expertise in his field has been recognized through various citations and grants from local and international organizations. Recently, he was awarded Outstanding Chemical Engineer by the Professional Regulatory Commission."

Go to top.

ChE Undergraduates Win 2nd Place In 2007 Research Competition.

April 19, 2007 --- Another tough year for the contenders in the recently concluded 2007 Undergraduate Research Competition, as one of the three finalist from the chemical engineering department bagged the second prize. The group of Carol D. Corral, Kryscel A. Marinas, and Dominique A. Nuevo will be given Php 30,000 and certificates during the college recognition rites on April 21, 2007 for the research entitled "Methane Production From Kitchen Solid Waste Using A Two-Phase Anaerobic Digestion System". They were advised by Dr. Analiza P. Rollon.

The other two finalists were

• A Preliminary Evaluation of the Use of Sulfonated Waste Polystyrene on Rice Sack for the Removal of Heavy Metals in Waste Water
  Christian Alaba, Cres Ann G. Abundo, Weene S. Villaver
  Advisers: Dr. Angela D. Escoto, Prof. Antonio E. Senador Jr.
• Production and Investigation of Properties of Feather-based Films with Glycerin as Plasticizing Agent
  Joel Acenas, Catherine B. Diomampo, Seiglene Estrada
  Adviser: Dr. Rizalinda L. de Leon

Go to top.

Dr. Jose Featured in ADB Newsletter

March 4, 2007 --- Dr. Wilfredo Jose was featured in the e-newsletter of the Asian Development Bank in an article entitled "Using Solid Waste to Treat Water Waste". His research involves the use of perforated waste plastic bottles containing charcoal from pyrolyzed rice hull as carrier media, on which the microorganisms will grow while consuming the dissolved organic matter in the wastewater.

The research is being conducted by his graduate students, Ms. Nguyen Thi Du and Ms. Didet Allera, under the supervision of Dr. Jose and co-advised by Dr. Makoto Shoda of Tokyo Institute of Technology. Their activities are being funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the ASEAN University Network - Southeast Asia Engineering Education Network (AUN-SEEDNet).

Read Dr. Jose's paper here.
More information about Dr. Jose.

Go to top.

Dr. Peralta Wins Gawad Chanselor Award

February 16, 2007 --- Dr. Genandrialine Peralta was named as one of the three awardees of the 2007 Gawad Chanselor Para Sa Natatanging Guro. The Gawad Chanselor is "the highest recognition conferred by UP-Diliman for excellence in teaching, research, publication and extension work, along with the creative endeavors in the literary, visual, and performing arts."

Dr. Gene Peralta is presently the chairman of the department and the coordinator of the Environmental Engineering Program of the College of Engineering.
More information about Dr. Peralta.
2007 Gawad Chanselor Awards at UPDate Online.

Go to top.

UPKEMGlobal Sponsors A Scholarship Program

February 16, 2007 --- The UPKEMGlobal, an association of UP chemical engineering alumni and friends, handed over a donation yesterday to the UPERDFI / College of Engineering to inaugurate the UPKEMGLOBAL Scholarship. This will support an incoming third year ChE undergraduate student for six semesters starting on the first semester of academic year 2007-2008.

The scholarship will cover practically all of the school fees, and provide for monthly stipends every semester. It is meant to assist a student who needs financial support, especially one who is currently not a beneficiary of any other scholarship program.

Go to top.

2007 PIChE Quiz Bowl National Champion:
UP-Diliman Team

February 4, 2007 --- The team fielded by the department won the 2007 PIChE (Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers) Quiz Bowl National Championship held at the De La Salle University on February 3. Ernesto Cunanan II, Dennis Cristoffer Tagaza, James Daniel Bertulfo, and Mark Joseph Tan, coached by Prof. Terence Tumolva, bested teams from other chemical engineering schools all over the country.

Go to top.

ChE Board Exam Result, 17 Nov 2006
UP-Diliman: 51 out of 51 passed

November 27, 2006 --- Fifty-one ChE graduates from UP-Diliman passed the recent board examination given in Manila last November 14 - 16. Overall, 310 out of 566 examinees passed, making the UP-Diliman contribution at 1/6 of the new chemical engineers.

PRC full list.
UP-ChE List of Board Passers, Nov 2006.

Go to top.

Graduate Study Opportunity at
Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan

October 31, 2006 --- Representatives of Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan are inviting seniors, graduate students, and alumni to apply for admission to the Distinguished International Graduate Students (DIGS) program. Four multidisciplinary research programs are being offered:

• Nanotechnology Program (offered jointly by Dept. of Physics and Dept. of Chemistry)
• Materials Program (offered by Dept. of Chemical Engineering)
• Optomechatronics (offered by Dept. of Mechanical Engineering)
• Microelectronic Engineering and Applications Program (offered by Dept. of Electronic Enginering)

All research programs accept chemical engineering graduates. For more information, visit their website or download the following:

• Poster (JPEG image)
• Information for International student (DOC)
• DIGS application form (DOC)

Go to top.

UP Alumni Engineers Homecoming

October 23, 2006 --- The UP Alumni Engineers will be celebrating the alumni homecoming on November 6, 2006, 6:00 pm at the Manila Polo Club, Forbes Park, Makati City. Part of the program will be the drawing of the winners for the grand prizes of the fund-raising raffle.

The dinner tickets can be bought from the UP Alumni Engineers office at the National Engineering Center, tel. no. 981-8500 loc 3123, and cell. no. 0919-4880748. For more details, download the invitation (PDF).

Go to top.

Distinguished Alumni Lecture Series
Featuring Dr. Filemon A. Uriarte Jr., BSChE '65, MSChE '67

June 6, 2006 --- The College of Engineering and the UP Alumni Engineers will host Dr. Filemon A. Uriarte Jr. in the upcoming Distinguished Alumni Lecture on 21 June 2006, 9:00 AM at the Engineering Theater.

Dr. Uriarte served as the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (1999-2001), is an Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology, and a former faculty member and chairman of the Department of Chemical Engineering at UP Diliman. More information about Dr. Uriarte can be obtained from his CV (PDF) and the event flyer (PDF).

Go to top.

UP-Diliman ChE Graduates Top the
April 2006 ChE Board Examination

April 28, 2006 --- Four UP-Diliman ChE graduates are among the topnotchers in recently concluded chemical engineer licensure examination given in Manila last April 26. Of the 386 examinees from different schools 182 (47%) passed, with the UP-Diliman passing rate at 24 out of 26 (92%).

PRC full list.

Go to top.

ChE Undergraduates Wins First Place in the
2006 Undergraduate Research Competition

April 19, 2006 --- For the third time in three years, the department demonstrated its research prowess with one of its entries getting the top prize in the 2006 Undergraduate Research Competition. The winning entry entitled "Fabrication of a Small-Scale 15-Liter Biodiesel Processor Using Waste Oil as Feedstock" was done by Hannah Farida Acosta, Hanilet Cornelio, Ralph Lauren Dorado, and Krisnika Jude Illescas, under the guidance of their research adviser Dr. Donato de la Cruz. They will receive a cash prize of P 50,000 and certificates that will be awarded to them during the College Recognition Rites on April 22.

There were 10 finalists selected from over 30 entries submitted in the competition. All five entries from the Chemical Engineering department made it to the final 10. The other four entries are:

• Sulfonated Ion-Exchange Membrane from Waste Polystyrene
  Arthur P. Ching, Raissa P. Fermin, Erwin N. Fernandez, April G.C. Santiago
  Advisers: Dr. Angela Escoto, Prof. Antonio Senador Jr.
• Wood-Plastic Composite Board Production from Recyled HDPE, Coco Coir, Peanut Shell, and Sawdust
  Ma. Pamela B. Caralde, Raquel V. Enderez, Shally P. Mateo, Anne Loren P. Tan
  Adviser: Dr. Donato de la Cruz
• Alternative Wood from Abaca Fibre
  Al Christopher de Leon, Rowena Sarah Jumig, Bryan Pajarito, Jake Zepeda
  Adviser: Prof. Jose Muñoz
• Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) as Surfactant in Ethanol- and Water-Emulsified Diesel
  Erma Marie M. Selga, Maita S. Monera, Richelle Lani L. Taruc, Jay Louie B. Velasco
  Adviser: Dr. Donato de la Cruz

Go to top.