Incentives await young creators of 'Pnoy' the robot

BOCAUE, Bulacan, Philippines  – Incentives await four high school students here who bagged a gold medal in the 7th World Robot Olympiad (WRO) for the robot named “Pnoy.”

At the moment though, officials and students of the Dr. Yanga Colleges Inc. (DYCI) are still in a daze by the victory of Adiel de Jesus, Ma. Nerissa Nicolas, Ellaine Bulaclac, and Alexandra Guevarra in the WRO’s junior high school open category.

“We will give them full college scholarship if they chose to enroll with us,” said Michael Yanga, one of the DYCI’s ranking officials.

Yanga said though the four students will not receive monetary incentives. “We will give them a treat, perhaps a trip, but no monetary incentives because we would like to reinforce the value of hard work to them,” he said.

Yanga said they are planning a victory parade and a thanksgiving Mass next week.

Meanwhile, the provincial government of Bulacan is also planning to invite the students at the provincial capitol next week.

Provincial administrator Jim Valerio, a Bocaue resident himself, said they will invite the four DYCI students to receive recognition from the provincial government. 

Valerio said they will ask the students to do demonstration of the capabilities of Pnoy the robot.

“We want to see and show other Bulakenyos what our young people are capable of doing today, especially when given proper guidance and tools,” Valerio said.

The “multi-talented” Pnoy, a three-foot Lego robot, speaks four languages, plays musical instruments, and kisses the hands of older people, a traditional Filipino trait of showing respect to elders.