2 Pinoy students bag honorable mention in astronomy olympiad

MANILA, Philippines - Two Filipino students received an Honorable Mention in the recently concluded 4th International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics in Beijing, China.

These were Gerico Sy of the Philippine Science High School (PSHS), Davao Campus; and Rigel Gomez of the Pasig City Science High School.

Other participants were Kenneth Anthony Roquid and Christopher John Landicho of the Philippine Science High School, Bicol Campus; and John Romel Flora of the Rizal Science High School.

This was the first time the Philippines participated in the competition.

The students trained for a week at the UP National Institute of Physics in Diliman. They were mentored by volunteer trainors Dr. Perry Esguerra, Migel Catalig, Hauser Villegas, Bamm Gabriana, and Rochelle Derilo.

The team was accompanied in Beijing by Armando Lee, who was appointed as the delegation head, and EJ Marmol, a science teacher at the PSHS Bicol Campus and coach of the winning team at the IYA2009 Philippines Astronomy Olympiad finals held in UP NISMED last February.