Hundreds of senior high school and college students from First Gen Corporation’s partner schools and organizations took to their drawing boards, while First Philippine Holdings Corporation (FPH) Group employees collaborated to tackle climate change. Several teams dared to take on the climate challenge during the inaugural “Ideathon: Innovate for the Climate,” with 15 teams making it to the final round.

After a series of “Ideathon Boosters” and mentoring sessions with experts, 10 winners— eight Top Climate Innovators, one Mentors’ Choice Awardee and one Climate Ambassadors’ Choice Awardee—were hailed during the “Ideathon 2021: Innovate for the Climate” awards ceremony on Nov. 26, 2021.

The winners in the Youth Challenge were “Waste Care in Fashion Forward-Thinking” of Centro Escolar Integrated School (CEIS)-Manila’s (through Abot Tala) Team Eco-Tinkers; “Rainwater Harvesting System and WASH Program” of Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU)-Batangas’ Team H2O Catalyst; “Reutilizing E-Waste Towards a Climate Change-Free Environment” of CEIS-Manila’s (through Abot Tala) Team Powerpuff Greens; and “Fandora Eco Cooler” of LPU-Batangas’ Team Sustainababes.

Topping the FPH Community Challenge were “Zeroing Aluminum Waste” of First Philec’s Team FPI- Mark composed of Mark Kevin Abrenica, Herbert Camara, Edward Fiestada and Arnold Villanueva, and mentored by JM Dumdum of The Climate Reality Project Philippines; “ISLA” (Integrated Solutions for Livelihood Augmentation) of First Gen and Energy Development Corporation’s Team ISLA composed of Clowee Anne Licsi and Hannah Mary Saltarin, and mentored by Jenica Dizon of Waves for Water, Al Santos and Andel Reyes of Sikat Solar Challenge Foundation; “Sari-SaRefill Store” of First Balfour’s Team Ingenuineers with Ronna Bautista, Louis Isaac Samonte, Ana Ordiales, Riana Joyce Ortega and Limuel Banaag, and mentored by Aimee Oliveros of The Climate Reality Project Philippines; and “30-kW Solar Power System for FGHPC Housing Compound” of First Gen’s Team Housing Compound composed of Lorenzo Perez, Bryan Jason Evan, Bobby Perez, Marlowe Chica and Ysrael Villaflor, with Dave Albao and Sef Carandang of Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc. as mentors.

First Balfour’s Team Ingenuineers won the Climate Ambassadors’ Choice Award while the Mentors’ Choice Award went to Team H2O Catalyst of LPU-Batangas.

Winners received seed funding of up to P100,000, a trophy and an opportunity to be mentored further by experts in jumpstarting their climate solutions. (Story/Photos by: Dianne Datu)