Cebu's Robot Makers

Did you know that here in Cebu, there are also kids who are great when it comes to making robots?

Yes, robots. Perhaps the robots that they make may not be the likes of Optimus Prime and Bumblebee of Transformers or even Wall-E or E.V.E. of the Disney movie Wall-E, but they’re getting there.

In Cebu, robot making was pioneered by schools instituted by now Assistant Regional Director Dr. Caridad C. Labe of the Department of Education-Region VII – the Lapu-Lapu City Science and Technology Education Center (LLC-STEC) and Dr. Caridad C. Labe Education CentrEx (CCL-CentrEx). Both schools are founding members of Mactan Robotics Club, whose members also include other robotic enthusiasts from Lapu-Lapu City.

Last September 5-7, students of CCL CentrEx won the top prize in the Philippine Robotics Olympiad, making them the best robot makers in the country. They will go to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia on November 8 to 12 to compete against other teams from other countries in the World Robotics Olympiad.

Let us get to know some of the excellent robot makers of CCL CentrEx:

Name: Nicole Debrah C. Ignacio

Age: 12 years old

Nickname: Nikki

Favorite TV show: Adventure Time

Favorite food: Burger

Ability: Designing and programming robots

This year was the third time for Nikki to join a robot-making competition. The first was last year, also in the Philippine Robotics Olympiad, and the second was at the First Lego League. She spends her extra time watching TV and studying.

Nikki’s advice to kids wanting to excel in making robots: Work hard and plan before going to the competition. Be a team player and cooperate with the rest of the members of the team. “They should also try every options first,” she said.

Nikki is part of the winning team who will be going to the World Robotics Olympiad.

Name: Isaiah James Cervantes

Age: 11 years old

Nickname: Isaiah

Favorite past time: Cooking

Favorite food: Sisig

Ability: Building robots

Isaiah might be an excellent robot maker but when he grows up, he wants to be a chef. He prides himself with his cooking ability, saying that his sisig is a hit among his friends and family.

Isaiah’s advice to kids interested in robot making: Concentrate. Finish your project first before going out to play. For Isaiah, making robots is already like playing – fun and satisfying.

Name: Persis Faith B. Pame

Age: 11 years old

Nickname: Faith

Favorite food: Ampalaya

Favorite subject: Math

Ability: Building robots, leading the team, and surveillance

This is the first time for Faith to join a robotics competition, but Faith said that since robotics is part of the curriculum in their school, CCL CentrEx, making the best robot in their category was a breeze. The only challenge for Faith was when the surprise rule of the contest was introduced and when they were asked by their mentors to redesign their robot to make it even more efficient.

Faith’s advice to budding robot makers: Before you go to a competition, ask God for help. Concentrate on what you are going to do and put your personal problems aside. Teamwork and patience are very important.

Nikki, Isaiah, and Faith’s team won first place in the regular category in the Philippine Robotics Olympiad. Their robot was the only one who got to finish the challenge given to them on both rounds. Their challenge was for their robot to be able to identify colors and drop a certain number of balls for a particular color, and to be able to finish the track in the shortest possible time. Their best time: 45.4 seconds.

Name: Michael Wallace Manlosa

Age: 12 years old

Nickname: Miko

Favorite past time: Studying, playing online games, and watching TV

Favorite food: Fried chicken

Ability: Programming and building

Miko first took interest on building robots when he saw his friends at CCL-CentrEx making their robots. He said that robotics is fun and that learning it would help him in achieving his goal of becoming a mechanical or chemical engineer someday.

Miko is part of the second team from CCL-CentrEx who will also be going to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia on November to compete their robot in the World Robotics Olympiad.

Name: Anne Martha Nerona

Age: 12 years old

Nickname: Martha

Ability: Programing

This is the second time for Martha to join a robotics competition. The first was at the First Lego League. For Martha, the Philippine Robotics League was more challenging, especially since she has to become familiar with every aspect in building and programming their robot. At the PRO, they have to build and program their robots on site in two hours and 30 minutes. After which, they have to make sure that their robot is able to finish the given task in the shortest amount of time.

“We were able to finish building our robot in 19 minutes, the rest of the time we used in programming the robot,” said Martha.

“Robotics is fun, kids should try it out because they will learn a lot of skills and values like cooperation and learning how to wait for one’s turn,” Martha added.

Martha’s advice for kids who want to make their own robots: Think positive.

Name: Rupert Raphael Amodia

Age: 13 years old

Nickname: Rupert

Favorite past time: Programming and tinkering with the computer

Ability: Programing

Rupert is the team leader for CCL-CentrEx’s high school team. This is his third time to join a robotics competition and for him the most challenging part is in programming the robot, that is giving the robot intelligence, or the ability to do the task that it is assigned to do.

Asked why he likes programming, Rupert said: “The process is very challenging, when you try to find a way to make the robot work as you want to, and when the mission is accomplished, it is so rewarding.”

Rupert’s advice for kids interested in robotics: They should remember the three pillars of programming: 1. Time is gold; 2. Patience is a virtue; 3. Never give up.

Name: Kyle Gregory de Varas

Age: 13 years old

Nickname: Kyle

Past time: Designing planes in 3D on the computer and spending time in flight stimulators

Ability: Building

Kyle learned of robotics when he was still with STEC. Since then he was already interested in the subject but really wasn’t able to get the chance to compete. When he transferred to CCL-CentrEx that’s when he was really able to develop his skill in designing and building robots. While Rupert is skilled in giving the robots intelligence, Kyle’s ability is on giving the robot body. It is not a wonder, really, when Kyle said that he hopes to pursue a career in engineering in college. His passion for planes also is in line with his other choice of career, to be a pilot.

What Kyle has to say to kids interested in robotics: “You don’t need a LEGO kit to get involved in robotics, just basic materials and later on a circuit board. What is important is one’s effort and passion.”