CAGAYAN de Oro City — Four science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students from Maigo National High School in Lanao del Norte will represent the Philippines at an international robotics competition in Rome, Italy, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4. 

The team, known as MNHS LaNorte Autobots, was invited to join the Fibonacci International Robot Olympiad.

The team members are Grade 11 and Grade 12 students Fitz Tompong, Venz Andrey Bentic, Angelou Pagobo and Kynt Jovic Cabutaje. 

Their qualification marks another international milestone for the public school, whose students competed at the 14th Robotics Championship International in Oradea, Romania, in May. 

Making the most of limited resources 

Team coach and physics teacher Marichu T. Miscala said the students are preparing through repeated robot testing, programming adjustments, sensor calibration and mechanical improvements. 

The goal is to improve the robots’ speed, accuracy and reliability while helping the team adapt to the challenges of competition. 

The team follows the motto “Innovate Under Constraints,” reflecting its effort to develop competitive robots despite limited resources. 

“Despite limited resources, we maximize what we have through creativity, teamwork, and perseverance,” Miscala said. 

She said the team aims to compete confidently in Rome and show that students from a small public school can hold their own against young innovators from other countries. 

Building opportunities for STEM students 

For team leader Tompong, the international competition is also an opportunity to show that students from public schools outside major cities can excel in robotics. 

"Our upcoming participation in Rome demonstrate that excellence in robotics is not exclusive to well-funded institutions or schools in major cities,” Tompong said. 

He said the team hopes its achievements will attract support from government agencies, industry partners and private sponsors to improve the school's laboratory facilities and robotics equipment. 

Such support could help more students gain access to the tools and training needed to develop their skills in robotics and other STEM fields. 

“For MNHS LaNorte Autobots, Rome is not the destination,” Tompong said. “It is another milestone in our journey of bringing Maigo to the world.”