Admu wins big at the 5th SWEEP Awards
The teams behind the top three winning entries at the SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards with SMART Network Platforms and Services Division Head Mario G. Tamayo (3rd from right). Also in photo are (from right) SMART Public Affairs Group Head Ramon R. Isberto, SMART Planning and Engineering Head Byron Tabada and SMART NPSD Senior Supervisor Cynthia Capua.
After securing four of the top 10 slots at the 5th SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards, Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) went on to bag no less than the grand prize and the 2nd runner-up honors; with Ateneo de Davao University coming in as 1st runner-up.
Judged as the best wireless application from among 76 entries submitted was SMART PasaGoods. It is a system for gathering relief goods through the use of social networking, SMART SMS, and SMART Money transfer. The AdMU team composed of Carlos Miguel Lacson, Aldrin Khan, Marty Peterson Tan and Marc Ericson Santos, and teacher-mentor Ronell Sicat took home the biggest cash prize of P500,000.
Schoolmates Paulo Olayres, Dale Dy and Grace Ann Benedicto, with teacher-mentor Rod Michael Coronel, placed third with their SMART Iwas Baha. The application allows a subscriber to get flood information through SMS, MMS and the Internet. It also allows opportunity for community participation. The team won P150,000 in cash.
Slipping between the AdMU teams to grab the second spot with a cash reward of P300,000 is Ateneo de Davao University represented by students Charese Olmoguez, Ann Marie Roselle Balinas and Flora May dela Cruz and teacher-mentor Eng. Marloue Pidor. Their entry, GPS, GIS & SAR, is a search and rescue management system that integrates the Global Positioning System and Geographical Information System technology at Davao Gulf.
The three teams came up with the best mobile solutions based on the theme “Strengthening Community-Based Emergency Management System”. Their entries are designed to help communities become better prepared for the onslaught of natural disasters in order to mitigate losses.
Aside from the cash prizes awarded to the winning teams, equivalent amounts in the form of grants were also given to their respective schools. The other seven finalists each received P30,000 in cash. An additional P5,000 was awarded to Bulacan State University, with the SMART Vanguard entry, for getting the most number of text votes as the “best booth”.
Final judging was based on team presentations and evaluation of the working models that were displayed at the Mega Trade Hall 2 of SM Mega Mall, the venue for this year’s SWEEP Awards.
“Competitions like these are important because it drives the students to think of creative and cost-effective solutions to real problems,” says Dennis Salvacion, Information and Communications Technology head of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) who chaired the board of judges for the SWEEP Awards this year.
He is joined by Dr. Carina Lao, officer-in-charge of Research, Development and Training Division of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA); Ramon E. Derige, Deputy Executive Director of the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP); Engr. Hilario B. Suelto, SMART Network Platforms and Services Division (NPSD) senior manager; and Engr. Hans Christian M. Alvarez, SMART NPSD Planning and Engineering manager.
Batangas State University, represented by Ralph Gerard Sangalang (center), is this year’s PalaECEpan quiz bee champion. Also in photo are (from left) PalaECEpan host and SMART Network Services Assurance for the Visayas Head Menchie Quinal, judges Engr. Emmanuel C. Guevara, Engr. Lourdes T. Baldelomar and Engr. Jale M. Nonan, SMART Public Affairs Group Head Ramon R. Isberto, IECEP Director Dr. Celso Co and SMART NPSD Access Network Head Patrick Belicena.
Also a big winner at the 5th SWEEP Awards is Ralph Gerard Sangalang who is the new PalaECEpan quiz bee champion. The 5th year ECE student from Batangas State University took home P40,000 for winning what is said to be the most challenging PalaECEpan yet. This year’s quiz bee was conducted by the Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines (IECEP).
The recent SWEEP Awards was also huge in entertainment and various other highlights. It featured acts from today’s hottest bands and dance groups, raffle draws, a mini job fair, and interactive booth exhibits.
Organized by Smart Communications, Inc., the annual SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards is part of the leading services provider’s Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP), an industry-academe partnership program that helps raise the level of technology and engineering education in the country.
(Published 20 March 2009, Smart Communications Inc.)