DOST-SEI lauds 1,802 students for excellence in STEM

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




The country continues to make a name on the international stage as students from various regions in the country bag 5,060 gold, silver, and bronze medals in 2021. This was in full display during the online awarding ceremony of the Youth Excellence in Science (YES) awards of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute through its Facebook page last November 25, 2022.

As part of the activities of the 2022 National Science and Technology Week celebration, the DOST-SEI has conferred 1, 802 YES medals to elementary and high school students who have won gold, bronze, and silver medals either individually or by group on international science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) competition.

The total number of awardees were from various regions in the country:



National Capital Region – 805 awardees

CALABARZON – 189 awardees

Western Visayas – 115 awardees

Central Luzon – 113 awardees

Ilocos Region – 78 awardees

Bicol Region – 86 awardees

Zamboanga Peninsula – 55 awardees

Davao Region – 66 awardees

Northern Mindanao – 67 awardees

Central Visayas – 48 awardees

CARAGA – 38 awardees

Eastern Visayas – 37 awardees

Cordillera Administrative Region – 38 awardees

Cagayan Valley – 27 awardees

MIMAROPA – 19 awardees

SOCCSKSARGEN – 21 awardees



SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo expressed delight about how the youth are always eager to learn, unpack curiosity, and pursue excellence in science.

“It is a humbling moment for us at the Department of Science and Technology to be given the opportunity to celebrate the wins of our young geniuses who bagged awards from various international mathematics and science competitions. We commend you for having reached this impressive milestone that could only be accomplished through your sheer dedication and perseverance,” said Dr. Biyo.

The chief of the DOST, Dr. Renato U. Solidum, Jr., also congratulated the students and reminded them to continuously strive for excellence, not just in science, but in life. “We hope that this recognition further motivates you to strive for excellence and inspires you even more to choose STEM as a field of study and as a career,” said Dr. Solidum.

He also thanked the national organizers for the various STEM competitions, the coaches and trainers, and the student’s parents and guardians for investing in the young people.

YES Awardee, Harvey Allen V. Ylanan of the Ateneo de Manila Senior High School, who won a bronze medal in the Hong Kong International Science Olympiad and a silver in the Guangdong – Hongkong – Macao Grater at Area Mathematical Olympiad, encouraged his co-awardees to continue to pursue excellence and persevere despite the hardships, and to become a beacon of hope for an innovative future.

“I hope you may use this award to provide help in advocating and raising your voices for quality education for everyone, climate action, medical innovation, and scientific discovery in our country, where love, wisdom, the truth, and facts may grow and foster,” said Ylanan.

The YES Awards is a DOST institutional award for exemplary achievement of the youth in the fields of science and mathematics. It is in the form of a medal of distinction awarded by the DOST Secretary or the DOST Regional Director to deserving youth. It signifies DOST’s high regard for excellence and competitiveness in the fields of science and technology. 

A Case for Women to Lead in Tech

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


Driven by the pursuit of disruptive innovation, Lista Co-founder Khriztina Lim sets her sights on revolutionizing how Filipinos manage their money.

There has never been a better time for female leadership in the Philippines. Findings from the World Economic Forum’s 2022 Global Gender Gap Report show that women constitute 43% of all people hired in leadership roles in the country – making the Philippines as the country with the highest representation of women in leadership across the APAC region, and 4th in the world.

Many of the country’s top conglomerates and household name brands have female leaders. However, Filipina women are also making a name for themselves in the startup space as well.

One of those women is Khriztina Lim. No stranger to the fast-paced nature of startups, she earned her stripes at Grab where she started out as a Marketing Executive shortly after the superapp had begun operations in the country. She went on to become the Country Marketing Head for GrabTaxi Philippines where she was instrumental in fostering strategic partnerships – leading to a huge increase in both users and market share before capping off her tenure with Grab in a regional role that saw her handle several markets aside from the Philippines.

Passionate about disruptive innovation, after leading the charge to revolutionize mobility in the country, Khriztina set her sights on addressing another challenge many Filipinos face: financial management.

Many businesses in the local micro, small, and medium scale enterprises (MSME) sector still use manual logbooks for tracking day-to-day finances. Filipino households also cling to traditional methods such as having an alkansya (piggy bank) for savings and a listahan (list) for keeping tabs on debt and expenses.

To optimize financial management through technology, together with her co-founder Aaron Villegas and Khriztina Lim launched Lista – a free financial management app that provides individuals and businesses with everything they need to manage budgets, savings, debt, profits, and other financial transactions. By making it convenient for anyone to stay on top of their finances, Khriztina aims for every Filipino to set out on the path to financial flexibility where saving money and achieving financial goals are firmly within reach.

"The goal is not just to create a financial tool to assist Filipinos but for our app to be a reliable partner in helping individuals and MSMEs alike achieve their financial milestones," she said. "There are always challenges that surround innovation, but grit, passion, and a firm belief that Filipinos deserve better helps me thrive. Filipinos deserve a future where everyone can afford to have savings, emergency funds, and more, and Lista aims to make that happen.”

Since its launch last November, Lista has raised more than $5.1 million in its latest fund-raising round to accelerate the expansion of its services.

With the goal of simplifying financial management for all Filipinos firmly in her sights, Khriztina encourages aspiring women entrepreneurs to confidently venture into new businesses and industries. In today’s fast-paced world where digitalization drives innovation, Khriztina believes that there are many opportunities abound in the world of tech for women to thrive and make their names.

“Digitalization has become a significant factor in the everyday lives of Filipinos. More and more, women leaders are becoming more visible, supported, and spearheading the task of improving the lives of Filipinos, one innovation at a time, she said. “As long as you have a vision and a plan, anything is possible.”

The Miss Universe Organization and Mouawad unveil “The Crown Number 12: Force for Good ” in Thailand

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




The Miss Universe Organization unveiled “The Crown Number 12: Force for Good”, crafted by world-renowned luxury jeweler Mouawad. The new crown, with pear-shaped blue sapphires surrounded by diamonds and valued at approximately USD 5.58 million, will be the prestigious mark of honor for the winner of the 71st MISS UNIVERSE® Competition. The event will take place on January 14, 2023, in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.

A unique, bespoke work of art and craft, the Force for Good crown emanates Mouawad’s passion for crafting the extraordinary, featuring the meticulous setting of sapphires and diamonds, whose design is replete with symbolism. Reflecting the point that significant change does not happen in an instant, the base of the crown is set with diamonds symbolizing the status quo. From the base upwards, rippling wave motifs reflect the momentum of change, with their varying sizes portraying that this momentum gains ground gradually through advocacy at different moments and places, to audiences large and small, over time.

“It has been an honor to craft a new crown for The Miss Universe Organization, and to create a new sparkling chapter in the story of Mouawad Miss Universe crowns, said Mouawad Co-guardian Fred Mouawad. “The Mouawad Miss Universe Force for Good Crown is a work of extraordinary craftsmanship, completely crafted and set and by hand total 993 stones setting, featuring 110.83 carat of blue sapphire and 48.24 carat of white diamond in a design that evokes The Miss Universe Organization’s belief in a future forged by women who push the limits of what’s possible and the incredible women from around the world who advocate for positive change.”

Upon closer inspection, the culmination of these wave-like curls at the base emulates a serpent’s head, symbolizing the challenges involved in swaying opponents and those with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. As the eye moves upward from the base of the crown, the color gradient changes from the glistening white of diamonds to the warm blue of sapphires, deepening in intensity toward the pinnacle of the crown. At the top, a stunning of Royal Blue sapphire pear-shape 45.14 carat displays a depth of color emblematic of the goodness that can be achieved through persistent action and of the hope for a brighter future

Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip, Chief Executive Officer of JKN Global Group Public Company Limited, as the new owner of The Miss Universe Organization, said: “The Miss Universe 2022 Force for Good Crown stands for a graceful reincarnation of The Miss Universe Organization’s long-standing values and heritage as a guiding light, shining bright to the future glory. The new crown is also the dazzling illustration of both the challenges and rewards that come when young women advocate for causes close to their heart and strive make an impact on the world.”

“As we are stepping into the new era of women’s empowerment, The Miss Universe Organization will continue to be a global organization run by women for women with a promise to serve as an inspirational platform that celebrates diverse women, supporting them to realize their ambition and build self-confidence, while evolving the brand over time to be more relevant and appealing to the next generation. Our new ambition is to instill the sense of passion for ‘transformational leadership’ among us all, with firm belief that everyone can lead, to be successful and achieve their life goals. With this future-oriented approach, the Miss Universe brand is keen to take on a pivotal role in involving and engaging people on a journey toward social inclusion, gender equality and environmental sustainability,” added Anne Jakapong.

The “MISS UNIVERSE x MOUAWAD: Unveiling the new crown "Force for Good", the New Emblem of Beautifully Confident” press conference revealed the new crown held in TRUE ICON HALL, 7th floor, ICONSIAM. Bangkok, Thailand, and has been witnessed by over 150 local media and VIPs. The event was also broadcast via JKN 18 TV channel and live streaming on Miss Universe YouTube channel and JKN18 Facebook page, attended by thousands of international media.

The partnership between The Miss Universe Organization and Mouawad was formed in 2019, which saw winners of a prestigious competition, MISS UNIVERSE® honored with crowns crafted by Mouawad.

Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip said she was excited to bring the new crown to the stage of the 71st MISS UNIVERSE® Competition herself. The event will take place on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Last year's winner Miss India Harnaaz Sandhu will crown her successor at the end of the event.