AI-powered student solutions take top honors at 9th imake.wemake

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

From 49 entries nationwide, 20 team finalists showcased solutions-driven innovations at the 9th imake.wemake: create.innovate.collaborate competition, held on March 26-27, 2026, at Citadines Bay City Manila.

 

Taking top honors and bringing home the Youth Innovation Prize (YIP) were teams from Cebu, Iligan, and Rizal. Common across the winning teams was the integration of artificial intelligence into their project designs.

 

Among the YIP recipients was San Carlos School of Cebu. Their project, C.H.U.M.: Cellular Holistic Universal Microscope (C.H.U.M.), is an AI-powered microscope that automatically identifies and counts zooplankton, enabling faster water quality monitoring in support of environmental research.

 

Meanwhile, Iligan City National High School was recognized for their project called S.A.L.A.I.N: Smart AI-Powered Layered Analysis and Integration in Sewer Filtration and Notification. This student-developed system detects sewer blockages and pollution while sending real-time alerts to communities.

 

Completing the roster of winners was Rizal National Science High School for SISIW: Sensor-Integrated Sex Identification Incubation Window. Their project uses sensors and AI to identify the sex of duck embryos before hatching, helping farmers improve harvesting efficiency and reduce losses.

 

Each of the top three teams received a Php 200,000 grant to further develop their projects. Their teacher-coaches received Php 20,000 each.

 

Aside from the YIP, select students and teams were also recognized by partner organizations.

 

The Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) conferred the Young Scientist Award (YSA) to Yzza Gwyneth Cecilio of Camarines Sur National High School, Jayden Magpantay of Oriental Mindoro National High School, and Michaela Louise Bagtas and Beatrice Mae Goto of Rizal National Science High School..

 

Recognized for their technical craftsmanship and strong commitment to pursuing careers in STEM, all four recipients are eligible for a GBF scholarship grant.

 

Meanwhile, C&E Publishing, Inc. recognized select teams for their impactful innovations to the community. The awardees are as follows:

 

Regional Science High School III received the Engineering Excellence Award for LAN6GAM: A Six-Limbed Arduino-based Navigating Gadget for Methane Gas Assessment and Mitigation in Rice Paddy Fields

Las Piñas City National Senior High School – Talon Dos Campus won the Trailblazer in Innovation Award for SmartGuardian: An Arduino-Based Active Safety Smart Stroller for Child Protection and Caregiver Assistance in the Philippine Context

Bucal National Integrated School received the Innovation Award for BamGuard: A Bamboo-Based Smart Preservation Chamber with BioClimatic Control for Safeguarding Likhang Maragondon’s Bamboo Handicrafts

 

Both GBF and C&E Publishing, Inc. have long been partners of DOST-SEI in empowering students not only to innovate but also to translate their ideas into meaningful, real-world impact.

 

Supporting young innovators

 

For Chris Angelo Rollon of Rizal National Science High School, competitions like imake.wemake play a crucial role in empowering the youth.

 

“It gives young people like us the platform to turn our ideas into something that can impact our nation. Nabibigyang halaga yung ideas naming mga kabataan para hindi lang manatili bilang ideas kundi magkaroon ng mas malawak na impact,” said Chris.

 

This year’s imake.wemake cycle also marked a milestone in its nine-year run. For the first time, it has become part of the global celebration of Arduino Day. This connects young innovators and Filipino students to a worldwide community of creators and innovators.

 

As the cycle ended, DOST-SEI remains steadfast in its commitment to creating avenues for the Filipino youth to flourish in the field of science and technology, both locally and internationally. The next cycle will open soon. Announcements will be made on official DOST-SEI communication channels and the official imake.wemake Facebook page.

Film educator maps career pathways at LPU multimedia seminar

 

Wazzup Pilipinas?!

 

The Philippine film and video industry is often viewed through a lens of glamour, yet for aspiring creators, the path from the classroom to the studio can feel like a complex maze.

To bridge this gap, the Lyceum of the Philippines University Manila recently hosted a multimedia seminar centered on “Philippine Film and Video Industry: Career Pathways and Opportunities.”

Seymour Sanchez, an award-winning filmmaker, long-time film educator, and advocate for Philippine cinema, facilitated the session by giving his insights on the topic.

Bringing his industry experience to the discussion, Sanchez was more than just a speaker. He also served as a navigator for the next generation of multimedia professionals.

The filmmaker/film educator opened the discussion with a practical look at the diverse roles available in today’s digital landscape. He emphasized that while the industry is rooted in storytelling, the technical and strategic avenues have expanded increasingly.

Sanchez encouraged students to master multiple disciplines, ranging from scriptwriting and cinematography to postproduction and digital marketing, to thrive in the film and video industry.

He underscored the importance of telling authentic Filipino stories, noting that global streaming platforms are increasingly hungry for localized content with a unique cultural voice. He also tackled the shift from traditional studio systems to freelance and independent production cycles.

What set Sanchez’s talk apart was his “boots-on-the-ground” perspective. As someone deeply involved in both the academe and the professional circuit, he translated complex industry jargon into actionable advice for the LPU MMA students.

He focused not just on what to do, but how to do it, emphasizing the necessity of networking, portfolio building, and professional ethics.

“The industry is built on talent, but it is sustained by discipline and the ability to adapt to new technologies,” Sanchez stressed during the session.

The seminar provided a vital platform for students to engage directly with a film professional. By the end of the session, attendees walked away not just with a better understanding of the Philippine film landscape, but with a renewed sense of purpose regarding their own career trajectories.

As LPU Manila continues to foster excellence in its Multimedia Arts program, sessions like this ensure that students graduate not just with degrees, but with the industry intelligence required to lead the future of Philippine media.

Sanchez’s take-home message was clear: “The opportunities are there, the pathways are open, and for those willing to hone their craft, the big screen is closer than it seems.”

Sanchez, who teaches film at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and Far Eastern University, is a member of the Academic Film Society Advisory Committee of the Film Development Council of the Philippines. He served as Bacolod Film Festival director in 2024 and Technical Consultant for Academic Linkages of the FDCP from 2022 to 2025.

From Stars to Soil: A Bold New Alliance to Safeguard the Future of Food

Wazzup Pilipinas!? 

In a landmark convergence of cosmic technology and terrestrial necessity, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) and the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE) have forged a powerful new alliance. On April 20, 2026, in Quezon City, leaders from both nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that promises to revolutionize how we feed a changing world.

This is not just a diplomatic formality; it is a strategic bridge built between the vacuum of space and the rich soils of the earth.

A Visionary Union

The signing ceremony brought together high-ranking officials to witness what Dr. Csaba Gyuricza, Rector of MATE, described as a "shared vision." Joining PhilSA Ad Interim Director General Dr. Gay Jane P. Perez and Dr. Gyuricza were:

Marc Caesar R. Talampas, PhilSA Deputy Director General for Space Science and Technology.

Her Excellency Titanilla Tóth, Ambassador of Hungary to the Philippines.

Together, they signaled the beginning of a partnership designed to tackle the most pressing "real-world challenges" of our era: food security, climate adaptation, and digital innovation.

The Power of Space-Age Agriculture

At the heart of this cooperation is Space Science and Technology Applications (SSTA). While space may seem distant, its data provides the ultimate "birds-eye view" for farmers. The partnership will focus on:

Precision Mapping & Monitoring: Utilizing satellite data to create high-resolution models for agricultural mapping and assessment.

Climate Adaptation: Developing common solutions to help crops survive and thrive in an increasingly unpredictable climate.

The Human Connection: Facilitating a rigorous exchange of students, researchers, and technical experts to ensure that the next generation of "space-farmers" is ready to lead.

"It is within our universities and research institutions where knowledge is cultivated, innovation begins, and [where] future scientists, engineers, and leaders are shaped." — Dr. Gay Jane P. Perez

Bridging Two Worlds

Though separated by thousands of miles, the Philippines and Hungary have realized that their differences are their greatest strength. Hungary brings the expertise of MATE—one of Europe's largest agricultural institutions, established in 2021 to merge ancient academic tradition with cutting-edge tech. The Philippines contributes the agility of PhilSA, an agency birthed in 2019 to propel the nation into the global space economy.

Ambassador Titanilla Tóth underscored that this connection between the "field of space" and the "fields of the earth" is the key to a prosperous and sustainable future.

Why This Matters Now

As the global population grows and the climate shifts, the "business as usual" approach to farming is no longer enough. By looking down from the stars, PhilSA and MATE are finding the digital tools necessary to ensure that farmers in both nations can work smarter, not harder.

This MOU marks more than just a partnership; it is a declaration that the future of agriculture will not be found in the dirt alone, but in the intelligent application of the technology that orbits above us. The journey from the stars to the soil has officially begun.