Filipino high school students won international awards for innovative projects on natural remedies and predicting rainfall patterns presented at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2024.
Three students from Cebu City National Science High School and a student from Tarlac National High School vied for honors at the global competition held in Los Angeles, California, in May.
Cebu’s Michaela Ria Rentuza, Mikaella Rose Macabata, and Wesley Secuya, stood out from among competitors and secured fourth place in the Cellular and Molecular Biology category.
Their project, titled “In vitro and silico Evaluation of Embryogenesis Inhibition Activity of Ethanolic Extracts of Chico (Manilkara zapota) Bark Against Gastrointestinal Strongyle Eggs,” explores natural remedies to combat gastrointestinal parasites.
Three hearts, one beat! 🩷🩷🩷
Cebuano students secured fourth place in an international STEM competition with their pioneering study on natural remedies for gastrointestinal parasites.
Get to know more about this trio’s success at Goodnewspilipinas. pic.twitter.com/X62U1yDQ0P
— Judith Mariano (@duediiespicable) June 21, 2024
Arnon Yzabel Guinto from Tarlac garnered the National Geographic Society’s Excellence award in the Geography and Geospatial Science section for her study on “Flood Mitigation of Tarlac City Through 3D Simulation of Groundwater Discharge to Flood Inundation Using Rainfall Prediction and Integration of Spatio-Temporal GIS in Hydrodynamic Models.”
“Flooding in my community has been a problem faced by the citizens for years, and even if there are mitigation plans, citizens are still unprepared. Hence, I thought of something that would help them understand the importance of being prepared,” Arnon said in a Facebook post of the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd).
Guinto’s proposal focused on developing a sophisticated 3D groundwater flooding simulation system to predict rainfall patterns and identify flood-prone areas in Tarlac City.
Good intention leads to innovative solution! A high school student from Tarlac receives an international recognition for her study on flood mitigation in Tarlac City. ☔
Get to know more of Arnon’s ISEF journey at https://t.co/aWAMwJnV0s pic.twitter.com/ZHTeEp6uZm
— Judith Mariano (@duediiespicable) June 20, 2024
The recognition received by these Filipino students not only brought pride to their schools and communities but also served as an inspiration to aspiring young scientists nationwide.
Expressing delight in the student’s achievements, the Department of Education emphasized nurturing a passion for exploration and creation among Filipino youth.
“Patuloy nating pasiklabin ang ating pagmamahal sa pagtuklas at paglikha para sa mas magandang kinabukasan,” the DepEd stated in their Facebook post.
(“Let us continue to ignite our love for discovery and innovation for a brighter future.”)
Principal Charlie Salve of Cebu City National Science High School congratulated the students through a Facebook post, “Congratulations, guys, for being one of the grand winners. Your SciHi family is very proud of your achievement.”
Cebu’s trio not only gained recognition but also received a $500 cash prize.
Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) also shared the pride of Arnon’s success in a Facebook post: “Congratulations, Arnon! Isa kang inspirasyon sa mga kabataang Pilipino!”
(“Congratulations, Arnon! You are an inspiration to the Filipino youth!”)
ISEF brought Guinto and 1,800 young researchers representing 75 countries, to exhibit and demonstrate ingenuity and innovation through their own designed science projects.
Eight other Filipino learners participated in the annual research event after qualifying through the Department of Education’s NSTF held in Parañaque City from April 1-5.
Round of applause for these eight brilliant Filipino participants who proudly raise our banner with their ingenious studies and research in science and technology! 👏
Get a glimpse of their expedition at https://t.co/aWAMwJnV0s pic.twitter.com/sGR9xMW5WA
— Judith Mariano (@duediiespicable) June 21, 2024
As these talented students continue to push boundaries and make significant strides in scientific research, their innovations exemplify the Philippines’ outstanding potential to succeed on the global stage.
Filipino students who have gained global accolades include Philippine Science High School-Main Campus (PSHS) student Gwen Lianna Valimento who won honors in the Clean Tech Competition of New York City for her penguin-inspired biomimicry research to generate clean energy.
From designing eco-friendly residential solutions to smart food sustainability systems, the students from the PSHS stunned the international community at the Singapore International STEM Innovation Challenge (SISTEMIC) 2023.
Their achievements and discoveries are a source of aspiration, encouraging young innovators to strive for excellence in science and technology to enhance society’s welfare.
Be part of our vibrant Good News Pilipinas community, celebrating the best of the Philippines and our global Filipino heroes. As winners of the Gold Anvil Award and the Lasallian Scholarum Award, we invite you to engage with us and share your inspiring stories. For stories Making Every Filipino Proud, reach out to GoodNewsPilipinas.com via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn. LinkTree here. Let’s spread good news together!
