Mapúa MCL Chemical Engineering Students Secure Historic Podium Finish in PIChE National Quiz Bowl 2026
Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna’s (Mapúa MCL) BS Chemical Engineering students from the Mapúa Institute of Technology at Laguna (MITL) made history at the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers (PIChE) National Quiz Bowl 2026, securing third place among 20 competing universities and earning the institution’s first-ever podium finish in the national competition.
The achievement took place on September 15, 2026, during the PIChE National Student Congress (NSC) 2026, held at Verbist Hall, Saint Louis University (SLU), Baguio City.
Representing Mapúa MCL were four fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering students: Jian Guevara (Captain), Lugh Rence Barillo (Vice Captain), Azriel Tagunicar, and Ariane Mitra (Alternate). The team was coached by Engr. Brylle Reovince Rosales, MS EnvE, who also serves as their adviser in the Association of Chemical Engineering Students of Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna (ACES-MMCL) and co-coach by Engr. Conrado Monterola, who is also the Chair of Chemical Engineering.
The PIChE National Quiz Bowl featured two rounds of 10 questions covering a broad range of Chemical Engineering disciplines, including chemistry, reaction engineering, thermodynamics, heat and momentum transfer, separation processes, process control, environmental engineering, biotechnology, and engineering economy. Questions included both objective and problem-solving items with varying time limits and point values.
Mapúa MCL opened the competition strongly in Round 1, placing third with 60 points, behind the University of the Philippines Diliman (75) and De La Salle University (65). The team added 75 points in Round 2, finishing with 135 cumulative points and securing third place. DLSU won with 160 points, followed by UP Diliman with 150.
Guevara, Tagunicar, and Mitra competed in Round 1, while Guevara, Tagunicar, and Barillo represented Mapúa MCL in Round 2.
For their podium finish, the team received a ₱3,000 cash prize, certificates, medals, and a scholarship grant from ARC Review Center.
The achievement also continues the team’s successful run in PIChE quiz competitions. The same group of student quizzers previously secured third place in the PIChE Junior Chapter Luzon Quizbee at Adamson University on May 16, 2026.
This historic national achievement marks a new chapter for the Mapúa MCL Chemical Engineering Department, highlighting its commitment to developing future-ready chemical engineers through academic competitions, faculty mentorship, professional organizations, and student development opportunities. As the department builds on this momentum, it continues to inspire aspiring engineers to learn, compete, excel, and make their mark on the national stage.
