BLACKLISTED!
(August-September 2000)
The UP Academic League of Chemical Engineering Students (UP ALCHEMES) was
blacklisted after asking a question regarding its membership to the
Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers - Junior Chapter (Junior PIChE)
during the 'Meet the Board' forum last August 16, 2000 at the Engineering
Theater.
'Meet the Board' was a forum regarding the ChE board exam and was sponsored
by the UP Chemical Engineering Society (UP KEM). The speakers were Engineers
Bong Nocon, Larry Guevarra, Rodrigo Ong, all from the PRC, and Engineer
Constante Tapuro, president of PIChE.
Engineers Nocon, Guevarra, and Ong talked about the board exam - the type of
questions expected and the rules implemented. Engineer Tapuro, on the other
hand, encouraged the students to be active members of the Junior PIChE.
After the talk, an open forum was held wherein questions were asked and were
dutifully answered by those addressed. UP ALCHEMES President Arnold Cereno
then presented the case of the organization, not being a member of the
junior PIChE. This had brought different reactions from the audience and
speakers. Engineer Tapuro demanded an explanation why there were already two
orgs in ChE. This was defended by Professor Gerardo Pio Parco by saying that
the department allowed it. Engineer Guevarra stated an assumption that if as
early as today there is already a faction, it isn't impossible that time
would come that a new institution breaking free from PIChE would be
established. Joy Bongon, UP Chapter representative to the Junior PIChE,
reasoned out that UP KEM had not claimed exclusive membership to the Junior
PIChE and it was opened to everyone. However, Cereno contested Bongon,
saying that other students - unaffiliated or Alchemists - were not informed.
Alchemist Kristine Tumlos supported Cereno and spoke for the org.
Due to this, some problems arose. As a result, the request of the org to
have a room to be used for the ChE 122 tutorials on August 21 was kept on
hold - as ordered by Prof. Parco.
However, the order was lifted as soon as Executive Officer for External
Affairs Pyrus de la Cruz, Cereno, and Tumlos, were able to talk to Prof.
Parco to apologize and to settle things.
back to top
