Samsung reveals grand winners for 3rd Solve for Tomorrow competition in PHL

Samsung Philippines has revealed the winners of its third Solve for Tomorrow competition in the country, as Samsung celebrates 15 years of the Solve for Tomorrow competition globally.

This year’s Grand Prize winner hailed from Cavite Science Integrated School, with members Elisha Lhane Althea Ramos, Harly P. Bautista, Jhacis Miguel Causapin, Eileen Cassandra S. Datu, and their adviser, Jeremae V. Varias. Their entry, “Mangrove Health Monitor (MaHeMo): A Solar-Powered, Water-Quality Sensing Buoy for Monitoring Mangrove Ecosystem Health,” is a solar-powered buoy system that tracks mangrove water quality using sensors for salinity, turbidity, pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen. The purpose of this project was to provide continuous monitoring of mangrove ecosystems and mark key areas with floating buoys.

They will receive P500,000 worth of Samsung devices for their school, P250,000 worth of Samsung devices for the students and their teacher, P100,000 in cash for the team members, and P30,000 in cash for their teacher adviser.

The second prize winners were also from Cavite Science Integrated School, with members Adam Uriel Berganos, Jared Y. Cabillan, Niel Jullian M. Caringal, Cedrick A. Del Mundo, and their adviser, Mharlotte O. Ilagan. Their project, “EGGNovation,” an Egg Quality Control Segregator, integrates a conveyor system with an image processing program to scan and segregate eggs based on yolk freshness automatically. Their goal was to minimize labor, reduce errors, and increase productivity in egg sorting.

They will take home P300,000 worth of Samsung devices for their school, P250,000 worth of Samsung devices for the team and their teacher, P70,000 in cash for the team members, and P25,000 in cash for the teacher adviser.

The third prize winners were from Tuguegarao City Science High School, with members Zeke Rinzen Maggay, Princess F. Cue, Rhiane Leigh E. Espanto, Julius James A. Palattao, together with their adviser Raissa Jennifer C. Pulido. Their project, named “BANTALAY,” is a solar-powered UV light trap with humidity-based intensity adjustment, which serves as a sustainable, low-cost pest control solution. The project aimed to reduce chemical dependency, strengthen agricultural resilience, and promote sustainable farming practices.

They will receive P200,000 worth of Samsung devices for their school, P250,000 worth of Samsung devices for the team and their teacher, P50,000 in cash for the team, and P15,000 in cash for the teacher adviser.

The remaining teams in the top 10 will receive P15,000 in cash for their team and P5,000 for their teacher. The teams are: “FloodSafe Routes AI: An AI Smart Route and Hazard Mapping System for Schools” from Philippine Science High School — Caraga Region Campus, “SINAG: Eco-Sustainable Carbon Dots from Biomass for Bio-Based Solar Light Harvesting” from Bansud NHS —Regional Science High School, “The S.W.E.A.T Project” from Philippine Science High School Main Campus, “S.A.G.I.P.: Solar-powered Autonomous Geolocation and Information Protocol for Disaster Mitigation” from Cavite Science Integrated School, “ShellTer: Earthquake-Resistant Precast Using Walnut and Pistachio Shell Waste for Sustainable Construction” from Philippine Science High School — Central Luzon Campus, “Plasfix: SARIMAX Forecasting of Rabbitfish (Siganus) Catch Volume in Pangasinan by Evaluating Plastic-Induced Seagrass Decline” from Pasay City Science High School, and “VITALBAND: A Galaxy AI-Integrated Health and Disaster Monitoring Wristband for Filipinos” from Marikina Science High School.

From a simple essay competition in 2010, Solve for Tomorrow has evolved into a dynamic platform where students collaborate to develop meaningful, future-shaping projects. Aligned with Samsung’s mission to make technology accessible while empowering “next-generation heroes,” the program has spent the last 15 years equipping students with real-world experience and design thinking skills — helping them create practical, technology-driven solutions to real challenges.

This year’s competition focused on empowering communities through technology, featuring themes on Environmental Sustainability through Technology, Social Change through Tech and Sport, and Solving Community Problems with Artificial Intelligence (AI). With the support of the Department of Education, Solve for Tomorrow 2025 received over 300 entries from Grades 8-10 students in public science high schools — narrowed down to 10 finalists and, ultimately, three grand winners.

SparkUp is BusinessWorld’s multimedia brand created to inform, inspire, and empower the Philippine startups; micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs); and future business leaders. This section will be published every other Monday. For pitches and releases about startups, e-mail to [email protected] (cc: [email protected]). Materials sent become BW property.