Three young innovators from the Regional Science High School III are bringing a homegrown robotics solution from the Subic Bay Freeport to the international stage after earning a slot in the inaugural WRO STEM Entrepreneur Program in Hyderabad, India.
Senior high school students John Lee Bacoco, 16, Ahmika Julia Reyes, 15, and Katarina Sening Parungao, 16, make up Project CARED, one of 20 student robotics teams from 13 countries selected to participate in the pioneering program organized by the World Robot Olympiad (WRO) Association in collaboration with Aramco.
The international program, set for September 28, 2026, gives student innovators a unique opportunity to pitch their robotics solutions not simply to competition judges, but to a panel of entrepreneurs, investors and industry leaders.
For the young Subic-based innovators, the opportunity puts their work—and their vision—on a much larger platform.
A robot designed with healthcare workers in mind
Project CARED is a robotic solution designed to reduce nurses' repetitive workload by integrating patient-monitoring tools into a single system.
The team developed the concept through direct engagement with potential users. After interviewing nurses, patients, and volunteers, the students tested CARED in community health centers and school clinics and refined the system based on feedback from the people who would ultimately use it.
Their approach reflects an important aspect of innovation: developing technology not simply for the sake of technology, but in response to an actual community need.
“We have seen how exhaustion and heavy workloads affect nurses in the Philippines. That is why we are excited to present CARED to industry professionals who may be interested in helping us bring it closer to real-world use,” said Parungao, who oversees the project's design and functionality.
From the classroom to the entrepreneurial world
The WRO STEM Entrepreneur Program introduces a different dimension to robotics competitions by asking students to demonstrate not only the technical merits of their projects, but also their ability to communicate the problem they are addressing, explain the value of their solution, and respond to questions from industry professionals.
According to WRO, the program is intended to help bridge the gap between technical skills and real-world innovation by giving students firsthand experience in how ideas are evaluated and developed in the commercial world.
Four teams participating in the program will receive a share of a US$20,000 award pool, together with a six-month mentorship opportunity from industry experts to further develop their projects.
Project CARED's inclusion among the 20 international teams therefore represents more than participation in another robotics competition. It allows three young Filipino innovators to test their ideas in an environment that mirrors the early stages of real-world technology entrepreneurship.
A proud moment for Subic's STEM community
For the Subic Bay Freeport, the achievement of the RSHS III students highlights the growing potential of young people in the community to contribute to science, technology, and innovation.
From their classrooms in Subic, Bacoco, Reyes, and Parungao, students have developed a solution addressing a real-world healthcare challenge and are now preparing to present it before an international audience of industry leaders.
Their journey demonstrates how STEM education can move beyond textbooks and laboratories—allowing students to identify problems, engage with communities, build solutions, and explore how those solutions might eventually create meaningful impact.
As Project CARED heads to Hyderabad, the three students will carry with them not only their robotic innovation but also the creativity and ingenuity of young Filipino innovators from Subic. (SNL)
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