By Cynthia De Castro
MAY 2, 2008
Asianjournal.com
Boy Wonder
LOS ANGELES—As the search for alternative
sources of fuel rages, 17-year-old Raymond
17-yr old wins int’l award
accomplish such a feat! You know what he said
about his being an overnight celebrity when
Amurao from the Philippines may have just
for and discovering new
he came back from the competition? ‘You’re
found a good solution. His discovery started
with the problem of a pesky fish.
source of fuel
right Mama! I think the Lord has other plans
for me when He gave me back to you twice.’
A few years ago, many fishermen earning
You see, Raymond was a dengue survivor
their livelihood from the Marikina River in
when he was 10-years old and was given 24
Metro Manila began to notice some strange-
hours to live at that time.”
looking fish that have been infesting the
Raymond was born on September 2, 1989 in
river’s waters and competing with other fish
Marikina City. He spent his elementary years
for food. Called the janitor fish, it has a hard
at Roosevelt College Marikina Campus and
exoskeleton, is smelly like other fish, and is not
enjoyed his high school life at the Marikina
considered fit for human consumption.
Science High School. At present he is studying
Until that time, the Marikina River was
at the University of the Philippines in Los
teeming with several freshwater fish species
Baños where he is in second year taking up
such as tilapia, carp, catfish, and mudfish.
Chemistry.
Suddenly, the janitor fish, once alien to the
His friends describe him as wacky, funny,
river, invaded the river. It began multiplying
friendly, etc. He wants to become a very
rapidly and eating voraciously, competing
good chemist someday. He never planned to
with other fish for food.
become a scientist but now that even senior
Without the presence of natural predators,
inventors call him a young inventor, Raymond
the janitor fish in the Marikina River grew in
says God probably wanted to show him his
huge numbers. They eat the eggs of other
purpose, for one thing, discovering the use of
fishes, causing the depletion of other fish with 12 kilos of janitor fish produced 500 ml
janitor fish.
species in the local aquatic environment. They of processed fuel. They calculated the fuel
All the television and radio interviews, the
also cause the river’s sides to erode as they value of janitor fish oil and the results were
newspaper and online articles about Raymond
bore holes on the soft, muddy banks to serve comparable to that of diesel.
and the invitations to speak in different
as their breeding nests, damaging much of the The result was Amurao’s discovery—
symposia and conventions have not changed
river’s plant life. The ratio of the number of extracting fuel oils from janitor fish carcasses
him a bit, says his mother. He’s still “Emong”
janitor fish to other species in the river quickly which can be used in applications such as
with his feet flat on the ground. He revealed
rose to around 10 to 1, causing much dismay diesel additives and soap base. This not only
to the Asian Journal that he loves to eat.
and frustration to Marikina fisher folks. solved Marikina City’s fish situation. It totally
“Anything—especially fried chicken,”he said.
Chemistry teacher Janet Sarmiento Amurao changed his life.
He loves basketball, enjoys watching The
brought the challenge to the Marikina City High Science Awards
Simpsons, likes watching movies like Legend
School students who began experimenting “He won First Place in the Intel Philippines
of Ron Burgundy, A Walk to Remember and
with the fish. Science Fair. His project was NCR’s entry to
Music and Lyrics.
“As a science teacher, I was tapped by our city the National Level of Intel Philippines Science
“My Intel award is just one of the many
mayor, Marides Fernando, as a member of the Fair and was chosen one of the Best Science
proofs that God really loves me,” Raymond
so-called Benefish Committee tasked to find Projects. He also received First Grand Award
said. “When I won in the regional level, it
possible applications for the dreaded janitor and chosen as one of the country’s entries
was the first time that I relied on my faith in
fish which was becoming one of the major to the Intel International Science Fair held
God. It really worked! So, when I won in the
problems in the Marikina River,” Janet told the in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA in May 2006,
International competition, I really cried,” he
Asian Journal in an exclusive interview. the world’s largest celebration of science
admitted.
Her youngest son, who is also her student, showcasing the world’s most promising
After the competition, Raymond and
Raymond Joseph Amurao, became part of the young scientists and inventors in grades 9
another participant stayed at San Diego and
school science program. through 12,” Janet proudly related her son’s
visited Universal Studios and San Diego Zoo
“He was then a senior student working accomplishments.
and malls. “Oh! I really enjoyed my stay there
with two of his friends in trying to find out if More than 1,500 contestants from each
in the US,” Raymond said. “I fell in love with
janitor fish meat can be used as a component state and more than 40 different countries
Indianapolis, a very peaceful city. If given
of the commercial chicken feeds,” Janet said. joined the world’s most prestigious and
the chance, I would like to go back to the US
“One Saturday, he was assigned to boil the largest pre-college science competition The
and study there. Or maybe someday I will go
fish but young as he was, barely 16, he played Intel International Science and Engineering
back there when I’m already a chemist and,
basketball. The whole thing was supposed to Fair (Intel ISEF) in Indianapolis, Indiana.
hopefully, work in big drug companies.”
be steamed for 10 minutes but he forgot and Representing the Philippines, Raymond won
The Amuraos are happy to note that the
came back after 30 minutes. He was surprised the 3rd Grand Award for his project entitled
janitor fish has been given a new image. “We
to see a considerable amount of fish oil floating Biofuel and Soaps from Janitor Fish Oil which
were able to prove that the janitor fish is no
on the broth. He became interested with the won for him international recognition, a cash
longer a pest, but something which has many
oil and started asking me what to do with it. I prize of $1,000, and a medal.
uses,” Janet said. Another possibility being
told him to look in the net, the easiest way of “The biodiesel derived from the janitor fish
studied is to use the exoskeleton from the
finding possible answers.” could be used as an additive to diesel fuel,
janitor fish’s belly as leather to boost Marikina’s
Instead of throwing the oil away, Raymond and could help lower the cost of petroleum in
shoes and bags industry. The janitor fish could
tried to find use for it. He first sought to turn the Philippines,” says Raymond. It would also
also be useful in producing carbonated water,
it into a lubricant, but it solidified after being help control the janitor fish population in the
liquid fertilizer, and chicken feed.
subjected to high heat. He then tried mixing Marikina River, Laguna Lake, and other bodies
Raymond will also soon test his biofuel
the oil with other chemicals to produce of water where it is known to dwell. “This could
invention on a car engine.
soap, but only had partial success because it also become a great source of livelihood in
As an advice to young people like him,
still smelled like fish. Then, while surfing the Marikina,” he stated.
Raymond has this to say. “Just be yourself, be
Internet, he learned that oil extracted from Bunso
open-minded, be patient in whatever you’re
certain animals could be used as biodiesel. Janet Amurao still can’t get over his son’s
doing and avoid being boastful. Do not hesitate
Another experiment later and he found that achievement.
to “burn your midnight oil” and most importantly
the fish’s greasy by-product indeed had “I am very happy because I never thought
rely on your faith in God because He’s always
biofuel potential. Raymond’s initial experiment that a playful bunso like him would be able to
with you the way He has been with me.” (AJ)
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