Filipino high school students win top honors in Southeast Asian science search

2026-03-23 - 11:31

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino high school students from Tarlac and Masbate claimed the top prizes in a Southeast Asian science competition that tackled pressing problems the region is facing. Standouts from the Tarlac National High School and Cataingan National High School in Masbate earned the Most Promising Young Scientists honors in their respective categories in the 14th Regional Congress of the Search for Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Young Scientists held in Penang, Malaysia, from February 9 to 12. The team from Tarlac National High School won the upper secondary category for their project that turned mango leaves into solar panels, providing communities with limited power access a viable energy alternative. Meanwhile, the team from Cataingan National High School topped the lower secondary category for their SolarisAgriTech, a solar-powered smart greenhouse utilizing artificial intelligence that grew tomato seedlings faster and taller than traditional methods over a 28-day trial. The two teams received MYR 1,500 (almost P23,000) from the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Education in Science and Mathematics and a seed grant of $2,000 (over P120,000) from Chevron through the Southeast Asian One Health University Network. A total of 475 students researchers from the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, and Laos took part in the event and presented 174 projects. Five special awards were given: for benefit to community, educational contribution, commercial potential, application of STEM concepts, and creativity/innovation. – Rappler.com