By Julius Caesar Monico and Ron Leo Manangan
The University of Baguio (UB) Computer Engineering (CpE) department has once again proven
its prowess in the field of robotics and automation. Guided by their dedicated coaches, Ron Leo
Manangan and Julius Caesar Monico, the UB showcased world-class talent at the Don Bosco
Technical Institute of Makati from December 5 to 7, 2025.
Participating in back-to-back competitions, the Minoan Robotics Competition (MRC) 2025 and
the 4th National/International Robolution 2025, the students secured multiple championships
and earned prestigious slots to represent the Philippines on the international stage.
Dominating the Minoan Robotics Competition
On December 5, the team faced the evaluation of distinguished judges from Greece, Mr. Ioannis Karouzakis and Mr. Tryfonas Mavroudi. The UB students delivered an outstanding performance, securing Champion titles across various categories.
Their victory in this competition has qualified them to represent the Philippines at the Minoan Robotics Competition Global Olympiad in Crete, Greece, scheduled for April 3 to 6, 2026.
The MRC Philippines 2025 Winners are:
- Exhibition Event (Project Presentation) – CHAMPION (Team NothingBits)
- Janeah Joy L. Castañeda
- Roxanne Czarina A. Worwor
- Russel Jay C. Siloy
- Wrestling (1kg) – CHAMPION (Team Mechaniks)
- Edison Louis S. Jacoba
- Stephen Andrei C. Macaraeg
- Mark Allen O. Vengazo
- Wrestling (500g) – 1st Runner Up (Team TitaniumTech) and Rally – CHAMPION
- Lance Gabriel E. De Luna
- Jedson John A. Noble
- Yesard Umayam
- Wrestling (500g) – CHAMPION (Blue Thumb Squad)
- Kevin Andrei M. Martin
- Stanley F. Mesham
- Karl Jerome T. Ordonio
Resilience at Robolution 2025
Following their success at the MRC, the students continued to test their skills at the 4th National/International Robolution 2025 held on December 6 and 7 at the same venue. The competition was fierce, featuring complex categories such as the Mobile Controlled Robot, Erovouthon, and various Sumo classes.
The participating teams included:
- Team NothingBits (Freestyle Event): Janeah Joy L. Castañeda, Roxanne Czarina A. Worwor, and Russel Jay C. Siloy.
- Team Stargazers (Freestyle & EMegasumo V3): Christian David F. Rojo, Rio Lei Ember N. Calpatura, and Chareal Mae L. Manzano.
- Team Tutubi (Mobile Controlled Robot V1 & ESoccerbot): Ian Fritz M. Battung, Catherine T. Balboa, and Princess S. Felix.
- Team Dexter Laboratory (Erovouthon & ERobot Line Following V3): Prince Arnulfo M. Bajarin, Jon Francis G. Cardenas, and George Jr. T. Gaddang.
- Team Anito (ERobot V1 Sumo & EMegasumo V1): Rhyzen Ryu P. Lee, Tyronne K. Gaano, and Khyron S. Agusdan.
- Team SammyBot (ESoccerbot & ERobot V1 Sumo): Natasha Mae F. Cuaresma, Samantha Grail A. Aguinaldo, and Charles Jacob D. Bihasa.
While the teams did not secure a podium finish in this competition, Team NothingBits, Team Stargazers, and Team Dexter Laboratory are still qualified to represent the Philippines at the ROBOlution Dubai: Robotics & Automation International Competition. This prestigious event will be held at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani – Dubai Campus, UAE, from April 25 to 27, 2026.
The entire UB community congratulates these future engineers for their hard work, resilience, and upcoming journey to Greece and Dubai!
The University of Baguio’s commitment to joining events like the MRC and Robolution competition is a direct contribution to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The competition specifically addresses SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
- SDG 4: By participating in high-level robotics competitions, students are engaging in hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. This goes beyond classroom theory, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and technical literacy required for the future workforce.
- SDG 9: The core of these competitions is innovation. Students are designing, building, and programming robots to solve specific problems (like line tracing or sumo wrestling). This directly contributes to fostering a culture of research and innovation, which is essential for technological progress and industrial development.
- SDG 17: The event involved international collaboration, notably with judges from Greece and upcoming competitions in the UAE. These cross-border partnerships facilitate the exchange of knowledge, technology, and cultural understanding, strengthening global cooperation in the field of science and technology.
