5 November 2026, Seoul — Filipino students brought pride and honor to the Philippines after winning Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards at the 20th International Mathematical Science Creativity Competition (IMSCC 2026), held on October 30–31, 2026, at the Korea National University of Education (KNUE) in Cheongju, South Korea.

The awardees and their respective projects are as follows:

GOLD AWARD

• The ResQBot – A Robotic System for Emergency Supply Delivery and Retrieval — representing Zion Academy of Carmona.

SILVER AWARD

• Jennalyn Castro Barquin, a Grade 9 student from Diosdado Macapagal National High School, and Gabriela Nicole Sapno, a Grade 8 student from San Pablo 2nd National High School, of team Shadow Eagle for their project, “Plants Watering Machine: Saving Rainwater for a Greener Future.”

BRONZE AWARDS

• Michael Asher S. Reyes and Adriel Joseph S. Catu — of team The Hiveguard: An AI-Powered Robotic System for Hive Monitoring, Protection, and Sustainable Apiary Management,” representing Zion Academy of Carmona.
• Branch Danielle V. Rebadeo and Ashley Jairiel S. Catu — of team The Hydrophonic Drone: A Sustainable Hydroponic Drone System,” representing Zion Academy of Carmona.
• Gracelle Joace Jimenez and Shayana Isobel Lorana — of team The MECHANEXUS: A Perfect-Teamwork Relay Race! Two Robots. Two Teammates. One Mission,” representing Zion Academy of Carmona.

Among the award-winning projects, Barquin and Sapno’s “Plants Watering Machine: Saving Rainwater for a Greener Future,” was designed to address the challenges brought about by the alternating rainy and dry seasons in the Philippines. To help address water scarcity during the dry periods and promote sustainable water conservation, the team developed an innovative 4D Frame model demonstrating a system that collects and stores rainwater for future use. The collected water can then be used to irrigate plants, vegetables, and fruit trees, providing a practical and eco-friendly solution that supports gardening and contributes to a greener environment.  

Notably, Barquin and Sapno are among the pioneer Filipino student beneficiaries of the Social Contribution and Educational Sponsorship Program of the Foundation for the Advancement of STEAM (FAS). Through this program, the Foundation provides comprehensive educational sponsorship and support to deserving young learners, helping remove financial barriers and providing them with opportunities to develop their abilities, pursue their aspirations, and participate in international academic and innovation competitions.

Their achievement reflects the importance of sustained investment in young talent and the transformative impact of making quality educational opportunities accessible to children, regardless of their family's economic circumstances. 

Jointly organized by the Foundation for the Advancement of STEAM (FAS) and the Korea National University of Education, IMSCC 2026 marked the competition's 20th anniversary under the theme, “4Dframe × Embodied AI: Play, Create, Interact!” The international event brought together students, educators, researchers, and education professionals from a global network of 20 member countries.

A total of 233 finalist teams competed across 12 divisions, presenting innovative projects integrating mathematics, science, technology, engineering, arts, artificial intelligence, and robotics. Participants demonstrated their ability to translate scientific and mathematical concepts into practical solutions through creative design, prototyping, and collaborative problem-solving.

The Philippine Embassy in Seoul congratulates all Filipino awardees for their remarkable achievement and recognizes the schools, mentors, sponsors and organizations whose guidance and support helped make their participation possible. 

Their success serves as an inspiring example of how perseverance, opportunity, mentorship, and investment in education can empower young Filipinos to excel and gain international recognition. 

The Embassy likewise commends the organizers of IMSCC 2026 for sustaining a platform that promotes creativity, innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and international educational cooperation over the past two decades. END