Philippine Science High School System
Encyclopedia
The Philippine Science High School System is a specialized public high school system in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

 that operates as an attached agency of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology
Department of Science and Technology (Philippines)
The Philippines' Department of Science and Technology , abbreviated as the DOST, is the executive department of the Philippine Government responsible for the coordination of science and technology-related projects in the Philippines and to formulate policies and projects in the fields of science...

.

The PSHS System offers scholarships to Filipino students who are gifted in the sciences and mathematics. Admission to the PSHS is by competitive examination only, and only Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...

 citizens are eligible to attend. Graduates of the PSHS are bound by law to major in the pure and applied sciences, mathematics, or engineering upon entering college.

PSHS is known for its active participation in various national and international science, technology, and mathematics competitions such as Sipnayan, Kapnayan, MATHirang MATHibay, Metrobank-MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge, Philippine Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry Olympiads, Australian Mathematics Competition
Australian Mathematics Competition
The Australian Mathematics Competition is a mathematics competition run by the Australian Mathematics Trust for students from year 3 up to year 12 in Australia, and their equivalent grades in other countries...

 and Australian Chemistry Quiz. Through private funding, students successfully reap awards in international competitions such as Taiwan International Science Fair, Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
Intel International Science and Engineering Fair
The Intel International Science and Engineering Fair is the largest pre-college scientific research event in the world, and is owned and administered by the Society for Science & the Public a 501 non-profit organization based in Washington, DC...

, International Math Olympiad, International Junior Science Olympiad and International Physics Olympiad
International Physics Olympiad
The International Physics Olympiad is an annual physics competition for high school students. It is one of the International Science Olympiads. The first IPhO was held in Warsaw, Poland in 1967....

.

A movie has also been released in honor of Philippine Science. Entitled "Pisay", the movie has acclaimed not only national recognition but also international recognition as it was sent to the Toronto International Film Festival
Toronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...

. "Pisay" was directed by an alumnus of the school, Aureus Solito, and was nominated for Best Documentary Feature Film at the 2008 Asia Pacific Screen Awards
Asia Pacific Screen Awards
The Asia Pacific Screen Awards is an international cultural initiative of the State Government of Queensland, Australia, through Events Queensland, to honour and promote the films, actors, directors, and cultures of Asia-Pacific to a global audience and to realise the objectives of UNESCO to...

.

Campuses

For 24 years, the PSHS was a single campus located at Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City where the top 240 examinees in a National Competitive Examinations held yearly were accepted as government scholars. All campuses have at most 30 students in each class. However, regional campuses only have three classes in contrast to the main campus which has eight classes per batch.

Currently, PSHS has ten regional campuses in addition to the main campus.
Campus Location Date Founded Campus Director
(* - Officer-in-Charge)
Main Campus
Philippine Science High School Main Campus
The Philippine Science High School Main Campus in Diliman, Quezon City, is the first campus of the Philippine Science High School System, a specialized public high school that caters to scientifically and mathematically-gifted high school students from all over the Philippines...

Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City
Quezon City
Quezon City is the former capital and the most populous city in the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon, Quezon City is one of the cities and municipalities that make up Metro Manila, the National Capital Region. The city was named after Manuel L...

1964 Dr. Helen Caintic
Southern Mindanao Campus
Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus
Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus is the first regional campus of the Philippine Science High School System, a public science high school system in the Philippines under the Department of Science and Technology...

Davao City
Davao City
The City of Davao is the largest city in the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Its international airport and seaports are among the busiest cargo hubs in the Philippines....

, Davao del Sur
July 1988 Mrs. Delia C. Legaspino
Western Visayas Campus
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus
The Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus , one of the campuses of the Philippine Science High School System is located at Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City, Philippines. Established in 1993, the school admits and grants scholarships to students who are gifted in science and...

Jaro, Iloilo City
Jaro, Iloilo City
Jaro is one of the six districts of Iloilo City, in the Philippine province of Iloilo, on the island of Panay, in the Western Visayas.It is the seat of the Catholic Archdiocese of Jaro, that covers the whole Western Visayan region. -History:...

July 1, 1993 Dr. Edgar Almero (OIC)
Eastern Visayas Campus
Philippine Science High School Eastern Visayas Campus
The Philippine Science High School Eastern Visayas Campus , is one of the campuses of the Philippine Science High School System located at Pawing, Palo, Leyte. It is considered to be the premier high school in the region...

Palo, Leyte
Palo, Leyte
Palo is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 47,982 people in 9,272 households.-Barangays:Palo is politically subdivided into 33 barangays.* Anahaway* Arado* Baras...

April 10, 1994 Dr. Pedrito G. Padilla
Cagayan Valley Campus
Philippine Science High School Cagayan Valley Campus
The Philippine Science High School Cagayan Valley Campus is a campus of the Philippine Science High School System, a public high school that caters to scientifically and mathematically-gifted high school students from all over Luzon. It is located in Brgy. Masoc, Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya.-External...

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
Bayombong is a 1st class municipality in the province of Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines. It is the capital municipality of Nueva Vizcaya. According to the latest census, it has a population of 54,417 people in 10,693 households.-Barangays:...

June 1998 Dr. Salvador Romo
Central Mindanao Campus
Philippine Science High School Central Mindanao Campus
Philippine Science High School Central Mindanao Campus is the second Mindanao campus of the Philippine Science High School System, a special public high school in the Philippines. It caters to scientifically and mathematically gifted high school students from all over the country...

Nangka, Baloi, Lanao del Norte
Baloi, Lanao del Norte
Baloi is a 3rd class municipality in the province of Lanao del Norte, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 44,366 people....

June 1998 Mr. Jose Marlon A. Caumeran
Bicol Region Campus
Philippine Science High School Bicol Region Campus
Philippine Science High School Bicol Region Campus is a campus of the Philippine Science High School System, a specialized public high school in the Philippines. Founded in 1998, it caters to scientifically and mathematically gifted high school students of the Bicol Region...

Goa, Camarines Sur
Goa, Camarines Sur
Goa is a 2nd class municipality in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 54,035 people. The current municipal mayor is Hon. Antero Silos Lim-History:...

July 1998 Mrs. Elsie G. Ferrer
Ilocos Region Campus
Philippine Science High School Ilocos Region Campus
Philippine Science High School Ilocos Region Campus is a campus of the Philippine Science High School System, a specialized public high school in the Philippines, and under the Department of Science and Technology . The PSHS-IRC was established in 2003 through the initiative of former Ilocos Sur...

San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur
San Ildefonso, Ilocos Sur
San Ildefonso is a 5th class municipality in the province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. According to the latest census, it has a population of 6,670 people in 1,127 households....

July 14, 2003 Dr. Larry L. Cabatic
Central Visayas Campus
Philippine Science High School Central Visayas Campus
Philippine Science High School Central Visayas Campus is a campus of the Philippine Science High School System, a specialized public high school in the Philippines....

Talaytay, Argao, Cebu
Argao, Cebu
Argao is a 1st class municipality in the province of Cebu, Philippines. According to the 2007 census, it has a population of 62,226 people.-Location:...

May 19, 2005 Dr. Florita A. Pontillas
Cordillera Administrative Region Campus
Philippine Science High School Cordillera Administrative Region Campus
Philippine Science High School Cordillera Administrative Region Campus is one of the two newest campuses of the Philippine Science High School System . It was established through the congressional efforts of Baguio City Congressman Mauricio G...

Baguio City
Baguio City
The City of Baguio is a highly urbanized city in northern Luzon in the Philippines. Baguio City was established by Americans in 1900 at the site of an Ibaloi village known as Kafagway...

, Benguet
June 22, 2009 Dr. Conrado C. Rotor Jr.
Central Luzon Campus
Philippine Science High School Central Luzon Campus
Philippine Science High School Central Luzon Campus is a regional campus currently situated at Clark Polytechnic Compound, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. In the near future, the campus will be transferred to Clark, Pampanga near Oxford Hotel. PSHS-CLC is just on its third...

Clark Freeport Zone
Clark Freeport Zone
Clark Freeport Zone is a redevelopment of the former Clark Air Base, a former United States Air Force base in the Philippines. It is located on the northwest side of Angeles City and borders the municipality of Mabalacat in the province of Pampanga. It is located about 40 miles northwest of...

, Angeles City
Angeles City
The City of Angeles , located within the province of Pampanga in the Philippines, is locally classified as a first-class, highly-urbanized city. Its name is derived from El Pueblo de los Ángeles in honor of its patron saints, Los Santos Ángeles de los Custodios , and the name of its founder, Don...

, Pampanga
June 28, 2009 Directress Lilia Habacon
CALABARZON Region Campus Tagaytay City
Tagaytay City
The City of Tagaytay is a second class city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. Only away from Manila via Aguinaldo Highway, it is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Tagaytay City provides a good view of the Taal Volcano...

, Cavite
To be established Dr. Pedrito G. Padilla (OIC)
Zamboanga Peninsula Region Campus Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga del Sur
Zamboanga del Sur is a province of the Philippines located in the Zamboanga Peninsula region in Mindanao. Pagadian City is the capital...

To be established To be named

System Organization

The Board of Trustees (BOT) is the highest policy making body of the PSHS System. The Executive Committee (ExeCom), composed of the directors of different PSHS campuses, is a collegial body that recommends policies and guidelines for the consideration of the BOT. The Executive Committee is chaired by the Executive Director, which coordinates the implementation of these policies and guidelines.

PSHS campuses are headed by directors who are members of the ExeCom.

History

The Philippine Science High School was established through Republic Act 3661, authored by Congressman Virgilio Afable, and signed into law in 1963 by President Diosdado Macapagal
Diosdado Macapagal
Diosdado Pangan Macapagal was the ninth President of the Philippines, serving from 1961 to 1965, and the sixth Vice President, serving from 1957 to 1961. He also served as a member of the House of Representatives, and headed the Constitutional Convention of 1970...

. This charter mandates the PSHS “to offer on a free scholarship basis a secondary course with emphasis on subjects pertaining to service with the end in view of preparing its students for a science career”. The school started operations in 1964.

National Scientist Dr. Gregorio Velasquez led the PSHS through its first three years. The campus started in a small rented GSIS-owned property along the Quezon Memorial Circle. In 1970 PSHS started building on a 75,000 square metre lot along Agham Road in Diliman, Quezon City.

By the end of the eighties, PSHS started to spread across the nation. The first regional campuses were built, starting with the Mindanao Campus (now Southern Mindanao Campus), located in Davao City, in 1988.

The PSHS System Law (R.A. 8496) was signed by President Fidel V. Ramos
Fidel V. Ramos
Fidel "Eddie" Valdez Ramos , popularly known as FVR, was the 12th President of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. During his six years in office, Ramos was widely credited and admired by many for revitalizing and renewing international confidence in the Philippine economy.Prior to his election as...

 in 1997 that established the PSHS System and unified all the existing campuses into a single system of governance and management. Thus, the PSHS continues fulfilling its mandate “to offer, on a free scholarship basis, a secondary course with special emphasis on subjects pertaining to the sciences, with the end view of preparing its students for a science career”.

Admissions process

Roughly 17,000 students take the Philippine Science High School exams annually. Those who achieve the highest scores are admitted to the PSHS Main Campus, located in Quezon City (They may however opt to study in a regional campus). The rest are admitted to campuses in other parts of the Philippines.

Admission to the PSHS System is through the PSHS System National Competitive Examination (PSHS-NCE). The screening consists of tests in Verbal, Abstract Reasoning, Science and Mathematics. To be eligible for admission, applicants must be Filipino students who must belong to the top 10% of the graduating class or must have special aptitude in science and math.

Natural Sciences

  • Luis Tupa, Ph.D. (Batch 1979): National Program Leader for Global Change and Climate for the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the US Department of Agriculture.
  • Rodel Lasco, Ph.D. (Batch 1977): multi-awarded and highly respected scientist in the field of natural resources conservation and environmental management; Gawad Lagablab Awardee for Agroforestry (1998)
  • Rosalia Mercado-Simmen, Ph.D. (Batch 1969): one of the world’s leading researchers in the biology of reproduction, having been published and recognized widely for her work on reproduction, endocrinology, physiology, and biophysics
  • Maria Corazon Abogado de Ungria, Ph.D. (Batch 1985): Gawad Lagablab Awardee (2008) for promoting the development of forensic DNA technology in the country. Awards include The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service in Science (TOWNS) in 2007, and The Outstanding Young Men award (TOYM) in 2005.
  • Reinabelle Reyes, Ph.D. (Batch 2001): Astrophysicist from Princeton University, having co-authored articles in several publications - Space Density of Optically Selected Type 2 Quasars (The Astronomical Journal, 2008); Improved Optical Mass Tracer for Galaxy Clusters Calibrated Using Weak Lensing Measurements (Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2008); Confirmation of general relativity on large scales from weak lensing and galaxy velocities (Nature, 2010).
  • Clarina Dela Cruz, Ph.D.(Batch 1996): highly respected scientist in the field of Physics. Her work is published by Nature International Weekly Journal of Science(Magnetic order close to superconductivity in the iron-based layered LaO1-xFxFeAs systems, May 2008). She is presently working at The Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, US.

Engineering and Information Technology

  • Delfin Jay M. Sabido IX, Ph.D.: named one of the 50 Great Men and Women of Science by DOST in 2008 and one of the 18 Luminaries of Philippine ICT by the Metropolitan Computer Times in 2002
  • Reynaldo B. Vea, Ph. D. (Batch 1969): President, Mapua Institute of Technology
    Mapúa Institute of Technology
    Mapúa Institute of Technology is a private, non-sectarian, Filipino tertiary institute located in Intramuros, Manila and in Makati....

     and former Dean, UP College of Engineering; elected Academician by the National Academy of Science and Technology in 2001; one of DOST's 50 Great Men & Women of Science (2008); Gawad Lagablab awardee for Science and Technology Education (1993)
  • Mary Rose Judith S. de la Cruz: Chief Operating Office, Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Stratpoint Technologies, Inc. A venture capital backed (by Dado Banatao and Paco Sandejas' NarraVC) Software StartUp Accelerator Firm.

Medicine

  • Ernesto Baello, M.D. (Batch 1969): one of the country's top cardiologists, recipient of the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Philippine Heart Association, Inc.-Philippine College of Cardiology in 2001
  • Irene Reyes-Santos, M.D.: pediatrician and child TB expert
  • Rafael Consunji, M.D., M.P.H (Batch 1983): general and trauma surgeon at the Philippine General Hospital
    Philippine General Hospital
    The Philippine General Hospital is a tertiary state-owned hospital administered and operated by the University of the Philippines Manila, the University of the Philippines System's Health Sciences Center. It is the largest government hospital administered by the university, and is designated as...

     with additional training in surgical critical care and public health from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland; Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Awardee for Community Service and Medicine in 2006; Gawad Lagablab awardee (2008)

Academe

  • Adolfo Jesus R. Gopez, Ph. D.: President, Feati University; awarded Outstanding Metallurgical of 1995 by the Philippine Regulatory Commission and the Philippine Technological Council
  • Efren F. Abaya, Ph.D. (Batch 1972): Chair, UP Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering; awarded Most Outstanding Electrical Practitioner in Education by the Institute of Integrated Electical Engineers of the Philippines; Gawad Lagablab awardee (1993)
  • Rowena Cristina Guevara, Ph. D. (Batch 1980): first woman Dean of the UP College of Engineering
  • Victoria Espaldon, Ph.D.: Dean, UP Los Baños, School of Environmental Science and Management
  • Zosimo Lee, Ph. D. (Batch 1970): Dean, UP College of Social Sciences and Philosophy
  • Jose Danilo Silvestre: Dean, UP College of Architecture
  • John Paul Vergara, Ph.D (Batch 1982): Vice President for the Loyola Schools, Ateneo de Manila University
  • Rafael P. Saldana (Batch 1977): Former Director, Philippine Science High School Main Campus and associate professor of Mathematics, Ateneo de Manila University

Politics, Law, and Governance

  • Cielito Habito (Batch 1970): Former Director General of the National Economic and Development Authority
  • Joseph Abaya: Congressman, 1st district of Cavite
  • Mario Taguiwalo (Batch 1969): Department of Health Undersecretary (1986–1992), political theorist, and occasional actor
  • Rhais Gamboa (Batch 1969): former DOH Undersecretary
  • Karlo Nograles (Batch 1993); Congressman, 1st Congressional District of Davao City

Military

  • Hermogenes Esperon
    Hermogenes Esperon
    General Hermogenes C. Esperon, Jr. is a retired general and the former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the former Vice-Commander of Presidential Security Group...

    (Batch 1970): General; Chief of Staff, Armed Forces of the Philippines
  • Rogelio Calunsag (Batch 1970): Navy Chief Vice Admiral

Social Sciences

  • Antonio Tujan (Batch 1969): Ibon Philippines executive director and civil society leader
  • Roberto Verzola (Batch 1969): computer scientist and social critic
  • Vicky Tauli-Corpuz (Batch 1969): Indigenous People's rights advocate; Chair, United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

Arts and Humanities

  • Anna Bayle
    Anna Bayle
    Anna Bayle is a Filipino ex-model who achieved success in the late 1970s and 1980s. She became one of the highest paid models of her time.-Modeling career:...

    : entrepreneur and Asia's first international supermodel
  • Arnee Hidalgo (Batch 1998): singer
  • Atom Araullo
    Atom Araullo
    Alfonso Tomas Pagaduan Araullo , better known as Atom Araullo, is a news reporter of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs shows like Umagang Kay Ganda, TV Patrol World and Bandila...

    (Batch 2000): television host, reporter and newscaster of ABS-CBN
    ABS-CBN Network
    ABS-CBN commonly referred to as the Kapamilya Network or simply Dos , is a major commercial television network in the Philippines owned and operated by the ABS-CBN Corporation. It was launched in October 23, 1953 just a few months after the first broadcast of NHK of Japan...

  • Auraeus Solito (Batch 1986): filmmaker, director of the internationally acclaimed "Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros", "Tuli", and "Pisay"
  • Butch Dalisay (Batch 1971-A): writer, editor, columnist, Palanca awardee
  • Fidelito Cortes: writer
  • Jake Verzosa (Batch 1996): fashion ad lifestyle photographer
  • Jeffrey Hidalgo (Batch 1994): singer-composer and former vocalist of Smokey Mountain
  • Jessica Zafra
    Jessica Zafra
    Jessica Zafra is a fiction writer, columnist, editor, publisher and former television and radio show host. She is known for her sharp and witty writing style...

    (Batch 1982): fiction writer, columnist, editor, publisher, former television and radio show host, Palanca awardee
  • Joel Navarro: composer
  • Lore Reyes (Batch 1969): multi-awarded film and TV director, film producer, Palanca Awardee
  • Luis Katigbak (Batch 1991): writer, multiple Palanca Awardee
  • Marc Gaba (Batch 1995): writer, Palanca awardee
  • Nestor Jardin (Batch 1969): President of the Cultural Center of the Philippines
    Cultural Center of the Philippines
    The Cultural Center of the Philippines is a government-owned and controlled corporation established to preserve, develop and promote arts and culture in the Philippines. The CCP was established through Executive Order No. 30 s. 1966 by President Ferdinand Marcos...

  • Ralph Galan (Batch 1989): writer
  • Ric Fernando (Batch 2000): writer, Palanca awardee
  • Richard Paras (Batch 1999): Pinoy Big Brother Contestant
  • Juan Paolo de Guzman (Batch 2008): painter, Young Belgian Painters awardee, Painter of the Year awardee

Business and Finance

  • Jaime del Rosario: former SGV partner and Accenture CEO
  • Rodel Rodis (Batch 1970): former San Francisco utilities commission president; noted San Francisco lawyer and civic leader
  • Francis Napoleon Buencamino (Batch 1993): Part owner, Ambienergy Enterprises, LPG conversion

Academic Grading System

The Philippine Science High School uses a grading system similar to the major universities in country. Grading is cumulative, taking two-thirds of the grade earned for the current quarter (i.e, the transmuted grade, such as 1.25) and adding it to a third of the transmuted grade from the previous quarter.
Grade Percentage Range Equivalent Range
1.00 96 - 100 98 - 100
1.25 90 - 95 95 - 97
1.50 84 - 89 92 - 94
1.75 78 - 83 89 - 91
2.00 72 - 77 86 - 88
2.25 66 - 71 83 - 85
2.50 60 - 65 80 - 82
2.75 55 - 59 77 - 79
3.00 50 - 54 74 - 76
4.00 41 - 49 71 - 73
5.00 Below 40 Below 70

Note: The percentage range is used in actual computations while the equivalent range is used to translate grades for external usage.

Director's List

A student who garners a weighted average of 1.500 or better qualifies on an honor roll known as the Director's List each quarter.
Note: The distinction of 1.500 is important as only three decimal places are considered. If the weighted average is actually greater than 1.500 but rounds off to 1.500, the student is still a Director's Lister.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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