Two senior high school students have turned circuits and code into a story of triumph! STEM standouts John Victor D. Advincula and Zyrus Whayne G. Naganag clinched the championship title at the TechQuest – National Robotics Challenge for Academia, held in April 2026 in Manila. The pair also secured the Best Robot Design Award, distinguishing themselves among 33 competing teams nationwide.

Guided by mentor Ryan Christian Tolentino, the duo demonstrated a compelling blend of innovation, technical precision, and teamwork.

Their latest victory builds on an earlier feat as Top 2 finishers in the Regional Robotics Challenge in September 2025, organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology – Cordillera Administrative Region. Together, these milestones highlight the growing prowess of young innovators from the Cordilleras.

As part of their win, Advincula and Naganag received FutureSmart Educational Grants worth Php 100,000 and advanced robotics kits. More significantly, they are set to represent the Philippines in an international robotics competition in China this December 2026.

TechQuest is a national platform that champions advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation. By bridging academic institutions, industry players, and government initiatives, it continues to shape a generation ready to engineer solutions for real-world challenges.