Grade 12 students from St. Bridget College, Inc. qualified as Top 3 Finalists in the Bett Asia School Challenge 2026, earning a place in the Bett Asia Live Pitch Finals on September 24, 2026, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The finalists, collectively known as Team Flow State, are Miel Frances M. Caringal of STEM 5 – Mo. Divine Child Flood, Sofia Louise M. Lumanglas of HUMSS 2 – Sr. Mary Elizabeth O’Dowd, Sven Albert P. Macuha of STEM 6 – Sr. Mary Immaculate Concepcion Cahill, Jacob B. Manalo of STEM 7 – Sr. Mary Consuelo Chuidian, and Jerome Andrei B. Marasigan of ABM 2 – Sr. Mary Dominica Long.
The team qualified through UNLEASHED, an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered platform that connects underutilized resources with the needs of verified schools, barangays, non-government organizations (NGOs), and community organizations. The platform accepts both tangible resources, such as books, laptops, clothing, and furniture, and intangible resources, including skills and volunteer time.
Using Google Gemini, UNLEASHED evaluates factors such as resource condition, repairability, urgency of need, location, and environmental benefit to recommend where each contribution can have the greatest impact. For physical items, the platform can suggest repair options, estimate repair costs, calculate the environmental benefit of extending an item’s useful life, and match it with organizations or communities that need it. For skills and volunteer time, it recommends verified opportunities where users can contribute.
“We aim to address two issues: usable items that are discarded instead of being reused and people’s skills and talents that often go untapped. When our app allows users to scan items, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) assesses their condition and value before matching them with individuals or organizations that can benefit from them the most. Users can also showcase their own skills and talents on the platform, allowing them to contribute their abilities to those who need them,” said team member Jacob B. Manalo.
According to the team, the project supports Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by helping communities make better use of available resources.
Team Flow State is coached by Ms. Jhoanna Marie B. Vergara and Mrs. Kimberly Rose D. Salazar. The team will present UNLEASHED during the Bett Asia Live Pitch Finals on September 24, 2026, representing St. Bridget College, Inc. and the Philippines in the international competition.
by Mary Bernadette C. Gomez and Ms. Jhoanna Marie B. Vergara