Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus
Encyclopedia
The Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus (PSHSWV), 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 mathematics. Most of the scholars are from Western Visayas
which covers the provinces of Aklan
, Antique, Capiz
, Guimaras
, Iloilo
and Negros Occidental
and the MIMAROPA (Region IV-B) which includes the provinces of Occidental Mindoro
, Oriental Mindoro
, Marinduque
, Romblon
and Palawan
. Until the establishment of PSHS Central Visayas in 2009, the campus also caters to the students from the provinces of Bohol
, Cebu
, Negros Oriental
and Siquijor
, all from Central Visayas
. The executive director, Dr. Josette T. Biyo, has an asteroid
named after her, 13241 Biyo
.
The campus was once the only concrete structure amidst acres of rice fields, whereas now, it is in a sprawling upper class subdivision.
To further expand the opportunities of students gifted in science, mathematics and technology in the Visayas and Mindanao, the PSHS Mindanao Campus and the PSHS Western Visayas Campus were created through Executive Order No. 1090 last February 5, 1986. The PSHS Mindanao Campus was established in Davao City and started its operation in 1988.
On August 21, 1991, the then Secretary of Department of Science and Technology Ceferino L. Follosco (representing the donee), Ms. Nenita Kabayao Mapua and Ms. Makiling Ascalon (representing the donor), signed the deed of donation of the 3.4 Hectare lot in Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City. It will be known as the Doña Lawa-an H. Lopez Campus. Construction of the PSHSWV started in February 1992, followed by the formal ground breaking ceremony in May of the same year.
PSHSWV formally started its operations on July 1, 1993. The 47 pioneer scholars had to hold classes at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas since the school campus was still under construction. The temporary dormitory was located in Leganes, Iloilo which is approximately 13 kilometers away from UPV. Prof. Gilma T. Tayo served as the first campus director. It was in school year 1994-95 that it transferred to its present location in Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City. Dr. Diana Aure was then the campus director. The PSHSWV was formally inaugurated on June 13, 1997 by then president Fidel V. Ramos.
The pioneer batch, all 47 of them, graduated from PSHSWV last March 31, 1997. In the same year, the PSHS System Law (R.A. 8496) was signed by President Fidel V. Ramos. It established the PSHS System and unified all the existing campuses into a single system of governance and management.
In 2001, the PSHS System Law was further amended by R.A. No. 9036 consolidating the power and authority over all PSHS System campuses into a single Board of Trustees to ensure uniform policy coordination, standards and management.
Aside from the present campus, a four-hectare research station was donated by the family of the late Vice-Governor Guardilino Mosqueda in Balcon Maravilla, Jordan, Guimaras. It is known as the Mosqueda Campus of the PSHSWV. Another 1 hectare coastal lot was donated by Engr. Jose Abad in Morubauan, Guimaras. It shall be the site of the Research Station in Marine Biology.
Recently, the campus director, Dr. Josette T. Biyo was elevated as the Executive Director of the Philippine Science High School System
. Dr. Edgar Almero was appointed as the Officer-in-Charge.
PSHSWV students are exposed to a special science curriculum that aims to develop a passion for learning and to inspire the scholars to choose careers in science and technology. The curriculum is enriched with generally advance subjects in science, mathematics and technology allowing them to optimize their intellectual skills. This is balanced by a rich humanities subjects to develop a holistic individual.
In the sciences, the scholars learn Biology, Chemistry and Physics as separate subjects starting the second year. Computer Science is also offered in all year levels.
The mathematics department offers subjects in Elementary Algebra, Advanced Algebra, Plane Geometry
, Trigonometry, Selected Topics in Number Theory
, Statistics
and Elementary Analysis among others.
Four years of studies in English, Filipino, and the Social Science are part of the Humanities curriculum. Health and Physical Education subjects are also given to enhance the physical well being of the students. Activities include gymnastics, soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball, bowling and folk and social dances.
.
. Both publications provide a good training ground for scholars in the field of journalism as reporting, layout, design, editing, and final production are done by the students under the supervision of a faculty adviser.
Two of the teachers were awarded as Outstanding Teachers of the Philippines by the Metrobank Foundation. Dr. Josette Biyo was awarded in 1997, while Ms. Shena Faith Ganela was honored in 2009.
Philippine Science High School System
The Philippine Science High School System is a specialized public high school system in the Philippines that operates as an attached agency of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology....
is located at Brgy. Bito-on, 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:...
, 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...
. Established in 1993, the school admits and grants scholarships to students who are gifted in science and mathematics. Most of the scholars are from Western Visayas
Western Visayas
Western Visayas, one of the regions of the Philippines, is designated as Region VI. It consists of six provinces; Aklan, Antique, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Guimaras and Iloilo and 16 cities making it the region with the highest number of cities. Iloilo City is the regional center...
which covers the provinces of Aklan
Aklan
Aklan is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas. Its capital is Kalibo. It is located at the northwest portion of Panay Island, bordering Antique Province to the southwest, and Capiz Province to the east...
, Antique, Capiz
Capiz
Capiz is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Roxas City and is located at the northeastern portion of Panay Island, bordering Aklan and Antique to the west, and Iloilo to the south. Capiz faces the Sibuyan Sea to the north...
, Guimaras
Guimaras
Guimaras is an island province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Among the smallest provinces, its capital is Jordan. The island is located in the Panay Gulf, between the islands of Panay and Negros...
, Iloilo
Iloilo
Iloilo is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Iloilo occupies the southeast portion of Panay Island and is bordered by Antique Province to the west and Capiz Province and the Jintotolo Channel to the north. Just off Iloilo's southeast coast is Guimaras Province,...
and Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental
Negros Occidental is a province of the Philippines located in the Western Visayas region. Its capital is Bacolod City and it occupies the northwestern half of Negros Island; Negros Oriental is at the southeastern half...
and the MIMAROPA (Region IV-B) which includes the provinces of Occidental Mindoro
Occidental Mindoro
Occidental Mindoro is a province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region in Luzon. "Home of the Indigenous Mangyans". Its capital is Mamburao and occupies the western half of the island of Mindoro, on the west by Apo East Pass, and on the south by the Mindoro Strait; Oriental Mindoro is...
, Oriental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro
Oriental Mindoro is a province of the Philippines located in the island of Mindoro under MIMAROPA region in Luzon, about 140 km southwest of Manila...
, Marinduque
Marinduque
In 1945, combined American and Philippine Commonwealth troops attacked from the Japanese Troops liberated to the Battle of Marinduque in the Second World War.-Archaeology:...
, Romblon
Romblon
Romblon is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region. It lies south of Marinduque and Quezon, east of Mindoro, north of Aklan and Capiz, and west of Masbate. Its capital is also named Romblon....
and Palawan
Palawan
Palawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
. Until the establishment of PSHS Central Visayas in 2009, the campus also caters to the students from the provinces of Bohol
Bohol
Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of and a coastline long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines...
, Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
, Negros Oriental
Negros Oriental
Negros Oriental is a province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. It occupies the south-eastern half of the island of Negros, with Negros Occidental comprising the north-western half. It also includes Apo Island — a popular dive site for both local and foreign tourists...
and Siquijor
Siquijor
Siquijor is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region. Its capital is the municipality also named Siquijor. To the northwest of Siquijor are Cebu and Negros, to the northeast is Bohol and to the south, across the Bohol Sea, is Mindanao.Siquijor is the third...
, all from Central Visayas
Central Visayas
Central Visayas, designated as Region VII, is a region of the Philippines located in the central part of the Visayas island group. It consists of four provinces—Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor— and the highly urbanized cities of Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, and Mandaue City....
. The executive director, Dr. Josette T. Biyo, has an asteroid
Asteroid
Asteroids are a class of small Solar System bodies in orbit around the Sun. They have also been called planetoids, especially the larger ones...
named after her, 13241 Biyo
13241 Biyo
13241 Biyo is an asteroid named after Filipino teacher Dr. Josette Biyo, a high school teacher cited for winning the 2002 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Louisville, Kentucky. She was the first Asian teacher to win the Intel Excellence in Teaching Award.-External links:...
.
The campus was once the only concrete structure amidst acres of rice fields, whereas now, it is in a sprawling upper class subdivision.
History
The first Philippine Science High School was established in Diliman, Quezon City under Rebublic Act No. 3661, known as the PSHS Charter. The school opened on September 5, 1964 at a rented building owned by the Philippine Government Employees Association along Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City. It was only in 1970 that the school moved to its present campus along Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City.To further expand the opportunities of students gifted in science, mathematics and technology in the Visayas and Mindanao, the PSHS Mindanao Campus and the PSHS Western Visayas Campus were created through Executive Order No. 1090 last February 5, 1986. The PSHS Mindanao Campus was established in Davao City and started its operation in 1988.
On August 21, 1991, the then Secretary of Department of Science and Technology Ceferino L. Follosco (representing the donee), Ms. Nenita Kabayao Mapua and Ms. Makiling Ascalon (representing the donor), signed the deed of donation of the 3.4 Hectare lot in Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City. It will be known as the Doña Lawa-an H. Lopez Campus. Construction of the PSHSWV started in February 1992, followed by the formal ground breaking ceremony in May of the same year.
PSHSWV formally started its operations on July 1, 1993. The 47 pioneer scholars had to hold classes at the University of the Philippines in the Visayas since the school campus was still under construction. The temporary dormitory was located in Leganes, Iloilo which is approximately 13 kilometers away from UPV. Prof. Gilma T. Tayo served as the first campus director. It was in school year 1994-95 that it transferred to its present location in Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City. Dr. Diana Aure was then the campus director. The PSHSWV was formally inaugurated on June 13, 1997 by then president Fidel V. Ramos.
The pioneer batch, all 47 of them, graduated from PSHSWV last March 31, 1997. In the same year, the PSHS System Law (R.A. 8496) was signed by President Fidel V. Ramos. It established the PSHS System and unified all the existing campuses into a single system of governance and management.
In 2001, the PSHS System Law was further amended by R.A. No. 9036 consolidating the power and authority over all PSHS System campuses into a single Board of Trustees to ensure uniform policy coordination, standards and management.
Aside from the present campus, a four-hectare research station was donated by the family of the late Vice-Governor Guardilino Mosqueda in Balcon Maravilla, Jordan, Guimaras. It is known as the Mosqueda Campus of the PSHSWV. Another 1 hectare coastal lot was donated by Engr. Jose Abad in Morubauan, Guimaras. It shall be the site of the Research Station in Marine Biology.
Recently, the campus director, Dr. Josette T. Biyo was elevated as the Executive Director of the Philippine Science High School System
Philippine Science High School System
The Philippine Science High School System is a specialized public high school system in the Philippines that operates as an attached agency of the Philippine Department of Science and Technology....
. Dr. Edgar Almero was appointed as the Officer-in-Charge.
Admission and Academic Program
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. The top 90 scholars from the region are admitted as scholars.PSHSWV students are exposed to a special science curriculum that aims to develop a passion for learning and to inspire the scholars to choose careers in science and technology. The curriculum is enriched with generally advance subjects in science, mathematics and technology allowing them to optimize their intellectual skills. This is balanced by a rich humanities subjects to develop a holistic individual.
In the sciences, the scholars learn Biology, Chemistry and Physics as separate subjects starting the second year. Computer Science is also offered in all year levels.
The mathematics department offers subjects in Elementary Algebra, Advanced Algebra, Plane Geometry
Plane geometry
In mathematics, plane geometry may refer to:*Euclidean plane geometry, the geometry of plane figures,*geometry of a plane,or sometimes:*geometry of a projective plane, most commonly the real projective plane but possibly the complex projective plane, Fano plane or others;*geometry of the hyperbolic...
, Trigonometry, Selected Topics in Number Theory
Number theory
Number theory is a branch of pure mathematics devoted primarily to the study of the integers. Number theorists study prime numbers as well...
, Statistics
Statistics
Statistics is the study of the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of data. It deals with all aspects of this, including the planning of data collection in terms of the design of surveys and experiments....
and Elementary Analysis among others.
Four years of studies in English, Filipino, and the Social Science are part of the Humanities curriculum. Health and Physical Education subjects are also given to enhance the physical well being of the students. Activities include gymnastics, soccer, basketball, volleyball, softball, bowling and folk and social dances.
Research
Research is part of the core program of the science curriculum at PSHSWV. The program develops the investigative skills of the scholars. Students are given research opportunities in the biological and physical sciences and engineering. Students are introduced to research principles during their third year and culminates in writing a scientific paper in their senior year. Successful researches are competed in the national science fair and even in the Intel International Science and Engineering FairIntel 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...
.
Publications
The school has two publications that allows the scholars an opportunity to express their thoughts and opinions. Sci-Link, is the PSHSWV's publication in English. The paper is published in a newspaper or magazine format bi-annually. Banaag, on the other hand, is the official publication in FilipinoFilipino language
This move has drawn much criticism from other regional groups.In 1987, a new constitution introduced many provisions for the language.Article XIV, Section 6, omits any mention of Tagalog as the basis for Filipino, and states that:...
. Both publications provide a good training ground for scholars in the field of journalism as reporting, layout, design, editing, and final production are done by the students under the supervision of a faculty adviser.
Events
A variety of activities are held year round to develop the social skills among scholars.- Fun Day - Held every June
- Foundation Day - Held Every July 3
- Dias de Humanidades (Humanities Day)
- Intramurals - held every 3rd Week of October
- Science Math and Technology Week
- Junior-Senior Prom
Co-Curricular Clubs
- Banaag
- Bio-Chem Club
- Sci-Link
- Sports Club
- Sports Development Council
- Stellar Club
- Student Alliance
Extra-Curricular Clubs
- Anime
- Bible Study
- Book Club
- Boys' Residence Hall Association
- Film Circle
- First Aiders
- Girls' Residence Hall Association
- Kaibigan (Peer-Support Group)
- Karatedo/Chess Club
- Performing Arts Club
- Youth for Christ
Faculty
The PSHSWV Faculty includes educators with specialization in science and technology, most of whom with advanced degrees in their respective fields (including the Ph.D. or Ed.D.). The faculty is headed by the Curriculum and Instruction Services Division Chief. Mrs. Virna Jane Navarro is the current CISD chief.Two of the teachers were awarded as Outstanding Teachers of the Philippines by the Metrobank Foundation. Dr. Josette Biyo was awarded in 1997, while Ms. Shena Faith Ganela was honored in 2009.
External links
- PSHS Western Visayas Campus official website