Two student-innovators from Ramon Torres National High School (RTNHS) in Bago City, Negros Occidental paid a courtesy call on Mayor Mayette Javellana Sept. 28, after capturing the championship in the 2026 National Robotics competition.
Grade 10 Science, Technology, and Engineering (STE-Zircon) learners Jhande Marie Teodosio and Joezel Articona were commended for their inspiring victory and outstanding triumph for Bago City’s youth and public school system.
Demonstrating exceptional perseverance and technical skill, the Bagonhon duo pulled off a remarkable comeback from fourth place in the Central District and third in the provincial competition to emerge as the national champion in the Innovative Prototype category, the city said.
Their award-winning project, “Project PABAWOD (Phytoplankton Assessment and Bagasse-based Actuation in Waste of Oil-spill Decontaminator)”, is an autonomous robotic system designed to monitor aquatic phytoplankton and mitigate oil spills using eco-friendly sugarcane bagasse barriers.
The national victory earned Teodosio and Articona the honor of representing the Philippines to the prestigious Japan World Robotics Competition in Chiba, Japan this November, the city said.
Javellana, meanwhile, affirmed the city government’s active support for the team’s upcoming international journey, and underscored Bago’s commitment to investing in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education that empowers young Bagonhons to excel globally.
Joining the champions during the visit were schools division superintendent Neri Anne Alibuyog, RTNHS principal Jonaida Gasendo, Science Department head Gemma Fe Torres, and coaches Wendy Salvacion, Cynthia Laurente, and Marjorie Madrigal. ||
