The country continues to make a name on the international stage as students from various regions in the country bag 5,060 gold, silver, and bronze medals in 2021.
This was in full display during the online awarding ceremony of the Youth Excellence in Science (YES) awards of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute through its Facebook page last November 25, 2022.
As part of the activities of the 2022 National Science and Technology Week celebration, the DOST-SEI has conferred 1,802 YES medals to elementary and high school students who have won gold, bronze, and silver medals either individually or by group on international science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competition.
The total number of awardees was from various regions in the country:
National Capital Region – 805 awardees
CALABARZON – 189 awardees
Western Visayas – 115 awardees
Central Luzon – 113 awardees
Ilocos Region – 78 awardees
Bicol Region – 86 awardees
Zamboanga Peninsula – 55 awardees
Davao Region – 66 awardees
Northern Mindanao – 67 awardees
Central Visayas – 48 awardees
CARAGA – 38 awardees
Eastern Visayas – 37 awardees
Cordillera Administrative Region – 38 awardees
Cagayan Valley – 27 awardees
MIMAROPA – 19 awardees
SOCCSKSARGEN – 21 awardees
SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo, a native of Janiuay, Iloilo who once taught at the Philippine Science High School Western Visayas campus, expressed delight about how the youth are always eager to learn, unpack curiosity, and pursue excellence in science.
“It is a humbling moment for us at the Department of Science and Technology to be given the opportunity to celebrate the wins of our young geniuses who bagged awards from various international mathematics and science competitions. We commend you for having reached this impressive milestone that could only be accomplished through your sheer dedication and perseverance,” said Dr. Biyo.
The chief of the DOST, Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., also congratulated the students and reminded them to continuously strive for excellence, not just in science, but in life. “We hope that this recognition further motivates you to strive for excellence and inspires you, even more, to choose STEM as a field of study and as a career,” said Dr. Solidum.
He also thanked the national organizers for the various STEM competitions, the coaches and trainers, and the student’s parents and guardians for investing in the young people.
YES Awardee, Harvey Allen V. Ylanan of the Ateneo de Manila Senior High School, who won a bronze medal in the Hong Kong International Science Olympiad and a silver in the Guangdong – Hongkong – Macao Grater at Area Mathematical Olympiad, encouraged his co-awardees to continue to pursue excellence and persevere despite the hardships, and to become a beacon of hope for an innovative future.
“I hope you may use this award to provide help in advocating and raising your voices for quality education for everyone, climate action, medical innovation, and scientific discovery in our country, where love, wisdom, the truth, and facts may grow and foster,” said Ylanan.
The YES Awards is a DOST institutional award for exemplary achievement of the youth in the fields of science and mathematics. It is in the form of a medal of distinction awarded by the DOST Secretary or the DOST Regional Director to deserving youth. It signifies DOST’s high regard for excellence and competitiveness in the fields of science and technology.
