Over 180 Filipino students to join Robot Olympiad in South Korea

MANILA, Philippines — Over 180 elementary and high school students will be representing the country in the 17th International Robot Olympiad to be held in South Korea next week.

The students coming from 14 public and private schools will be outwitting their counterparts in at least 20 countries, including China and Canada, in the competition that aims to provide a venue for young students around the world to “share their scientific and technical skills in robots.”

Anthony Gabitan, president of Data Science Technology Corp (DSTC), said that this year’s crop of 185 students has been the biggest delegation that they and first-time partner Wyeth Nutrition have sent to the annual international robotic competition that was launched in South Korea in 1998. He added that this number was a far cry from the three delegates the country had when it first joined the competition in 2007.

“More people are now interested in robotics. Schools are realizing that when you adapt robotics, the student is able to learn science, physics, design, engineering, and it makes the children more innovative and creative in their life,” Gabitan said.

The students chosen to take part in the global tilt on Dec. 15-20 in Bucheon, South Korea, were the winners in the two competitions conducted by DSTC in January. They will be representing the country in at most 15 events in four categories. Among these events are the “Robot in Movie,” where the participants will produce a multimedia feature, which will showcase the robot that they built; and the “Robot Rescue,” where participants will build a humanoid robot programmed to mimic a life rescuer during an emergency.

Gabitan stressed that apart from the technical know-how that the competition will be able to impart to the country’s delegation composed of Grade 3 to 10 students, the children will also be able to sharpen their problem solving skill, which can benefit them and the society as well.

Top winners in the various categories will receive a trophy and medal, which DSTC said is as prestigious as passing an entrance examination in a leading South Korean university.

This year’s delegation is led by Isabela’s Philippine Yuh Chiau School, which has the most number of student participants at 46. Other participating schools are Calamba City Science High School, Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Calamba, De La Salle Santiago Zobel School, Eton International School and Gen. Pio del Pilar National High School.

Other schools are: Grace Christian College, Jubilee Christian Academy, Learning Links Academy, St. Dominic de Guzman School in Bulacan, St. Martin de Porres Catholic School in Guigunto and Norzagaray in Bulacan, St. Peter the Apostle School and Xavier School.  SFM