DAGUPAN CITY, PANGASINAN - The Philippine Science High School – Cordillera Autonomous Region Campus (PSHS-CAR) bested 13 other schools in the country at the recently concluded National Water-Boosted Rocket Competition in this city. 

The team composed of Louie Sandro, John Jester Zeus Castro, and Lorenzo Miguel Gonzales will be off to Singapore in December to represent the Philippines in the Asia Pacific Regional Space Agency Forum (APRSAF) Water-Boosted Rocket Competition. They also received a P10,000 cash prize and a certificate. CSI Group of Companies CEO and Dagupan City Vice Mayor Belen T. Fernandez also gave US$100 to each of the students for their pocket money. 

Among the 14 schools that competed in the contest, only PSHS-CAR made it almost to the mark at a distance of only 1.45 meters from the target. The other schools failed to even reach the target. 

Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute Director Dr. Filma G. Brawner congratulated the winning students, prodding them to take their victory to a higher level by getting into careers in science. 

“We congratulate the team from PSHS-CAR for their successful campaign in the National Water-Boosted Rocket Competition and we hope that they can duplicate their feat when they go to Singapore,” she said. 

Brawner said competitions are important in the creation of a culture of science and technology in the Philippines as it helps the students to reach beyond their comfort zones and excel in what they do. 

“Competitions, like this, are great venues for our students to put their best foot forward to pursue excellence and hone their skills. Through contests, we are able to identify students who have the knack for science who in turn could be provided the adept training to develop their full potential and eventually, provide the science and technology backbone of the Philippines,’ she said. 

Three elementary students from Dagupan City will also have their artworks as the official entries of the country to the APRSAF Poster Making Contest after winning in the National On-the-Spot Poster Making Contest. 

Elijah Duran of Pascuala G. Villamil Elementary School topped the competition taking home with him P3,000 cash prize and a certificate. Jeoffrey Cruz of Bolosan Elementary School ranked second with a P2,000 cash prize and a certificate. Vladimir Andrea Lugo of Wonderland School placed third with a P1,000 cash prize and a certificate. 

The two competitions were held in celebration of the 2011 World Space Week in this city in partnership with the CSI Group of Companies. This year’s theme is “50 Years of Human Spaceflight,” commemorating Russian Yuri Gagarin’s flight into outer space in 1961. 

Brawner said one of the objectives of the conduct of the World Space Week is to bring to the consciousness of the Filipino people, especially the youth, the importance of space technology in their daily lives. 

“As we explore the Philippines and beyond, space science plays a major role in making us understand the things we see and the things we do not see. Space science helps us prepare before the onset of any major calamity and prevent any major damage it may bring to the country. We also learn to appreciate more our surroundings as we look beyond our world and see how blessed human beings are,” she said. (30)