#NEWS | PSHS–MC hosts 13th Science Film Festival Ph
by Kaleena So
Selected students of the Philippine Science High School–Main Campus (PSHS–MC) attended the opening of the 13th Science Film Festival Philippines last November 7.
Organized by the Goethe-Institut Philippinen, the event was held on-site at the 4th Floor Multi-purpose Hall. Students from various PSHS campuses were also able to attend virtually through Zoom.
The event was hosted by Amelia Gosiengfiao of 10-Photon and Claire Chua of 10-Tau, with welcoming remarks from Campus Director Dr. Lawrence Madriaga and a video message from PSHS Executive Director Lilia Habacon.
To give a background on the film festival, Goethe-Institut Philippinen Director Mr. Julian Fuchs gave a short message on the festival’s theme, “Equal Opportunities in Science.”
“Anybody should have access to science because we need a lot of bright mind[s], as long as you [students] have a lot of good opportunities, everybody will profit,” Fuchs explained.
He shared that the festival aimed to raise awareness of increasing diversity and inclusivity of underrepresented groups in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Apart from Goethe-Institut Philippinen, the event was also assisted by the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Rolls-Royce Southeast Asia.
Video messages from Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte, DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr., and Rolls-Royce Southeast Asia, Pacific, and South Korea President Dr. Bicky Bhangu were shown on screen.
To conclude the festival’s opening, members of the PSHS–MC music club Bravura’s String Orchestra group performed an arrangement of the Enkanomiya Battle Theme.
The festival featured 45 science educational films available for free online as videos-on-demand from November 3 to December 3.
Students were given a preview of the available films with a screening of “With Heart and High-Tech — How People Master Challenges,” which discussed the resources technology has provided to improve the lives of many.
“The film really did spark interest in something that I didn’t really know of before. With the incorporation of biotech, it was just interesting how science can solve [problems] in the world we live in,” remarked Aydan Ables of 10-Graviton.
After a 10-minute break, students participated in a short game that tested their knowledge of common German phrases. The event concluded and the students who volunteered received prizes provided by the organizers.
Karl De Leon from 10-Graviton said the event allowed him to appreciate modern advancements in science and technology with the growing problems around society: “Modern-day scientists, using the most out of our resources, aim to cater to all those very specific problems that trouble people in their everyday lives.”
All 45 films can be accessed upon registration through the Goethe-Institut Philippinen site.
