February 22, 2025 – As part of the 2025 Chemistry Week Celebration, the Philippine Association for Chemistry Teachers – National Chapter (������Ƶ-National) successfully hosted its sixth installment of the im������Ƶ webinar series, focusing on “Teaching Green Chemistry and Sustainable Practices.” The virtual event, conducted via Zoom, drew participants from various regions across the Philippines and was accredited by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) with two Continuing Professional Development (CPD) units for Professional Teachers.

The event commenced with opening remarks from Dr. Voltaire G. Organo, President of ������Ƶ-National, setting the tone for an insightful discussion on integrating Green Chemistry and Sustainable Development into the chemistry curriculum.

Green Chemistry Integration and Sustainable Education

The first speaker, Mr. Jerald T. Villarmino, R.Ch., Founder of Green Chemistry Philippines, introduced strategies to incorporate Green Chemistry principles into Philippine Chemistry Education. He emphasized the importance of contextualizing lessons around Green Chemistry practices, fostering environmental awareness and sustainability values among learners.  Mr. Villarmino also encouraged participants to join the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) (), an international network for educators and advocates of sustainable chemistry.

Following this, Assistant Professor Hazel Joyce M. Ramirez, LPT, MAEd., from the College of Education, University of the Philippines Diliman, discussed the role of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) pedagogy in Chemistry education. She highlighted its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and provided actionable methods to integrate Green Chemistry principles such as Atom Economy, Waste Prevention, and Energy Efficiency into high school curricula. Additionally, she introduced Systems Thinking as a framework for teaching sustainability and familiarized participants with the Green and Sustainable Chemistry projects by UN and International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).

A Step Forward for Philippine Chemistry Education

The webinar successfully reinforced the importance of environmentally responsible chemistry education, equipping teachers with innovative tools and strategies to promote sustainability in their classrooms.  The event concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Edwehna Elinore S. Paderna, Executive Vice President of ������Ƶ-National, who reiterated the organization’s commitment to advancing Green Chemistry education in the Philippines.

The Philippine Association of Chemistry Teachers was first conceptualized in March 1961 proceeding the chemistry seminar of one Dr. Arthur Livermor held in the Far Eastern University of Manila with aid of future ������Ƶ President, Father William J Schmitt, who provided the environment for a group of various teachers to gather and contemplate the idea.

They formulated the formation of a Chemical Teacher’s Association to advance the Philippines in national development, social advancement and economic advancement through Chemistry Education. The idea would be later discussed in other universities or colleges such as the University of Santo Tomas, resulting in the creation of the organization. After the founding, a constitution was drafted based on that of the Californian Chemistry Teachers Association and a board of members as well as officers led by the then President, Dr. Mariano Pangan. Under his tenure, the first seminars, conventions and workshops that would go on to define the ������Ƶ would begin with the invitation of notable expert lecturers such as Dr. Arthur Campbell of Harey Mudd College of California, Dr. Frank Co Tui of the National Science Development Board and Dr. Juan Salcedo, a former Chairman of the National Science Development Board (NSDB).

Following this legacy, succeeding presidents would continue to grow the contributions of the ������Ƶ through these events. From tutorials that show how laboratories can be used to facilitate chemistry teaching, to talks that show how the energy and the environment can not only be used as a teaching aid but as additions to chemistry, the ������Ƶ has consistently hosted seminars that give teachers the tools to be at their best and expand the teaching of Chemistry. However, it should be noted that there was a gap when the ������Ƶ could not host conventions under the leadership of Dr. Roberto Torres due to the declaration of Martial Law. This was with the exception of December 2, 1972 and the workshop-seminar called the Workshop in General and Inorganic Chemistry.

Thankfully, the following presidency of Dr. Juanita A. Manalo of the Philippine Woman’s University was less restricted and the longest in ������Ƶ history. Allowing other seminars like the Teaching of Environmental Science to be held during, and which were able to echo the lessons gleaned from seminars attended by delegates of the ������Ƶ in foreign countries. These delegations often attended events in those sponsored by international organizations like the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry to bring back important lessons to the Philippines. On the other hand, let it not be said that the ������Ƶ neglected working with local organizations either, what with its past, and recent, cooperation with Philippine organizations. Such as, the Philippine Association of Chemistry Students, the Philippines Science and Mathematics Council and others of similar kind. Of course the organization itself has, from beginning, always considered what topics should be gleaned from abroad and what lecturers should be invited to these seminars by surveying and communicating with its teachers and professors.

To this day, the ������Ƶ still pursues the same goals it held at its founding through the meetings and webinars held in today’s online setting, including the 2021 Chemistry Week and the annual ������Ƶ General Assembly. As demonstrated, the ������Ƶ can be resolutely stated to be an institution that has pushed forward the Philippine’s understanding of Chemistry through the work of volunteers and its teachers from 1961 to the present.