THE PHILIPPINE PHYSICS SOCIETY (PPS):
INFORMATION AND TRADITIONS
by: DR. VICENTA C. MAXINO
PPS National Secretary
I. NATURE AND COMPOSITION
The Philippine Physics Society (PPS) is an organization of physicists, physics professionals, physics teachers, physics students and physics enthusiasts. It is a national organization based in the southern part of the Philippines and focused to the south. Thus, its activities have been initially concentrated in the Visayas and Mindanao.
During the International Conference on Physics Education for Development held in Manila on December 1-5, 1992, about 150 conference participants coming from Luzon sought membership in PPS. They were consequently admitted to the society.
After a decade of having initial activities in Northern Luzon, the PPS, in 2002, has extended its service to underserved areas in Luzon, as well. The main concern of the PPS is the improvement of its members in their respective fields of research and teaching and the advancement of Physics and Physics Education.
II. BRIEF HISTORY
The Philippine Physics Society (PPS) was born in Cebu City in 1974 from an awareness of a need for an organization of physics people as a vehicle for pooled resources, efforts and concerns by a group of less than 20 young physics graduates from the University of San Carlos. It had its initial meetings at the National Science Development Board (NSDB) Regional Office. It was subsequently admitted as a member of the Science and Technology Forum, an association of scientific and technological organizations in Cebu and Region VII. Professor Gerardo Maxino, its founder, was designated as the Chairman of the Society.
Later on, in 1979, the word “Southern” in parentheses was attached to its name to underline the focus of its interest. In 1987, the members voted to return to the original name of the organization.
Although the founding members originally intended the PPS to be exclusively for physics professionals, it was decided during the first convention in 1979 to open the membership to all those interested in physics. The PPS has been admitted as member of the Philippine Science and Mathematics Council.
III. MEMBERSHIP
The members of PPS are grouped into:
A- College physics teachers
B - Graduates of professional physics degrees like BS (Physics), BS Physics,
MS Physics, PhD Physics
C - High School physics teachers
D -Physics enthusiasts
E - Physics students
F - Industry research and development practitioners
These groupings are mainly due to interests and members may belong to several groupings if they qualify for them. All the members, regardless of their groups, have the same rights and privileges in the Society. Certain qualifications, however, are required for election to some offices in the Society.
To become a member of PPS, a person simply applies for membership through any member or officer of the Society. The second PPS convention in 1980 decided to collect yearly membership fees starting 1980.
PPS is also organized by areas. This is a grouping on the basis of geographical proximity and accessibility of transportation. The aim here is to keep the members in close contact with each other. The first area to be formally organized was the Negros - Siquijor area. Some of the chapters that have been formed are: (1) Bacolod, (2) Bukidnon, (3) Butuan, (4) Cebu, (5) Iloilo province, (6) Iloilo City, (7) Negros Oriental, (8) Southern Negros, (9) Tacloban, (10) Tagbilaran, (11) Cagayan de Oro-Camiguin, (12) Iligan, (13) Agusan del Norte, (14) Surigao del Norte, (15) Northern Samar, (16) Samar, (17) Siquijor (18) Region I, (19) Region II, (20) Region III, (21) Region IV, (22) Bicol, (23) NCR, (24) Aklan and (25) Boracay.
IV. GOVERNING BODY
PPS is governed by a National Board and a National Assembly. All members who have attended at least one PPS National Convention are entitled to attend the National Assembly. The National Assembly is held at the start of the annual PPS convention. It is the National Assembly that elects the members of the National Board from among themselves and decides on the major policies that govern the society. The 1991 National Assembly decided that Prof. Dr. Gerardo Maxino, Prof. Dr. Vicenta Maxino and Prof. Dr. Fr. Herman van Engelen, SVD, shall be permanent members of the National Board and that 7 members from the National Assembly shall be elected to the Board to serve a one-year term. Subsequently, the National Assembly allowed expansion of membership to accommodate representatives from the different regions.
The members of the National Board should have the widest geographical distribution and should preferably be physics degree holders. Initially the members of the National Board elected from among themselves a President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Auditor. They continue to serve in office until replaced by majority vote of the National Board and such action ratified by the National Assembly.
From 1974 to 1979, Professor Gerardo Maxino served as Chairman of PPS. Fr. Francisco Glover, PhD, SJ, was the Chairman of (S) PPS from 1979-1980. The present PPS President is Prof. Gerardo Maxino, the Secretary-Treasurer is Prof. Vicenta Maxino and the Auditor is Ms. Judith Dianson.
The different PPS chapters elect their own sets of officers. The members of the National Board are disqualified from holding positions at the chapter or group level.
The Philippine Physics Society follows a flat structure and avoids as much as possible unnecessary layering. Thus, a chapter should encompass not more than a province. In some cases, a region may organize into a chapter; however, as soon as conditions allow, the regional chapter should break up into provincial/city chapters. Neighboring towns, constituting part of a province, may also form a chapter. This structure is more responsive to local needs.
PPS observes and honors the traditions of the society while it continues to evolve the best possible structures and processes as it moves along in time. Only the National Assembly on a majority vote may decide to change the observed traditions of the society.
V. ACTIVITIES
PPS holds yearly its national convention. The first one was held in Dumaguete City on March 31 - April 1, 1979. It was attended by 96 participants including almost all the PhD Physics degree holders in the country. The themes and hosts of the past and present conventions are:
YEAR | THEME | HOST |
1979 | Physics Research and Teaching in the Context of National Development | Silliman University Foundation University Dumaguete City |
1980 | Redirecting Physics for the Filipino | University of San Carlos Cebu City |
1981 | Physics in the Classroom and Industry | MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology Iligan City |
1982 | Physics and Energy | Silliman University Foundation University Dumaguete City |
1983 | Physics and Rural Development | Xavier University Cagayan de Oro City |
1984 | Physics and the Environment | University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Bacolod City |
1985 | Communicating Physics | St. Paul University Dumaguete City |
1986 | Physics and Social Responsibility | Central Philippines University Iloilo City |
1987 | Physics and Total Human Development | Fr Saturnino Urios University Butuan City |
1988 | Physics in the Classroom and Community
| Divine Word University Tacloban City |
1989 | Physics, Ecology and the Development of Community | Central Mindanao University Musuan, Bukidnon |
1990 | Physics and Agricultural Technology | Leyte State University Baybay, Leyte |
1991 | Physics and Information Technology | University of San Carlos Cebu City |
1992 | Physics and Education | Holy Name University Tagbilaran City |
1993 | Physics Literacy for People Empowerment | University of Negros Occidental Recoletos Bacolod City |
1994 | Physics, Ecology and Sustainable Development | University of Eastern Philippines Catarman, Samar |
1995 | Physics in the Philippines in the Year 2000 | Central Philippine University Iloilo City |
1996 | NIChood through Quality Physics Education | Ateneo de Davao University Davao City |
1997 | Quality Physics Education through Networking | Silliman University Dumaguete City |
1998 | 20 Years of Shared Service | University of San Carlos Cebu City |
1999 | PPS Silver Jubilee: Revisiting our Roots | Liceo de Cagayan University Cagayan de Oro City |
2000 | Physics Para sa Mahirap | Fr Saturnino Urios University Butuan City |
2001 | Physics and Culture | Holy Name University Tagbilaran City |
2002 | Becoming a Physics Community of Competence and Service | Silliman University Dumaguete City |
2003 | A Silver Jubilee Celebration of Community and Mission | Samar State University Catbalogan, Samar |
2004 | PPS Pearl Anniversary: A Tribute to Fr. Francisco “Kiko” Glover, SJ | Ateneo de Davao University Davao City |
2005 | Physics, Appropriate Technology and the Development of Peoples | University of Baguio Baguio City |
2006 | Physics, Tourism and Ecology | Aklan State University Banga, Aklan |
2007 2008 2009 2010 | Physics and Indigenous Technology Physics and Magic, Mystics and Wizardry Physics and Natural Disasters Physics and Climate Change | Fr. Saturnino Urios University (lead host), Butuan City Siquijor State College Larena, Siquijor Camarines Sur State Agricultural College Pili, Camarines Sur Xavier University Cagayan de Oro City |
During the annual convention, papers on physics research and teaching are presented by the members of the Society and by invited scientists and educators. Short courses which treat a particular topic in physics in depth, along with shorter lectures and workshops on a variety of topics, are also conducted during the convention to meet the needs of the members. During the group meetings, the members discuss their concerns, elect their officers and share their expertise on particular topics in physics. Merit awards are given for exemplary commitment to physics education through active participation in the PPS annual conventions, according to the following category:
ORDER OF GALILEO - at least 5 PPS annual conventions
ORDER OF NEWTON - at least 10 PPS annual conventions
ORDER OF MAXWELL - at least 15 PPS annual conventions
ORDER OF EINSTEIN - at least 20 PPS annual conventions
The members of the National Board are also elected during this time and recognition is given to deserving physicists. The Golden Service Award is the highest honor and distinction given by the PPS. It is conferred on one who has spent a lifetime of commitment and passion for service and community towards the development of physics and physics education in the country, as an offering to the Filipino people.
Those who have made significant contributions in Physics are conferred the Outstanding Achievement Award. Those who have served the society for many years through lectures and workshops are given the Outstanding Service Award. Those who painstakingly bring their students to attend the PPS conventions are given the National Physics Educator Award and administrators who faithfully support and allow their teachers to attend the activities of the society are conferred the Outstanding Administrative Service Award. Through the years, the PPS awardees have been:
Golden Service Awardees:
2004 Fr. Francisco “Kiko” Glover, Ph.D., SJ
2006 Fr. Herman van Engelen, Ph D, SVD
Outstanding Achievement Awardees:
1980 Dr. Casimiro del Rosario
1981 Fr. Francisco Glover, Ph.D., SJ
1982 Dr. Zoilo M. Bartolome
1983 Posthumous awards to:
Fr. Philip van Engelen, SVD
Fr. Hubert Lorbach
Fr. Franz Oster, SVD
Fr. Michael Richartz, Ph.D., SVD
1984 Dr. Venancio Alcantara, Jr.
1985 Dr. Jack John Brennan
1986 Dr. Robert Wild
1988 Fr. Herman van Engelen, Ph.D., SVD
1989 Dr. Manuel Eugenio
Outstanding Service Awardees:
1989 Dr. Gerardo C. Maxino
Dr. Vicenta C. Maxino
1993 Dr. John D. Brule
1995 Mrs. Aida D. Eugenio
1998 Ms. Nila Sabal
Ms. Judith Dianson
2000 Dr. Pelagia Joven
2001 Dr. John L. Holdsworth, Ph.D.
Dr. Ed van den Berg, Ph.D.
Dr. Christopher Bernido, Ph.D.
Dr. Victoria Bernido, Ph.D.
2002 Ms. Remedios Cardino
Ms. Josefina Clarete
Mr. Leopoldo Millamena
Ms. Teresita Taganahan
2003 Dr. Remigio G. Tee
Mr. Narciso F. Mefragata
2005 Dr. Perla Funa
Mr. Raymund Vizcarra
2007 Dr. Hope M. Bandal
Dr. Loreto B. Feril, Jr.
Dr. Asonita Parmisana
National Physics Educator Awardees
2005 Mr. Jose Caberte
Mr. Jose Luna
Mr. Vicente Simplicio Villegas
2006 Mrs. Lottie Dingding
Mrs. Esperanza Caballero
2007 Ms. Myrna Genandoy
Mr. Romulo Sopeña
Dr. Roel Taroc
2008 Dr. Veneranda Rizon
2009 Mr. Rene B. Cabrera
Mrs. Susana C. Cahig
Outstanding Administratve Service Awardees
2007 Dr. Saturnina Chenfoo
Dr. Dominador. Cabanganan
Supt. Ponciano Joven
Since its birth, the geographical focus of PPS has been the Visayas and Mindanao. After conducting seminar-workshops at the Divine Word College of Vigan (Vigan City, Ilocos Sur) in 1990 and Divine Word College of Bangued (Bangued, Abra) in 1999, the society found out that there are also many underserved areas in Luzon; as a consequence, the Luzon Conference was started in 2002. This conference is held only if the venue of the subsequent annual national convention is in Mindanao or the Visayas. The Luzon Conference hosts have been Adamson University (Manila, 2002), Mapua Institute of Technology (Manila, 2003), Technological University of the Philippines (Manila, 2005) and Colegio de San Juan de Letran - Calamba (Calamba City, Laguna, 2007).
PPS publishes the Philippine Physics Journal [formerly The (S)PPS Proceedings], for articles on physics research and teaching. From the manually typed paper-bound mimeographed sheets of manuscripts in 1979, the Philippine Physics Journal is now a better-looking journal, electronically processed, and stitch-bound with a printed cover. In her study in 2000 in Central Visayas, Dr. Asonita J. Parmisana found that in the period 1989 to 1999, of the physics articles published in the national level, 60 percent were from the Philippine Physics Journal. This is indicative of the important role of the PPJ in physics education in the country. The PPJ, by tradition, is published by the labor of love of its faithful staff assisted by the undergraduate BS Physics students. Starting with the 2008 issue, the Philippine Physics Journal has been processed at Maxino College with the assistance of its BS Physics students.
PPS also publishes the PPS Newsletter, as need arises, to keep contact with its members. Since January 2006 PPS has maintained a website (http://philippinephysicssociety.org or http://philippinephysicssociety.com) where news and information can be shared readily with all members who have access to the internet. PPS also holds Physics Summer Institutes for upgrading physics education. The first Physics Summer Institute was conducted free of charge in cooperation with Foundation University which granted the bureau credits for the given courses during the summer of 1980. The teachers taught without compensation.
In Summer 1981, STEP in Physics (Southern Teachers Enrichment Program in Physics) replaced the Physics Summer Institute. STEP in Physics was funded by FAPE (Fund for Assistance to Private Education) and offered scholarships for a Bachelor of Science in Physics degree or a Master of Science in Physics degree at the University of San Carlos for three consecutive summers to qualified physics teachers. More than 50 physics teachers enrolled in the BS Physics program and more than ten took the MS Physics program. None of the teachers, however, decided to finish the BS Physics degree, it being a second degree for them at the baccalaureate level. Many of those who participated in the program, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, eventually finished masteral and doctoral degrees.
In Summer 1986, PPS, as a member of the Philippine Science and Math Council, was one of the organizations that conducted the FAPE-sponsored Physics Summer Science Institute at the University of San Carlos.
In October 1986 to March 1988, PPS cooperated with Silliman University in conducting the Certification Program for Physics Teachers in Secondary Schools sponsored by the Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology.
In Summer 2003, a cooperative program among Siquijor State College, the Philippine Physics Society, the Silliman University Center of Development in Physics and Ateneo de Davao University Physics Department was initiated. The program offered a three-summer course leading to Master of Arts in Science Teaching (Physics). About 20 Physics teachers participated in the program. In June 2005, a special graduation ceremony held at Siquijor State College granted the degree Master of Arts in Science Teaching (Physics) to ten of the participants and the degree Master in Teaching (Physics) to three of the participants.
The year 1986 illustrates the vitality of PPS. What started as a PPS upgrading activity for science teachers in Tagbilaran in 1982 exploded into PPS chapter activities in 1986 with upgrading seminars on various topics in Physics held in Cebu City (2); Binalbagan, Negros Occidental; Dumaguete City; Iloilo City; Butuan City; Musuan, Bukidnon; Bacolod City; Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental; and Kabankalan, Negros Occidental. At present, with many active PPS chapters, upgrading seminars have become regular yearly activities in many provinces and cities of the Visayas and Mindanao areas. In 1990, PPS held the very first Physics Seminar in Vigan City at the Divine Word College of Vigan under the sponsorship of the UNESCO University Physics Project in the Philippines.
From the renewed vitality of community life emerging from the 24th PPS Convention at Silliman University, a Regional Upgrading Seminar On Electricity, Optics and Modern Physics was held for the first time in Siquijor in August 2002. This resulted in the formation of the PPS -- Siquijor Chapter. In October 2002, at the invitation of Adamson University, PPS held its first upgrading Physics seminar in Electricity, Optics and Modern Physics in Metro Manila. The seminar was well attended by physics teachers from schools all-over Luzon and resulted in the formation of six new chapters. Not to be outdone, the Negros Oriental Chapter had its own Physics upgrading seminar on Electricity and Optics in Tanjay City in November 2002. In July 2005, a similar physics upgrading seminar was conducted at Aklan State University resulting in the establishment of the Aklan PPS Chapter and Boracay PPS Chapter.
In 1980, PPS started its Laboratory Extension Assistance Program (LEAP) in the Negros-Siquijor Area. In LEAP, any Physics teacher who has difficulties in his laboratory may request for assistance from PPS. Requests for such assistance must be made in writing to the PPS National President. A LEAP team will then visit the physics teacher. The LEAP team repairs equipment when possible and shows the teacher how to use the equipment found in the school’s laboratory. LEAP services are free. The expenses of the LEAP team is supported by the PPS membership fees. A physics teacher of Sacred Heart Academy of Bais City was the first to avail of this service.
Since many schools have poorly equipped physics laboratories, PPS encouraged capable physics teachers to make low cost physics equipment to be sold at cost to their fellow PPS members after they have undergone a short course using the equipment. PPS provided the seed money for this construction but required that no teacher will be allowed to buy unless he has undergone the short course associated with this equipment. This activity has been strongly supported by the Physics Department of Silliman University, University of San Carlos, Mindanao State University – Main Campus at Marawi City, and recently by Maxino College, as well as by Narciso Mefragata of NF Mefragata Enterprises. At the PPS 24th Convention in 2002 at Silliman University, Mr. Mefragata donated two boxes of equipment in Basic Electricity to PPS which will allow physics teachers to acquire at minimal costs equipment they assemble with their own hands. Recently, Ateneo de Davao University, Bicol University – Regional Science Teaching Center, and Western Visayas State College of Science and Technology have joined these efforts to equip the Physics laboratories of our country.
PPS has initiated and propagated the Physics Olympics in the Philippines, if not in Asia. The first Physics Olympics was held in Dumaguete City in December 1983. Now, the Physics Olympics is held in many places in the Philippines. The first National Physics Olympics for teachers was held during the 10th PPS Convention at the Divine Word University of Tacloban in Tacloban City on April 6-9, 1988. Since then, the National Physics Olympics has been a regular feature of the annual PPS Convention. A well attended Physics Olympics Congress in September 19, 2007 at La Consolacion in Bacolod City indicated that many students and teachers would like to understand better the physics principles that govern the physics Olympics. The occasion also served as a chance for the Bacolod PPS chapter to reorganize and revitalize.
In 1997, PPS handled the technical aspects of the First TRITECH Inter-Regional Physics Olympics sponsored by the Tri-Sectoral Forum for Technology Excellence (TRITECH) at SM, Cebu City. The 2nd TRITECH Inter-Regional Physics Olympics was held on July 26, 2000 under the sponsorship of TRITECH and DOST-Visayas Cluster (led by Region VII).
Since 1993, at the University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos, Bacolod City, PPS has conducted the National Physics Fair during the annual PPS Convention. Here, investigatory projects, inventions, and exhibits are presented by teachers and students in all levels. Now in 2008, the National Physics Fair continues but the level of participation is still minimal from both students and teachers.
Through the efforts of Dr. Robert Wild, PhD, PPS received a donation of about 3600 volumes of books and journals which were shipped to the Philippines free of charge from the United States of America through the Operation Handclasp of the U.S. Navy. These books and journals were turned over to requesting schools on a first come-first serve basis after sharing the costs of transporting the books from Subic Bay to the recipient’s place.
VI. PHILOSOPHY
The Philippine Physics Society was born out of the following convictions:
self-reliance - the improvement of physics research and teaching in the Philippines will primarily come from our own resources and efforts.
sharing - talents and resources must be shared by individuals, among physics departments, between schools and community and among groups.
indigenization - physics must be grown from Philippine soil, should be understood by the Filipino and must be responsive to the country’s needs.
hominization - physics research and teaching must be reflective of endeavors that are truly human rather than purely materialistic pursuits.
socialization/ community-building - the Philippine Physics Society must bring all those involved in physics into a truly human community.
This philosophy has nourished and sustained the growth and vitality of the Philippine Physics Society.