PHILIPPiNEXT 2025: Philippines to Host Groundbreaking International Innovation Conference and Exposition

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Manila, Philippines — A Historic First for the Nation and the Region

In a bold and visionary stride toward positioning the Philippines as a central hub for innovation in the Asia-Pacific, the country is set to host its first-ever International Conference and Exposition on Innovations (ICE on I) — a landmark event aptly branded as PHILIPPiNEXT, short for Philippines’ International Exposition of Technologies. This trailblazing gathering is scheduled to unfold from July 14 to 17, 2025, at the prestigious Okada Manila in Parañaque City.

Spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) in partnership with the Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT), ICE on I represents a powerful fusion of ambition, strategy, and global collaboration. It will mark a pivotal moment not just for the Philippines, but for the entire Asia-Pacific region as it seeks to harness the power of intellectual property (IP), technology, and cross-border innovation.

Uniting Minds Across Borders: A Convergence of Innovation Leaders

With the official endorsement of the Department of Foreign Affairs and funding support from the International Commitment Fund (ICF) of the Office of the President, PHILIPPiNEXT promises to be more than just a conference — it is a catalytic movement.

Themed “International Conference on the Commercialization of Intellectual Property Assets,” ICE on I aims to bring together key players from government, industry, academia, and the international innovation ecosystem. Their shared goal? To identify, share, and deploy best practices and strategies that drive the transformation of intellectual capital into real-world, market-ready solutions.

According to Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena, Director of DOST-TAPI and Vice Chair of APCTT, “This event is a call to action for the region to harness its intellectual property potential as a driver of inclusive and sustainable growth. We are honored to work with APCTT to bring this vision to life in the Philippines.”

Championing Filipino Ingenuity on a Global Stage

For decades, DOST-TAPI has led the charge in helping Filipino innovators turn groundbreaking ideas into commercially viable technologies. From supporting research and development to offering strategic guidance in intellectual property protection and marketing, the agency has become the nation’s cornerstone for tech commercialization.

Now, as the official national focal point for APCTT since the 1990s, DOST-TAPI is leveraging this long-standing partnership to place the Philippines at the forefront of regional innovation diplomacy.

Innovation for the Climate, the Economy, and the Future

ICE on I will feature a dynamic suite of events, including:

Conference sessions and panel discussions on key topics such as IP commercialization, innovation financing, policy support, and climate technology solutions

Technology pitching and networking sessions to connect inventors with investors, government support, and international partners

The International Innovation Expo, showcasing transformative technologies across critical sectors such as:

Renewable energy

Environmental protection

Climate change and disaster resilience

Digital technologies and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)

A special highlight will be the presentation of emerging technologies from the Philippines, alongside breakthrough innovations from participating countries. These exhibits will highlight not only technical advancements but also the collaborative spirit necessary for global progress.

The Call to the World: Join the Innovation Movement

PHILIPPiNEXT is more than an event—it’s a declaration of the Philippines’ readiness to lead. As the global economy rapidly shifts toward knowledge-based and innovation-driven growth, this international gathering invites the world to recognize the Philippines not just as a host, but as a formidable force in innovation diplomacy.

The invitation is open to policymakers, researchers, startups, innovators, investors, educators, and media partners from across the globe. ICE on I is set to become a powerful platform for catalyzing action, nurturing alliances, and championing technologies that address both economic advancement and social transformation.

For more information, registration details, and full event updates, visit the official PHILIPPiNEXT website:

tapi.dost.gov.ph/philippinext

Follow the conversation on social media via the official PHILIPPiNEXT Facebook Page:

Philippines' International Exposition of Technologies

Be part of the future. Be part of PHILIPPiNEXT.

Forging Brotherhood in the Jungle: U.S. and Philippine Marines Launch High-Stakes Archipelagic Coastal Defense 25.3 Exercises in Palawan

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

PUERTO PRINCESA, PALAWAN — Amid the dense tropical jungles and strategic coastlines of Palawan, the thundering echoes of live fire and the silent sweep of unmanned aerial systems signal the beginning of Archipelagic Coastal Defense (ACD) 25.3—a high-intensity bilateral training operation between the U.S. Marine Corps and the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC). Running from June 23 to July 15, 2025, this critical military exercise reaffirms an unshakeable alliance and an unwavering commitment to maritime security in the Indo-Pacific.

U.S. Marines from Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Marine Rotational Force – Darwin (MRF-D) 25.3 are once again standing shoulder to shoulder with their counterparts from the Philippine Marine Corps’ 3rd Marine Brigade in a series of joint drills designed not only to sharpen warfighting skills but to fortify regional stability.

From live-fire marksmanship and jungle survival tactics to advanced patrolling operations and subject matter exchanges on small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS), the exercises are strategically crafted to simulate real-world scenarios in the uniquely fragmented geography of the Philippine archipelago. The climax of this joint endeavor will unfold in a coordinated airfield seizure exercise at Roxas Airfield, an event that promises to spotlight the growing interoperability and tactical cohesion between the two forces.

“The training we conduct during ACD 25.3 directly contributes to our operational readiness and strengthens our coastal defense strategy,” said Brigadier General Antonio G. Mangoroban, commanding officer of the 3rd Marine Brigade. “These exercises foster critical skills and enhance our ability to jointly respond to any security challenge.”

The symbolic and strategic importance of ACD 25.3 cannot be overstated. At a time when maritime disputes and external threats continue to test sovereignty and security in the Indo-Pacific, this exercise embodies more than tactical readiness—it represents unity of purpose and shared resilience.

The Philippine contingent brings formidable capability to the table, with participants from the Marine Battalion Landing Teams, Force Reconnaissance Group, Coastal Defense Regiment, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, combat engineers, and health service support units. Each element plays a vital role in executing complex and high-risk operations that define modern coastal defense.

“We look forward to the opportunity to share tactics and build interoperability with our Philippine counterparts,” emphasized Captain Mark Chase, commanding officer of Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. “This partnership enables both our forces to effectively train, adapt, and respond together in the unique operational environment presented by the Philippine archipelago.”

As part of a broader framework supporting the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Archipelagic Coastal Defense Concept and ongoing AFP modernization efforts, ACD exercises continue to strengthen the Philippines' posture in defending its waters, coastlines, and communities.

In the unforgiving terrain of Palawan, this is more than just training—it is a testament to decades of defense cooperation, evolving to meet the moment. Through coordinated drills, knowledge-sharing, and a commitment to mutual defense, ACD 25.3 sends a resounding message: the alliance between the United States and the Philippines remains unbroken, dynamic, and ready for the challenges ahead.

With each footstep in the mud and every round fired on the range, the two nations move closer to a future where peace is preserved through strength, and security is built through solidarity.

Three Tiny Wonders, One Big Breakthrough: UP Scientists Help Uncover Three New Forest Mice in Mindoro

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

In the dense, mist-laced forests of Mindoro, where the echoes of tamaraws still haunt the underbrush and the rare Mindoro warty pig roams free, another evolutionary miracle has quietly unfolded beneath the forest floor and among the tangled roots. It’s a discovery so small it could fit in the palm of your hand—but with implications as massive as the island’s rugged mountains.

Three brand-new species of Philippine forest mice, invisible to the world until now, have been officially recognized by science. These tiny mammals, previously misidentified or entirely unknown, are the latest additions to Mindoro’s growing roster of endemic wildlife. And it’s all thanks to the relentless dedication of a team of Filipino scientists, led by the late, great Dr. Danilo Balete, with pivotal contributions from researchers at the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Science’s Institute of Biology (UPD-CS IB).

From 2013 to 2017, Dr. Balete and his team trekked through the relatively unexplored wilderness of Mindoro. Their goal: to survey the island’s forest ecosystems, often overlooked in the broader conservation landscape. What they found was astonishing. Among the island’s leaf litter and mossy rocks skittered three elusive mice—similar in form to the known Apomys gracilirostris, yet strikingly different in behavior, anatomy, and genetic structure.

And so began a scientific odyssey that would span nearly a decade.

Together with Dr. Mariano Roy Duya and Melizar Duya of UPD-CS IB, and in collaboration with international researchers, the team painstakingly analyzed the creatures’ physical and genetic traits. Fur patterns, skull shapes, and mitochondrial DNA sequences were all meticulously compared and cataloged. The result: irrefutable proof that these were not merely variations of known species, but distinct and never-before-seen evolutionary offshoots.

The trio of new species are:

Apomys minor – the smallest of the three, dainty and light-footed, a true miniature of the forest floor.

Apomys crinitus – notable for its distinctively hairy ears, a rare trait that likely plays a role in its adaptation to Mindoro’s unique forest environment.

Apomys veluzi – named in honor of the late Maria Josefa “Sweepea” Veluz, a revered mammalogist of the National Museum of Natural History whose work inspired generations of Filipino biologists.

Their discovery, recently published in the international journal Zootaxa, brings Mindoro’s count of endemic mammal species to twelve—up from nine—firmly establishing it as the smallest island in the world known to host its own clade of newly evolved mammals. In the world of evolutionary biology, this is no small feat. It’s a monumental clue to the intricate web of life that has quietly flourished on the island for millennia, largely shielded from the eyes of modern science.

But the story doesn’t end in Mindoro. The Philippine archipelago, with its complex topography and rich biogeographical history, remains one of the world's most potent hotbeds of biodiversity. Luzon, already hailed for its unique faunal patterns, shares many of the same evolutionary drivers—tectonic shifts, isolation, and habitat fragmentation—that shaped Mindoro's endemic lifeforms. Similarly, parts of Mindanao harbor biological secrets waiting to be revealed.

This is precisely why the Philippines is a dreamland for field biologists and conservationists. With every mountaintop surveyed and every forest floor searched, there is the thrilling possibility of rediscovery—or the naming of something completely new. Yet this scientific goldmine is also fragile. Many of these endemic creatures live in increasingly threatened ecosystems, under the looming pressure of deforestation, climate change, and habitat loss.

Dr. Balete’s work—alongside the contributions of the Duya team and their partners—is more than just academic achievement. It’s a rallying cry. It reminds us that even in a country so often overlooked in global science narratives, we harbor wonders still untold. The tiniest heartbeat in a mouse can reverberate through the corridors of evolutionary history, and it is our responsibility to listen.

In celebrating these new species, we also celebrate the spirit of scientific curiosity, the power of collaboration, and the urgency of conservation. Because in every patch of unexplored forest, another miracle may be waiting.

And we owe it to our future—and the creatures who have been here long before us—to find it, name it, and protect it.

Cover photo:

Mouse A: A. gracilirostris; mouse B: A. veluzi; mouse C: A. crinitus; mouse D: A. minor (Photo credit: Heaney et. al 2025)