• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Sipalay City elementary robotics team has secured two of the three championship titles in the 6th Battle of Bots: Provincial Level Competition 2026, highlighting the growing interest in robotics and technology education among students in Negros Occidental.
Organized by the provincial government-run Negros Occidental Language and Information Technology Center (NOLITC), in partnership with Pinoy Robot Games and the GabiGroup, the competition brought together elementary and high school students to showcase their robotics, problem-solving, and innovation skills.
Elementary competitors vied for honors in Sumobot, Zero-Waste Mission Challenge, and Line Tracing while high school champions emerged from various schools across the province.
In a message delivered by executive assistant and public information officer Charina Magallanes-Tan, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson urged participants to embrace experimentation, learn from mistakes, and remain resilient in pursuing innovation.
“Do not be afraid to try, to make mistakes, and even to attempt something that has never been tried before,” Lacson said.
NOLITC assistant department head Avelyn Agudon-Marañon described the participants as potential future innovators who could contribute to the province’s technological advancement.
Pinoy Robot Games founder Melvin Matulac encouraged the students to continue developing their skills and adopt a growth-oriented mindset.
“Keep improving, keep innovating, and adopt the mindset of a champion,” he said. | GPB
