LEADERS IN CHEMISTRY. Pictured here are Dr Lina G Kwong (left) with Integrated Chemists of the Philippines' national president Dr Fabian M Dayrit (right). Photo courtesy of Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies.
Former Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan academic vice-president and Chemistry Department chairman Dr Lina G Kwong has been conferred the Philippine Federation of Chemistry Societies (PFCS) Achievement Award for Service to the Chemistry Profession during the 34th Philippine Chemistry Congress held at the Waterfront Hotel and Convention Center in Cebu City on May 28.
Dr Kwong has had a prolific and productive career as an academician having served as a faculty member of the Chemistry Department of Xavier Ateneo for 41 years. Her contributions to student learning were validated by her receiving the Outstanding Junior (1982) and Senior Faculty Award (2000). The success of many students and faculty colleagues under her care is attributed to her inspiring mentoring.
As the department chairperson for 15 years, she has influenced the direction of the dept, instituting the infrastructure and systems that shaped what the department today. She was the mover in the institutionalization of the analytical services and research arm of the department. Her natural leadership skills advanced her to a more challenging position at Xavier Ateneo the academic vice-president for six years.
Dr Kwong is one the founding officers of the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines - Kapisanang Kimika ng Pilipinas (ICP-KKP) Chapters Cagayan de Oro, Iligan City, Marawi, and Bukidnon, since its inception in 1979.
A chemical engineer by qualification who then completed a master’s degree in chemistry at the time of her first involvement, she was instrumental in forging the initial collaboration of four academic institutions, such as Xavier Ateneo, Mindanao State University (MSU) - Marawi, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, and Central Mindanao University to make up the ICP-KKP in these areas. Since then the membership has grown and incorporated Butuan-CARAGA as well as Region 12 and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Designated to the KKP organization, Dr Kwong has held pioneering positions and has been a significant influence in rallying the members together and in making successful and relevant activities for the joint members.
One of the pioneering activities which Dr Kwong has been a formidable source of influence is the regular holding of a Biennial Regional Chemistry Congress in the member regions. This activity continues to serve as an avenue for an update of developments and researches in the professional field. Another pioneering activity is the holding of the Chemistry Quiz in the region, the beginning idea of the now National Chemistry Olympiad. The first National Chemistry Olympiad was held in Cagayan de Oro.
Dr Kwong is also known for the creation of the Northern Mindanao Laboratory Consortium Foundation Inc (NorMin LABCON) where she acted as the first technical working group chairperson, later changed to the executive director, three years ago. The NorMin LABCON is the first Security and Exchange Commission (SEC)-registered laboratory consortium of industry members in the region. Because of her many engagements in the organization, she has served as the representative of the chapters to the National KKP board. Even after her retirement (2016) as an administrator in the university, she has remained active in the activities of the organization as a board member and is always revered as one of the pillars of the organizations.
PFCS recognizes outstanding contributions to Chemistry through the PFCS Awards. The awards aim to: (1) inspire the youth to take up chemistry, (2) recognize the outstanding contribution of chemists to development of the discipline, and (3) recognize outstanding and exemplary contributions to society through chemistry.
The PFCS Awards are given under four categories: (1) Chemistry Education, (2) Chemical Research, (3) Chemical Industry, and (4) Service to the Chemistry Profession.∎