Kalamansi won 2nd Runner up! BPI-DOST Best Project of the Year Awards

The past few days in manila was really memorable and should i say historical. i got the 2nd runner up for this year's best project of the year awards.

all participants were brilliant in their presentation. and the shocking thing is, i have to present first after the draw lots... i was nervous... but really, i presented well (i think) and i am very thankful for the corrections and comments of Maam Agnes Aranas on my powerpoint presentation... thanks maam for the comments, they were very helpful! :). then i went as natural as i can possibly become, although my voice was a bit shaky at the start, but nevertheless, i got through.

i was particularly anxious about Dr. Corazon Menguito (PhD., Biochemistry) of the UST- Chemistry Dept. and Dr. Ramon Miranda (PhD., Biological Chemistry) of the UP-Diliman Institue of Chem and former PSHS Executuve director, because they would most likely ask the more difficult chemistry questions. the other panelists (although i can't remember their names) were Maam Environmental Scientist, Sir Dr. Physicist and a Sir Dr. Microbiologist (sorry maam and sirs if i forgot your names, but i can remember well your faces po...).

My Thesis is entitled: "Optimization of Pectin Extraction from the Peels of Citrus microcarpa (Kalamansi) and Proximate Analysis of the Residue for Selected Parameters"

During the Question and answer portion, i can remember that these questions and (my) answers surfaced...


Dr. Microbiologist

did you arbitrarily choose these acid concentrations?
- no sir, basically, i based it in laterature...

what is your relationship to the company? did they fund you?
- yes, because the company will benefit (in the words of maam chell) :)


Dr. Physicist

only 33% yield? so the 67% will be thrown away?
- actually, no sir, since the second part of the study will take care of that concern by looking for the plausible application where the residue will be used.


Maam Environmental Scientist

can you comment to the idea that if we leave the peels to decay as against the energy needs of your pectin in the processing of the peels?
- IPPA is profiting, so why not our local pectin industry in the future? CO2 is liberated in the degradation of organic matter. we don't want that to happen, so it is better to use kalamansi in pectin extraction before...


Dr. Menguito

you did not purify the pectin?
-no need. 95% ethanol gives a purer product than EDTA, acetone and aluminum chloride.

Why those temperatures? times?
- there were studies who looked into pectin yield vs. temp and time. so we adopted it in this study for kalamansi.

why use 95% ethanol? you should have tried others so we can see.
95% ethanol produces more purified product. other pptng. agent leads to impure product based on literature.


Dr. Miranda
"you have a good presentation Michael, but can you comment on the stability of pectin at different temperatures? and the stability of citric acid in these temperatures?"
-thank you sir. i really do not have readings on pectin stability at different temperatures but the trend in the data explains the strenght of HCl over citric Acid.
(but really, i was beating around the bush and i was super nervous about this question)

then maam Chell A. Jacob (Associate Director of the BPI Foundation and EMCEE of the event) cut the Q&A portion and i went back to my seat. i did not notice that i was crying. yes, it was the release of all the tension and fear that i have ever felt (and managed to hide it- in fairness) during the presentation and the Q&A portion.

Here are the finalists for this year's Best Project of the Year Awards:

>"Moderate Resolution Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MODIS)-derived Aerosol Optical Thickness and Ground-Measured PM2.5 & PM10 concentrations in Manila Observatory: Observations and Analysis"
> Leo Miguel Paolo M. Baylon - BS Physics, Ateneo de Manila University

AdMU. physics. he studies particulate patter (PM) 2.5 and 10 in areas around manila observatory. he created a trend of this data and so on... but it was more of a data collaboration study as he is only looking at the data gathered by NASA... Dr. Miranda points out that his data do not have a pattern, i also do not understand why...

> "Synthesis & Characterization of TiO2 Nanomaterials Deposited on Si by Horizontal Vapor Phase Growth"
> Paul Michael B. Abrasaldo - BS Physics with Specialization in Material Science, De La Salle University

DLSU. physics. he wanted to make titanium oxide something... related to nanotechnology... it was very jargonic. i just understood that he prepared it by heating titanium oxide in a furnace... his study is quite advanced, but has no direct impact to the community...

> "Removal of Chromium from a local Chrome-Tannery Wastewater by Sodium Sulfite Reduction Coupled with Sodium Hydroxide Precipitation"
> Ma. Ivy S. Dela Cruz - BS Chemical Engineering, UP Los Baños

UP-LB. chem eng. her study was about the removal of chromium in a wastewater using sulfide reaction etc... she surpassed one step of the reaction. but i guess, her experimental condition was idealized, not including the natural organic matter and microbial community present in the actual water that she will be treating... i don't know if this is right, but this is what i remember...

> "Genetic Diversity in Representative Accessions of Cultivated Rice Species Using Grain Quality Candidate Genes through EcoTILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions in Genomes)"
> John Carlo M. Malabad - BS Biology, UP Los Baños

UP-LB. bio. his study was about rice varieties. i think we would like to develop a rice that would be cooked faster... something like that. he used PCR and so on... i love the complexity of his research, but i think, the comment of one panelist was very valid that we need flood and drought resistant rice and so on...

> "Prevalence and Antibiogram of Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) among Students of Xavier University"
> Nyttli Ann O. Soriano - BS Biology, Xavier University

XU. bio (Nittly Soriano who became my friend).she wants to study the efficacy of the garlic, pomengranate and mangosteen extracted through soxhlet extraction against a strain of Staph. aureus... her study i believe needs pharma screening first to know the active principle as pointed our by Dr. Menguito.

Location: Executive Lounge of 1851 Club, 20/F BPI Head Office, Makati City

Lunch was soooo good! super delicious and i am thankful i was able to taste those rare cuisine. hahaha. thanks to BPI-DOST... it was an Asian Buffet :D i love the shrimps hahaha :)

then while waiting for the announcement of the results, we (maam simpol, maam aranas, sir fenecios and sir ryan) chatted about the presentation, about the entries and so on... well, i had a great time talking to them... we had fun :D

then, later on, the results were announced... analytical thinking was the focus of the message of the opening remarks (but i did not really get the other things that the speaker said in her message, i was too nervous).

Then Maam Environmental Scientist came to announce the winners...
" and the 2nd runner up goes to the study Optimization of Pectin Extraction from the Peels of Citrus microcarpa (Kalamansi) and Proximate Analysis of the Residue for Selected Parameters. bu Michael Casas, ADDU"

wow! it was bliss and i was so happy that that moment came and that i really won the awards. i really just can't believe it :d i am just so grateful and happy :)

i called mama and we are all happy i feel so blessed and thankful that at least for the first time, a non Luzon junior scientist proved the impact of his study to the BPI-DOST Science Awards... :) and so my thanks goes to the panelists and to the BPI-DOST Science Awards committee for giving my study a chance and such high recognition :) Thank you po! :D


on the deeper things....

i really consider this experience a miracle, because it allowed me to walk on, risk a lot of things, let go of many things and just have faith in my heart that all these things will be worth it... God is really good! and Just! He sees the hardships of His children and rewards them accordingly. it is faith that should keep us going. i am one of the living witnesses of miracles. MIRACLES HAPPEN! :)


on thanking people...

i would like to specially thank the following:
SOYUZ Foods Inc., for sharing their insights and for supplying kalamansi.
Mrs. Evelyn Tan for all the support the Chemistry department gave to me.
Dr. Lourdes Simpol for the expert advice, guidance and motivation.
Dr. Joval Afalla and Mr. Roland Anthony Mindo for providing valuable corrections to my manuscript and guidance in the laboratory.
Ms. Agnes Aranas for helping me in searching for journals and for guiding me in my powerpoint presentations and for lending her laptop!
BPI-DOST Science Awards for recognizing my research and for giving me this very high recognition that i never thought would be possible... THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
To The BPI foundation for sponsoring our Philippine Airlines Airfare, other expenses and Accommodations at El Cielito Inn.
To Ms. Chell Jacob of the BPI Foundation for the warm welcome, guidance and moral support!
Maam Tes, Sir Germs and Maam Carms for helping me in the lab and for the pectin pictures they sent to my elai the day before the defense in the BPI head office.
To sir Bong Eliab and Kalasag for the wonderful pictures of my pectin! :)
Sir Osbry Villasis for his help in the statistical analysis.
Kim, Yna and Elaine for the assistance in the lab.
ADDACS, PIGLASAPAT, SICO, SAMAHAN, CCO, NSM-SEC, ASLA, SUBDOM, Chem/ChE 4 for the friendship and support
Abigail, Ayesha and Archie for the friendship and fun.
My Family-Ms. Simplicia Arquiola, Mr. Edgar Casas, Mrs. Alma Casas, Rap rap and Camille- for the moral support, encouragement and love.
The Almighty Father for EVERYTHING! :)

WITHOUT ALL OF YOU, I WILL NOT GO THIS FAR!

What more shall i say?

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!
For the Greater Glory of God! :)

Michael "Miko" Casas