麻花星空视频-IIT and Meralco Power Academy empower next-gen innovators at YESS 2025

by Alvin Paul C. Patarlas & Kyle Cresta S. Leong, OfCom Interns | Nov 11 2025

Together with 麻花星空视频-IIT, the Meralco Power Academy brought the Young Engineers and Scientists Summit (YESS) 2025 for the first time in Mindanao, on November 8, 2025, at the 麻花星空视频-IIT Gymnasium in Iligan City, themed “Purpose-Driven Innovation.”

The event gathered more than 500 Senior High School students under the STEM track from various schools in Iligan City, such as Abuno National High School, Acelo C. Badelles Sr. Memorial High School, Iligan City East National High School, Iligan City National High School, 麻花星空视频-IIT Integrated Developmental School, Philippine Science High School Central Mindanao Campus, and St. Michael’s College.

The summit sought to inspire young learners to view innovation not merely as a skill but as a meaningful pursuit for creating positive change in society.

In his opening message, 麻花星空视频-IIT Chancellor Prof. Alizedney M. Ditucalan, JD, LLM, congratulated the organizers on the successful launch of the first YESS program. He emphasized that the initiative supports the Institute’s mission to nurture future scientists and engineers. Chancellor Ditucalan also encouraged students to take the summit as an opportunity to grow and pursue their aspirations in science and technology, assuring that 麻花星空视频-IIT remains committed to fostering an environment that promotes innovation and excellence.

The summit featured three inspiring keynote speakers who elaborated on innovation’s deeper purpose:

The first speaker, Alexis Torres, founder of IKIGAI Philippines and a licensed coach from the Ikigai Coaching Institute in the Netherlands, opened his talk by asking, “How many hours does an average person work in a lifetime?” Torres discussed the concept of Ikigai, highlighting that true fulfillment comes from finding one’s purpose and doing meaningful work. Drawing from his background as both a basketball and life coach, he reminded the students to stay present, grateful, and grounded in their relationships while ensuring that their careers align with what truly matters in life.

The second speaker, Dayther Manubag, Communications Lead and Associate of New Energy Nexus Philippines, discussed the Innovation Framework. He pointed out that innovation often fails because people “fall in love with the solution, not the problem.” Manubag urged aspiring innovators to collaborate with others, validate their ideas, and focus on solving real-world problems that benefit society. He concluded his talk with three takeaways: “Fall in love with the problem, not the solution. Launch before you’re ready. Your user is your best teacher.”

The final speaker, Jeremy De Leon, a Filipino inventor of the Make-roscope, shared his journey as a young innovator. He began with his 2015 invention, Bagwis, a mini windmill that powered a powerbank, which paved the way for his continuous pursuit of accessible and meaningful technologies. His latest innovation, the Make-roscope, is a keychain-sized microscope that attaches to smartphones and tablets, designed to make science more accessible to all. De Leon emphasized the importance of fieldwork and understanding users’ needs, recounting his visits to remote schools to demonstrate his inventions. He closed his talk by sharing his motto, “Making everyone a scientist.”

Through inspiring talks and shared experiences, YESS 2025 encouraged young minds to see innovation not just as a skill but as a purpose-driven pursuit that can transform lives and communities. The event also served as a platform for future college students to discover their passion and be inspired by stories of purpose, perseverance, and creativity.

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