The University of the Philippines Diliman College of Engineering proudly announces the winners of the 2023 Dr. Francis Chua Innovation Awards in the prestigious Undergraduate Project Competition (UPC). This annual event celebrates the exceptional talent and ingenuity of senior students and their faculty mentors, as they present groundbreaking research and design projects that have the potential to shape the future of various industries. The winners were announced last August 2 during the UPD College of Engineering Recognition Rites.

The UPC is a platform that showcases the best and most innovative research projects undertaken by our senior students under the mentorship of our ever-hardworking and highly motivated faculty members. With a focus on fostering innovation and creativity, the competition features two main categories: Research and Design.

In the Research Category, the winners are as follows:

First Place:

Project: Ionic Liquid Plating of Zinc-coated Magnesium Substrate for Bioresorbable Orthopedic Implants
By: KARL EFRAIM DULDULAO, summa cum laude
Adviser: Dr. Eden May B. dela Peña

Second Place:

Project: Ground Deformation Monitoring of Reclaimed Lands Along Manila Bay Using PS-InSAR Technique
By: GENESIS ANNE S. LEAL, magna cum laude & AUBREY LALAINE A LOMIBAO, magna cum laude
Advisers: Dr. Rosalie B. Reyes & Asst. Prof. Luis Carlos S. Mabaquiao

Third Place:

Development of a Storm Surge & Severe Wind Empirical Damage Assessment Framework for Generating Structural Vulnerability Curves for Residential Buildings
By: MARIA ERICA P. GOMEZ, summa cum laude
Advisers: Asst. Prof. Liezl Raissa E. Tan & Asst. Prof Imee Bren O. Villalba

Integrating Time Series Analysis Of Satellite-Derived Vegetation Indices And Climatological Factors For Agricultural Drought Forecasting And Monitoring In Mainland Cagayan
By: JOSE LORENZO D MASA, cum laude & GLADYS JOY Y VILLAS, cum laude
Advisers: Dr. Ayin M. Tamondong & Engr. Jommer M. Medina

Investigating the Effect of Leading-Edge Tubercles with Variable Intertubercular Distances on the Performance of Tidal Turbines
By: CAELAN JOSEPH C. CONSING, summa cum laude & RAYMOND MATHEW F. PIAMONTE, magna cum laude
Adviser: Dr. Louis Angelo M. Danao

Toward Spatial and Social Equality: Investigating and Modelling the Link Between Opportunity and Urban Intensity in Metro Manila, Philippines
By: JOSHUA P. TABERNILLA, magna cum laude & MARIYA ALMIRA B. ENSINA, magna cum laude
Advisers: Asst. Prof. Bienvenido G. Carcellar III, Asst. Prof. Ma. Simeona M. Martinez

In the Design Category, the winners are as follows:

First Place*:

Project: Load-Bearing Prefabricated Ferrocement Panels With Expanded Perlite And Silica Fume
By: MARIAN CHLOE J ESPINA & MARY JOYCE L SANTOS, magna cum laude
Advisers: Asst. Prof. Rosabelle Louise A Caram & Engr. Karlo Daniel Q Colegio

Project: Establishment of Tissue-Mimicking Gel Materials For Ultrasound-Guided Procedures
By: DIONELLA JITKA B. QUINAGORAN, summa cum laude
Advisers: Dr. Leslie Joy L. Diaz, Asst. Prof, Joshua Kae B. Macugay & Engr. Nerissa Unielle D. Quenga

(*The Panel of Judges decided there was a tie for the First Place)

Third Place:

Power Production From Polyethylene Pyrolysis And Gasification With Reduced Carbon Emissions Via The Allam Cycle
By: CLARA MAE L GONZALES, magna cum laude, ERIN FAYE L DIZON, summa cum laude, & REYNALYN P. TABARANGAO, cum laude
Adviser: Engr. John Von Wernher C Dela Cruz

Real-Time Water Level Monitoring Using Low-Cost GNSS Receiver
By: RAPHAELA DANICA R. DIZON, magna cum laude & JOEDEL J. PENALES, magna cum laude
Advisers: Dr. Rosalie B. Reyes & Asst. Prof. Luis Carlos S. Mabaquiao

Developing A Browser Extension For The Automated Detection Of Deceptive Patterns In Cookie Banners
By: JURIS HANNAH G. ADORNA, cum laude & AUREL JARED C. DANTIS
Adviser: Assoc. Prof. Rommel P. Feria

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners and express our gratitude to the esteemed judges, who represent distinguished alumni and professors.

Special thanks to the judges:
Dr. Luis Sison, Engr. Bobby Batungbacal and Engr. Jose Jesus Joey Gomez, Secretary Fortunato dela Pena, Dean Jonathan Salvacion, Professor Rafael Chicho Mantaring and Engr. Rolan Paul Veron Cruz

We would also like to acknowledge Dr. Francis Chua and the BA Foundation, Inc., for their unwavering dedication to fostering innovation and providing significant support to the Undergraduate Project Competition.

Special thanks go to the UP Alumni Engineers, Inc. (UPAE), UP Engineering Research and Development Foundation, Inc.(UPERDFI), and UPSCALE Innovation Hub for their invaluable contributions to the success of this event.

About UPC:

The Undergraduate Project Competition (UPC) is an annual event organized by the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Engineering. It aims to showcase and recognize outstanding undergraduate research and design projects, encouraging innovation and creativity among senior students.