PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday feted the Philippine Robotics National Team at Heroes Hall, celebrating their global tournament victories spanning 2025 and 2026. During the Malacañang courtesy call, Marcos lauded the young innovators for proving that Filipinos can compete anywhere and with anyone, urging them to shield their creative visions from setbacks. He told the student delegation that once they get an idea, they should not let go of it because it really matters, advising them to stay with it even when it gets hard because it will all be worth the effort.
The president also challenged the team to design technologies that directly address local issues to improve the ease of living here in the Philippines for their countrymen. He tested some of the inventions firsthand during live demonstrations, including an archaeological robotic arm called Tuklas, which Marcos personally operated. The delegation also showcased Sylax, an assistive mobility device engineered for children with cerebral palsy, and Francis, an AI-powered companion robot built to detect household emergencies.
The team represents the country’s official youth delegation, comprising students aged seven and up, to elite global circuits like the World Robot Olympiad and the FIRST LEGO League. Accompanied by Felta Multi-Media Inc. President and CEO Mylene Abiva, whose organization pioneered the integration of robotics into local basic education more than 25 years ago, the student awardees represented a cross-country roster of schools from Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Albay, Legazpi, Muntinlupa, and Quezon City. The high-profile reception underscores the administration’s focus on automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced technology education to drive national digitalization under the Bagong Pilipinas framework.
