Philippine Physics Society Information

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 nowa 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. his 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 and those of its other physics-related courses. PPS also publishes the PPS Newsletter, as need arises, to keep contact with its members. ince January 2006 PPS has maintained a website (http://philippinephysicssociety.org or http://philippinephysicssociety.com)where news and informationcan be shared readily with all members who have access to the Internet. It also holds Physics Summer Institutes for upgrading physics education. he 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. he 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 theUniversity of San Carlos for three consecutive summers to qualified physics teachers. ore 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. he program offered a three-summer course leading to Master of Arts in Science Teaching (Physics). About 20 Physics teachers participated in the program. n 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) tothree of the participants. A second run of the program, this time with the inclusion of the Master of Science in Science Education (Physics), is on-going for Summers 2011-2012 through the collaboration of Siquijor State College, the Philippine Physics Society, and Maxino College, with the latter as instructional venue. The year 1986 illustrates the vitality of PPS. hat 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. t present, with many active PPS chapters, upgrading seminars have become regular yearly activities in many provinces and cities of the Visayas and Mindanao areas. n 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. To cite another example, from the renewed vitality of community life emerging from the 24th PPS Convention at Silliman University in April 2002, aRegional Upgrading Seminar OnElectricity, Optics and Modern Physics was held for the first time in Siquijor in August 2002. his 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, indeed, the First Luzon Conference. The seminar was well attended by physics teachers from schools all-overLuzonand resulted in the formation of six new chapters. Not to be outdone, the Negros Oriental Chapter had its own Physics upgradingseminar on Electricity and Optics in Tanjay City in November 2002.InJuly 2005,a similar physicsupgrading seminar was conducted at Aklan State University resulting in the establishment of the Aklan PPS Chapter andBoracay PPS Chapter. In 1980, PPS started its Laboratory Extension Assistance Program (LEAP) in the Negros-Siquijor Area. n 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. LEAP team will then visit the physics teacher. he 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. he 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. The LEAP is now being reinvigorated with the support of the Physics Education Center of Maxino College, Bagacay, Dumaguete City. 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. his activity has been strongly supported by the Physics Department of Silliman University, University ofSan 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 Conventionin 2002 at Silliman University, Mr. Mefragatadonated two boxes of equipment in Basic Electricityto 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. he first Physics Olympics was held in Dumaguete City in December 1983.Now, the Physics Olympics is held in many places in the Philippines. he 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. 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. he 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 City, Cebu City. he 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). The Physics Olympics has really taken roots in the country. Now, during this annual national event, three categories are kept: high school students, college students, and professionals/teachers. 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.Mentoring in research is done during the Physics Fair. 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. hese 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.