Sikat II, Team Solar PhilippinesSikat II, the Philippine entry in the 2011 World Solar Challenge (WSC) in Australia, has completed the 3,000-kilometer race across the outback, arriving in Adelaide’s Victoria Square from Darwin on October 22, 2011.

According to the provisional results posted on the WSC website (http://www.worldsolarchallenge. org/) on October 24, Team Solar Philippines landed in 17th place among 37 entries. Japan’s Tokai University, the Netherlands’ Nuon Solar Team and the US’ University of Michigan claimed the top three places in this year’s race.

On hand to welcome Team Solar Philippines at the finish line was a contingent that included Education Secretary Armin Luistro, Philippine Consul General Reynaldo Dante Juanta and members of the Filipino community in Adelaide. The 14-member team was composed of 10 De La Salle University (DLSU)-Manila engineering students and four faculty members.

Sikat II started the race in Darwin in the 32nd out of 37 slots on October 16, but rallied to the 20th spot as of Saturday, October 22, besting rivals from the US, the United Kingdom, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Canada, among others. This was in spite of delays caused by a fire that hit Sikat II’s battery on October 18.

Sikat II is proudly Pinoymade, built by the Philippine Solar Car Challenge Society Inc. (PSCCSI) and a team from DLSU and is the successor to Sinag (2007) and Sikat I (2009). It is the Philippines’ second entry to the competition among solar-powered cars from all over the world. Sikat II sponsors and donors include a number of Lopez Group companies: First Gen Corp., First Philec Solar Corp., Energy Development Corp., First Philippine Industrial Park, First Balfour Inc. and Griffin Sierra Travel Inc. Other sponsors and supporters include Sunpower Philippines Mfg. Ltd., which provided the solar panels for the solar car, DLSU, Shell Philippines, Stratworks, Quickflo Forwarders and Puma.

First Philippine Holdings chair Federico R. Lopez currently serves as the chair of PSCCSI, while First Philec President Dr. Arthur de Guia and First Gen President Giles Puno serve as PSCCSI trustees. Completing the board of trustees are Vince Perez, Edgar Chua, Henry Co, Tammy Lipana, Jong Jimenez, Br. Ricky Laguda, Zayber Protacio and Ramon Agustines who is also PSCCSI president and team manager of Sikat II during the 2011 WSC. PSCCSI was formed in 2007 to drum up support for the development of renewable energy in the country.

Highlighting the ability of Filipinos to lead in sustainable energy technology, Sikat II was designed and created by 22 engineering students and seven faculty members of the Mechanical Engineering, and Electronics and Communications Engineering departments of DLSU-Manila. Leading the project are Dr. Pag- Asa Gaspillo and Jack Catalan with the support of team heads Martin Kalaw and Isidro Marfori III.

Sinag, the Philippines’ first solar car, debuted in the WSC in 2007, finishing 12th among 40 entries. Sikat I, meanwhile, was taken around the Philippines in 2010 “to promote the advancement of renewable energy sources.”