High school trio to join Asia Pacific water-boosted rocket competition

MANILA, Philippines - Three Filipino high school students are gearing up to compete in the Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) Water-Boosted Rocket Competition in Thailand this week.

Third year students Edmund Edward Chua, Julius Peter Dacoycoy and Jhon Jezar Calumag of the Asia Development Foundation College (ADFC) in Tacloban City will compete against students from 26 countries in the water-boosted rocket competition to be held from Jan. 23 to 24 at the National Science Museum, Technopolis, Khlong 5, Khlong Luang, Pathum Thani, Thailand.

The students would be accompanied by their coaches Maria Lourdes Tan of ADFC and Eligio Obille Jr. of the University of the Philippines-National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development.

Water rockets can make interesting science projects, especially if the students are encouraged to make modifications to their rockets to alter their trajectory, maximum height, and length of time spent in the air, the SEI said.

“It is our firm commitment to put forward the importance of space science in our daily lives. We are optimistic that by stimulating the interests of the youth and enabling educational institutions, the Philippines can be at par with other countries in space science,” she said.   — Helen M. Flores