By: Abbie Rañosa

Pasay City West High School is excited to be participating in the DOST-SEI TRC 3.0: Girls and Gears Technical Training and Workshop, which this event was held at Sequoia Hotel Manila Bay on March 27-31, 2023. Four talented STE students from different grade levels, together with their coach are set to participate in this upcoming academic competition. From, Grade 10: Abbie R. Rañosa and Alleyah M. Labrague, Grade 9: Christine Heart L. Montevilla, and Grade 8: Ayesha Kate B. Caday, along with their coach Mrs. Hazel Enerio, have been preparing for this workshop for weeks. With their dedication and hard work, they are determined to bring home the trophy and make their school proud. The workshop promises to be a challenging test of their academic skills, and these students are ready to rise to the occasion and show what they are capable of. 

This groundbreaking event is aimed at empowering girls in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and providing them with the tools and skills they need to succeed in these fields. The event will feature hands-on workshops and activities that will enable participants to learn about cutting-edge technology and explore their interests in STEM. The Pasay City West High School is committed to promoting inclusivity and breaking down gender barriers in STEM, and the DOST-SEI TRC 3.0 is an important step towards achieving that goal. 

As the event started, the participating schools caught the attention of the opening message of Dr. Josette T. Biyo who is a prominent Filipino educator and a director IV, of DOST-SEI. The opening message showcases her recognition for her exceptional leadership in science education and the interesting part about her career is that the Florian main-belt 13241 Biyo, discovered by LINEAR at Lincoln Lab’s ETS in 1998, was named in her honor. The naming was part of the International Excellence in Teaching Award she received during the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in 2002. 

Also, Dr. Biyo holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master of Science degree in Biology Education from the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman. She also holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Science Education from De La Salle University. Throughout her career, Dr. Biyo has been actively involved in promoting science education and has received numerous awards for her contributions. In 2002, she was awarded the Most Outstanding Science Educator in the Philippines by the Department of Science and Technology. She has also received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the UP College of Education, and the Outstanding Professional in Education Award from the Professional Regulations Commission. She inspires the students that STEM is incredibly diverse and impactful, that there are countless opportunities for individuals to specialize in a particular area of interest.

The event featured a series of lectures and hands-on training sessions covering a range of topics, including an introduction to electronics, breadboarding, and Arduino. Participants also had the opportunity to showcase their own projects and receive positive feedback from the instructor.

One of the highlights of the workshop was a keynote address by a renowned robotics expert, who spoke about the current state of the field and shared insights into emerging trends and technologies. The speaker emphasized the importance of collaboration and encouraged participants to work together to push the boundaries of what is possible in robotics.

The workshop also featured a hackathon, where participants worked in teams to create Mbot Interfacing Using the Arduino Microcontroller. The winning team could win around 100,000 pesos in the next competition on July 27-28, 2023.

Participants left the workshop feeling energized and inspired, with new ideas and connections to continue advancing the field of robotics. The event was seen as a major success in bringing together a diverse group of innovators to collaborate and push the boundaries of what is possible in robotics.

As the field of robotics continues to evolve and expand, events like this training workshop are critical in fostering innovation and advancing the state of the art. With new technologies emerging and the potential for robotics to revolutionize industries from manufacturing to healthcare, there is no shortage of opportunities for robotics innovators to make a difference in the world.