SOCCSKSARGEN Scholars to be Guided by Esteemed Panel of Judges on their STTP Demo Day
Following six (6) months of training and ideation with intensive bootcamps and tailored mentoring sessions for the DOST scholars from SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII), the Scholar’s Technopreneurship Training Program (STTP) will culminate in a Demo Day this September 19, 2025 at the Grand Summit Hotel, General Santos City. In this Demo Day, the scholars will pitch their ideas and solutions in the form of businesses that address pressing issues in their region, country and the world. They will be displaying the fruits of their passion, hard work and creativity to gain insights and collaborators that will allow them to take steps further in materializing their ideas and making an impact on society.
The scholar teams will be judged by an esteemed panel who will evaluate them in terms of their passion, idea feasibility, business viability, problem–solution fit, pre-prototype creation, and impact on society. A host of awards await the scholar teams to enable and empower their solutions, including the prestigious Grand Prize!
The Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI), together with Leave a Nest Philippines, Inc., the training provider for the STTP in Region XII, is proud to announce the following panel of judges who will be guiding the scholars in their Demo Day:
HEAD JUDGE
DR. YEVGENY ASTER DULLA Managing Director |
Dr. Dulla was born and raised in Iloilo City, Philippines. He graduated with a degree in BS Chemistry from the University of the Philippines – Visayas, after which he worked as an instructor at the University of the Philippines – Manila. He came to Japan in 2013 to pursue graduate studies where he acquired his Masters in Health Life Sciences and PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences. In 2020, he joined Leave a Nest Co., Ltd. and is currently under the Human Development Division, and is part of the Kansai/Osaka office, as well as the Group Creation Division. He is also a Balik Scientist Awardee for 2020~2021, and is a co-founder and the Managing Director for Leave a Nest’s Philippine office, their newest subsidiary. |
LOCAL JUDGES
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ENGR. SAMMY P. MALAWAN Regional Director |
Sammy Paidomama Malawan, born on November 11, 1961, is the Regional Director of DOST XII with over 30 years in management and two decades in policy and development administration. A registered agricultural engineer, he earned his Master's Degree in Agricultural Engineering, specializing in Crop Processing Engineering, as a DOST scholar. Since 2004, he has sustained DOST XII's ISO 9001 certification while leading regional research, innovation, and health consortia, and serving on the boards of key universities in SOCCSKSARGEN Region. In 2023, the PSABE honored him as the Most Outstanding Agricultural and Biosystems Engineer, recognizing his integrity and commitment to advancing community-focused programs. |
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MR. LORD DALINAS Vice Chair for ICT |
Mr. Lord Dalinas is a dynamic entrepreneur and advocate for digital inclusion, widely recognized for empowering startups and driving innovation in Mindanao. As Managing Partner of ENS Asia and CEO of Custard Apple Outsourcing and Alternative Innovations Inc., he has built ventures that harness technology for growth. A DICT Tech4Ed and Startup Champion for Region 12, he mentors young entrepreneurs through Icebox and the Wadhwani Foundation, while serving as Ideaspace Ambassador and District Leo Chairman of Lions Clubs International. Now Vice Chair for ICT of the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, he inspires changemakers with his passion for technology, leadership, and social impact. |
ATTY. AMY IRENE OFRIN Partner |
Atty. Amy Irene Ofrin was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2006. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, cum laude, in 1999 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law in 2004, both from the University of the Philippines. Atty. Ofrin is a corporate law practitioner. Her expertise lies in business structuring and registration, project finance, property development, land titling and conversion, taxation and human resources management. She has extensive experience in servicing corporate clients particularly with regard to corporate housekeeping, business and trademark registrations, contract drafting and review, tax audits, business reorganizations, and employee relations. She deals, in behalf of clients, with most government agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Energy, Department of Agrarian Reform, Register of Deeds, Intellectual Property Office, Department of Labor and Employment, and local government units. |
MR. VOLTAIRE GAVIOLA Makerlab Brand Supervisor |
Voltaire Gaviola is the Brand Supervisor of Makerlab Electronics and Administrator of the 3D Printing Community Philippines, one of the largest local groups promoting additive manufacturing and innovation. He has been at the forefront of promoting STEM learning through workshops, competitions, and collaborations with schools and organizations nationwide. Voltaire actively conducts workshops on 3D printing and 3D scanning, equipping students, educators, and professionals with practical knowledge in digital fabrication. His work bridges creativity and technology, inspiring young learners to innovate while fostering a stronger maker culture in the Philippines. |
GLOBAL JUDGES
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Senior Executive, Product Development, Research & Product Development Dept |
Syafiq Bin Ismail is a Senior Executive in Research & Product Development at Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), driving innovation and commercialization of emerging technologies to support Sarawak’s Digital Economy. With a background in data centre operations and manufacturing systems, he now leads projects such as the Precision & Discipline Agriculture Facility (PDAF), IR4.0 Prototyping Lab, Smart Urban Farming, Smart Aquaculture, Smart Water Metering System, and Smart City/5G Testbed. Syafiq specializes in turning proof-of-concepts into scalable solutions that benefit industries and communities across Sarawak. |
MS. MAXWEN MA Co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer |
Ms. Maxwen Ma, Co-Founder and Chief Business Development Officer of ADA Biotech, a Malaysian-based green innovation company transforming agricultural and industrial waste into high-quality biodegradable everyday products like drinking straws and eco-friendly cat litter. Driven by a mission to change lifestyles through sustainable biotechnology where luxury meets sustainability and promote circular economy solutions. ADA Biotech achieved a major milestone with over 100 million biodegradable rice straws sold in Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Fiji Island. Her passion for sustainability and entrepreneurship fuels her commitment to building a cleaner and greener future. |
MS. YURIKA TANIKAWA Co-founder
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Ms. Tanikawa graduated from Rikkyo University (Japan) in 2017, serving as Head of People Operations for the global startup conference “Slush Tokyo.” She was hired as the first new graduate at EventRegist, managing B2B event platform sales for six years. In May 2023, she co-founded amu Inc. with the vision of creating a world where “Nothing is Worthless”, and now leads efforts to upcycle discarded fishing nets into new materials. |
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DR. PACHOENSUK THEERANUKUL Director |
Dr. Pachoensuk Theeranukul, Pete, obtained his PhD in Bioscience from Shizuoka University in Japan. He holds an M.Sc. in Biological and Marine Sciences from Chulalongkorn University, one of Thailand's top schools, where his research focused on marine ecosystems and population genetics. Before joining Innoqua in 2023, he worked on a fish genetics project at Japan's National Institute of Genetics (NIG). He is currently a Director at Innoqua Inc. in Japan and the Managing Director of Innoqua Asia Sdn. Bhd. in Malaysia, bringing his extensive expertise in aquatic ecosystems to his roles |
MR. SYAFIQ ISMAIL
POSTER JUDGES
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DR. NOEl S. GUNAY Project Leader |
Dr. Noel S. Gunay is the Dean of the College of Engineering at Mindanao State University – General Santos, where he holds the rank of Full Professor 6. A licensed Electrical Engineer, he is also an accomplished researcher and technopreneur, leading the ICEBOX TBI Project. Dr. Gunay earned his master's and Ph.D. in Computer Science from De La Salle University-Manila, specializing in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Computer Vision. He has published numerous scientific papers in international journals and presented his work at various conferences, solidifying his expertise in both academia and professional practice. |
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DR. JALALODEN B. MAROHOM Project Leader |
Dr. Jalaloden B. Marohom, a Doctor of Business Administration, is the Project Leader of the USMart Technology Business Incubator and Director of the Intellectual Property, Technology Transfer, and Business Development Office at the University of Southern Mindanao. He also serves as a faculty member of the Business Administration Program. His work involves managing incubation programs, supporting startups, and overseeing technology transfer and commercialization initiatives. He has experience in project management, entrepreneurship training, and business development. Dr. Marohom actively participates in regional and national initiatives on innovation and technopreneurship, contributing to USM’s research, development, and extension agenda through incubation and enterprise development. |
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MS. KRISTINE MAE H. AMPAS Officer in Charge
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Kristine Mae H. Ampas, a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, has over 15 years of experience in the software development industry, specializing in systems and business analysis. She currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of J7 IT Solutions and as the Officer-in-Charge of the STEP APP Technology Business Incubator, where she actively mentors startup teams and fosters innovation-driven initiatives. Alongside her industry work, she is a dedicated professor at Sultan Kudarat State University, where she integrates practical expertise with academic instruction to prepare the next generation of IT professionals. Her passion for innovation and the ICT industry has inspired her to pursue teaching, effectively bridging the gap between industry and academia. |
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MS. ANNA MAE A. ABAPO Project Assistant |
Anna Mae Abapo is a Project Assistant at the DOSE Technology Business Incubation (DOSE TBI) of the Department of Agriculture–Regional Field Office XII (DA- RFO XII). She earned her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the South East Asian Institute of Technology and became a Registered Agriculturist last December 2024. She assists in implementing incubation activities, supporting agripreneurs, start-ups, and small enterprises in the agri-food sector. She is also engaged in coordinating trainings and facilitating linkage to ensure the smooth delivery of programs. |
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MR. BRETCH GUIRE GARCINEZ Wadhwani Entrepreneurship Mentor |
Bretch Guire C. Garcinez is a Software Engineer with over a decade of experience in developing web, desktop, and mobile applications. He is the Founder of NutNull IT Solutions in General Santos City, providing customized software solutions since 2015. A volunteer Wadhwani Entrepreneurship Mentor, he supports aspiring entrepreneurs and student innovators. Bretch holds a Master of Science in Innovation and Business from the Asian Institute of Management and a BS in Information Technology (Software Engineering) from Mindanao State University. |
Get ready for a day of celebration of young technopreneurs—where passion meets innovation and breakthroughs spark positive change!
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Program Timeline
| Start Time | End Time | Activity |
| 10:30 pm | 11:45 pm | Opening Ceremony |
| 11:45 am | 12:50 pm | Lunch |
| 1:00 pm | 2:10 pm | Round 1 of Pitching (4 teams; 5 mins pitching + 5 mins Q&A) |
| 2:10 pm | 3:20 pm | Round 2 of Pitching (4 teams; 5 mins pitching + 5 mins Q&A) |
| 3:20 pm | 4:10 pm | Round 3 of Pitching (4 teams; 5 mins pitching + 5 mins Q&A) |
| 4:10 pm | 4:50 pm | Poster Judge Viewing Session (Main Judge Deliberation) |
| 4:50 pm | 5:25 pm | Open Poster Session |
| 5:25 pm | 6:35 pm | Awarding and Closing Ceremony |
For any questions or concerns about STTP Region 12, you may reach out to Mr. Bryan Foronda at [email protected] or Ms. Edilyn Grace Odero at [email protected].