By Azel Mae Moquera and Kelly Ronveaux

Centralians Hans Gabriel B. Daduya and Jenny Rose M. Suelan are Most Outstanding Students in Technology for this year’s Tech Awards Western Visayas 2024. Photo credits to CPU – The Cipher.

Held at Festive Walk Mall, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, on May 18, Hans Gabriel B. Daduya and Jenny Rose M. Suelan, two Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering students from Central Philippine University, were hailed as the Top 3 and Top 1 Most Outstanding Students in Technology, respectively, during this year’s Tech Awards Western Visayas 2024.

Hosted by Tech For All, a movement of various organizations and agencies aiming to “close the digital divide,” the Tech Awards Western Visayas 2024 is held in recognition of some of the region’s most outstanding students in tech, as well as their contributions towards expanding technology and integrating these innovations in the development of local communities.

Daduya earned the bronze medal with his project, Unihub, a platform encouraging sustainability and environmental consciousness by allowing students to sell their secondhand items. On the other hand, Suelan brought home the gold medal with her project, PlayRobos, a robotics-integrated platform that helps children aged 5–11 develop their computational skills.

Suelan also won the Ada Lovelace Award, a special award for female technology students who displayed immense dedication toward innovation and positive change.

Joining the two victors in the Top 10 were eight equally competent fourth-year students hailing from a variety of colleges and universities from around the region, including West Visayas State University, Central Philippine University, University of San Agustin, Capiz State University, La Consolacion College Bacolod, and STI West Negros University.

The program was attended by several important figures in local governance and the tech industry, including Iloilo City Mayor Hon. Jerry P. Treñas; Dr. Carmelo V. Ambut, Executive Director of UMWAD Western Visayas; Prof. Rea P. Balontong, President of the Philippine Society of Information Technology Educators (Region VI); and Hon. Jason R. Gonzales, Board Member and the Province of Iloilo Founding Curator of Global Shapers Iloilo, all of whom made speeches dedicated to all aspiring and current technological innovators.

Ted Hyacinth Aspera, the program lead for Tech Awards Western Visayas 2024, opened the program with her speech about using technology to develop solutions to the ongoing global crisis.

The ceremony was concluded with a speech from Maria Ariessa Lane Chua Ko, founder of Tech For All and Visayas Programs Co-Lead of DEVCON Philippines.

In her closing remarks, Chua encouraged aspiring individuals to use their knowledge to “spread an impact through this world,” citing that innovation is everywhere. “Our education has equipped us through this knowledge, but your perspectives and experience will lead you on top,” she added.