All fired up
Young Filipino engineering students are all set to take on the challenge of the Shell Eco-marathon (SEM) Asia 2010, a unique race to be held in July at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – the track where Formula 1 races are held. The point of the race is neither speed nor finishing first, but is all about efficiency – fuel efficiency, that is.
Graduating mechanical engineering students Jericho Rivera and Kenneth John Caraig from the Mapua Institute of Technology; Tim Mervin Orille and Rizfer John Cruz from the University of Sto. Tomas; and Mark Arrieta and Edmund Angeles from Don Bosco Technical College are leading their respective teams in creating their prototype cars for the race.
“This is the first time that the race is brought to Asia where 107 teams from different schools in the region will compete in SEM, the flagship event of Shell that champions fuel economy,” says Suiee Suarez, sustainable development manager of Pilipinas Shell. He adds that the SEM has been in the circuit for 25 years in Europe, and introduced in the Americas in 2007.
The SEM draws a multitude of spectators and generates widespread media attention as the eco-marathon challenges students to put their innovations to the test in two vehicle categories. The Prototype category involves futuristic, streamlined vehicles that focus on maximizing fuel efficiency through innovative design elements. The Urban Concept category, on the other hand, focuses on roadworthy fuel efficient vehicles. For both categories, teams can use any of the following to fuel their cars: diesel, gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas, or alternative fuels such as fuel cells/hydrogen, bio-fuels, solar and gas-to-liquid fuels.
The teams from Mapua, UST and Don Bosco are participating in the Prototype category.
Team Atalanta
“The Shell Eco-marathon is a milestone that will help me become a better student, leader and engineer in the future. This will teach me and my team mates a lot of things outside the classroom. It is a preparation for the real world of engineering,” Jericho Rivera says of the competition. He is the team leader of Atalanta, the name of the prototype car he and his team mates from Mapua are assembling. 
The students from Mapua named their car Atalanta after the Greek goddess of travel, voyage and adventure. The team – Willord Garcia, Carl Co, Jefferson Nanao, Richard Turalba, Albert Cudal and Charles Alviar – started their research last August and began to order materials and design the car body between October and November. They didn’t go on a Christmas break since the construction of their car started in December. Their advisers include Dr. Reynaldo Vea, Dr. Manuel Belino, Sherwin Magon, engineers Igmedio Isla, Artemon Luna and John Judilla.
“It is sexy and sleek, more on the curves,” Rivera describes Atalanta, which is half finished. “It’s aerodynamically designed so maganda ang flow ng air, to lessen the drag that affects efficiency.”
“Building Atalanta hones our leadership skills, too. Our time management skill is also put to the test,” says Kenneth John Caraig, the team manager.
“Apart from contributing my technical skills, I am also in charge of the budget and finding sponsors,” adds Caraig.
Apart from the P300,000 financial support Shell gave to each team, the student participants need to raise additional funds needed to continue their operations, including their plane fare to Malaysia and their accommodations in Kuala Lumpur. The search for sponsors for technical and financial partnership becomes an excellent avenue for students to hone their marketing and communication skills. In short, this early, they learn the value of negotiation and networking.
Team Grigio
The excitement of Don Bosco mechanical engineering students Edmund Angeles (team leader) and Mark Lester Arrieta (team manager) is palpable.
“I once dreamt of building my own car and now, with the SEM, I am able to do so. This contest makes me proud as a Bosconian and a Filipino,” says Angeles. 
For Arrieta, his fascination for cars started when he was a kid. “When I was a child, I played with my toy cars by dismantling and re-assembling them. When I was in Grade 5 or 6, I started to join my father when he tuned up our car. From then on, my fascination for cars took off,” Arrieta says.
Their prototype is named Grigio, which is Italian for gray wolf, and is 70 percent finished. They started conceptualizing their design in February 2009 and last month, they started building their prototype. Grigio, they say, is fuel efficient, safe, ergonomic, pogi (handsome) and practical.
Joining Angeles and Arrieta in assembling Grigio are Patrick Crespo, Angelo Blanco, Riz Vektor Gelle, Derrick Figueroa, Jason de Guzman, Gerald Sadian, Omega John Ruiz, John Elvin Jimena, Mark-Liwell Lontoc, Armin Lexter Tan, Janus Magat, Primo Diaz, Ivan Puno, Paul Malig and Erica Vicera. Engineer Paul Catalan acts as the team adviser.
Angeles adds that all participants to the SEM will also vie for other off-track awards for safety, eco-friendliness, technical innovation and design. There will also be awards for communications and marketing, best team spirit and perseverance in the face of adversity.
“The competition teaches us to be more responsible. Win or lose, we will remain privileged to be part of this international competition,” says Arrieta.
“We don’t expect to win,” says Angeles, “but we aim to win!”
Tiger 400
“The SEM is my opportunity to improve myself and to honor God,” says UST’s Tim Mervin Orille, team leader of Tiger 400, named in honor of the UST symbol and the university’s quadricentennial.
Tiger 400, whose design and assembly began in October 2009, is 30 percent finished. He describes their prototype as neat and clean, representing the characteristic of every Thomasian.
As the team leader, Orille says: “It is my duty and responsibility to make sure that each of my team mates does his designated task so that we will be able to meet our time table for this project. Also, I am in charge of managing the budget and making sure that all expenses are audited.”
As the team designer, Rizfer John Cruz thinks that their team’s dedication is what will make them win. “As the designer for the team, I compute the sizes of materials to be used, what kind of materials to be used. I also calculate the stresses encountered by every section of the car.”
Orille and Cruz are joined by team members Ricardo Martin Camara, Audric Colbert Lao, Richard Lau, Keith Russell See, Marion Andrew San Pedro, Edwin John Perey, Jarome Lopez, Kristoffer Lara, Renz Austin Dc. Cruz, Jan Carlo Belen, Carlos Colmenares, Waldo FroyRodriguez, Lorenzo Anton Bautista, Richard Go, and Candice Marjory Sy.
Team Tiger 400 adviser and manager is Raymundo Melegrito, and consultants include Amante Garcia, Rogelio Almira Jr. and Stephen Buñi.
Ready, get set, go!
The Shell Eco-marathon 2010 will be the country’s first participation in the annual competition. The three teams are determined to make a good show.
And with their dedication, perseverance and passion for cars, Team Atalanta, Team Grigio and Team Tiger 400 are ready to take to the circuit and step up to the challenge of bringing pride and honor to the country.
Go, Team Philippines!
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