Girls and their limitless potential are once again celebrated during the launch of the 2024-2025 cycle of Tagisang Robotics Girls and Gears—the first and only all-female robotics competition in the country.
This year’s run kicked off in celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child—a key global moment where people come together to recognize and advocate for gender equality and the universality of women’s and girls’ rights.
As part of the competition’s initial stage, female students from 24 science and technology-oriented junior high schools in the country underwent the Mobot Interfacing using the Arduino Microcontroller Training. This 5-day technical training course aimed to prepare the school teams for the competition stage.
(From left) ThinkLab’s Kate Justine Flores gives students a review of the basics of Arduino and electronics; Veena Barnachea leads the modules on the fundamentals of Arduino Microcontroller and Programming, Arduino Digital and Analog Input and Output, and advance Arduino lessons including Arduino Two-Dimensional Arrays and LED Matrix; Josiah Sicad introduces lessons on mobot base inclusions and serial communications, and guides the girls on assembling and interfacing their mobots
The training sessions focused on learning the basics about robotics technologies. They covered topics, such as Basic C Programming and Electronics, Introduction to Arduino and Microcontrollers, Breadboard Prototyping and Troubleshooting, Wireless Communication, and Kit-of-Parts (KOP) building. The training modules were facilitated by lecturers from ThinkLab.
School teams receive their mobots and unbox their kits of parts (KOP), which will then be their training companions in preparation for the competition
Here are the 24 invited school-teams that will compete for the 2024-2025 cycle of TR Girls & Gears: Bangkal High School; Caloocan National Science and Technology High School; Las Piñas National High School; Lydia D. Villangca Trade School; Makati Science High School; Malabon City Mathematics and Science High School; Marcelo H. del Pilar National High School; Marikina Science High School; Maronquillo National High School; Muntinlupa Science High School; Parañaque Science High School; Pasay City West High School;
Pasig City Science High School; Pitogo High School; Quezon City High School; Rizal High School; Rizal National Science High School; San Francisco High School; San Joaquin-Kalawaan High School; San Juan City Science High School; Senator Renato “Compañero” Cayetano Memorial Science and Technology High School; Taguig Science High School; Tondo High School; Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science.
To inspire the TagRobo girls, Bern Irish Arguelles, Science Research Specialist II of DOST-SEI and a former DOST scholar, provided an overview of the DOST publication “Women in Science,” which championed women’s involvement in the S&T workforce and paved the way for this TR Girls and Gears.
Prior to the training proper, the girls also had the opportunity to explore the exciting fields of STEM through the #PUSH4Science: Maging DOST Scholar Ka! Campaign. They were introduced to “Finding North in STEM: A Career Guidebook for Students,” a handy reference to usher students towards a fulfilling and an exciting career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Carefully designed to promote STEM education, this guidebook highlights STEM courses that are covered by the DOST-SEI scholarship programs for both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
The TagRobo girls also underwent a workshop on gender equality and women empowerment. This workshop sought to inspire them to continue enhancing their potential and advocating for women’s rightful place in society. It was facilitated by Philippine Commission on Women’s (PCW) Gender and Development (GAD) Resource Pool member Marita Pimentel.
Present during the opening of this year’s season of TR Girls and Gears were the members of the board of judges, engineers Edison Roxas of the University of Santo Tomas Department of Electronics Engineering and Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, Percival Magpantay of the University of the Philippines Diliman Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute, and Carlos Matti Oppus of the Ateneo de Manila University School of Science and Engineering.
The 5-day training concluded with a thrilling game reveal. Carrying TR’s original battle cry “Pagyabong ng Kalinangan at Pagkakaisa sa Gitna ng Pakikipagtunggali,” this year’s cycle champions learning, advocacy, and camaraderie over competitive rivalry and incorporates the theme of Pinoy Fiesta. It gets inspiration from the following pinoy games: Pukpok Palayok, Pabitin, and Palo Sebo, while revolving on the concept of Filipinos’ favorite game, basketball.
On the last day of the training, the girls successfully make their mobots move and complete runs during a practice game, proving they’re ready for more challenges
TR’s Pinoy Fiesta will be a 3-on-3, alliance vs alliance, varsity game in which participants will be able to team-up and face other school-teams. It will have two phases, the seed rounds and the playoffs and championship. There will be 6 games for the seed rounds and 7 games for the playoffs and championship.
The TagRobo girls are set to battle it out for the actual competition stage in March 2025. (DOST-SEI Media Relations)