The University of Northern Philippines (UNP) solidified its reputation as a hub for engineering, innovation, and technological excellence, bringing home six major awards from the recently concluded 3rd International Research and Innovation Conference on Education, Engineering, and Agriculture (IRICEEA) 2025.
Held from December 3 to 5, 2025, the conference convened scholars from the United States, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Anchored on the theme “AI in Research and Innovation: Accelerating Discoveries in Education, Engineering, and Agriculture,” the conference featured plenary sessions at the Ignition Pavilion in Bauang, La Union, and paper presentations at the Don Mariano Marcos State University (DMMMSU) – Mid La Union Campus.
As a co-organizer and institutional partner, UNP not only helped facilitate this global exchange of ideas but also distinguished itself by dominating the Engineering tracks.
UNP submitted three research entries, two of which swept major awards in the Engineering category.
The study titled “Development and Performance Evaluation of Seismic Gapp Biaxial Portable Shake Table,” authored by Marcus Aurelius Alzate, Justine Mae Garcia, Kaecee Palomares, and Dr. Vincent Pilien (all from the College of Engineering), garnered three distinctions:
● Best Paper in Engineering (Overall)
● Best Paper in Engineering (Advanced Technologies and Materials)
● Best Presenter (Advanced Technologies and Materials): Dr. Vincent Pilien
The project “Parkila: An IoT-Enabled Smart Car Park Enhanced with OCR and YOLOv11 Image Recognition,” authored by Dr. Rogelio Rabena, Dr. Arpee Arruejo, and Dr. Richard Arruejo (College of Communication and Information Technology), alongside Prof. Redentor Rojas (College of Arts and Sciences), also claimed three major honors:
● Best Paper in Engineering (Industry and Innovation)
● Best Digital Poster
● Best Presenter (Industry and Innovation): Dr. Richard Corpuz Arruejo
In addition, UNP presented the study “Development and Evaluation of a Corn Processing Machine,” authored by Arjay D. Tabor, John Vince Q. Servania, Ely Joy E. Ricanor Jr., John Lloyd R. Talapian, Mark Angelo F. Valarozo, Ezekiel Eullysis M. Sabas, and Prof. George Michael Cariaga Amano (all from the College of Technology), with Prof. Amano serving as the presenter.
Beyond the research competition, research coordinators from the University Research and Development Office (URDO) served as key conference officials. Dr. Joseph Taban (Coordinator for Education) and Dr. Dean Alvin Pablico (Coordinator for Science and Technology, Industry and Energy) acted as evaluators, while Prof. Randolf M. Agup (Coordinator for Statistical Services) served as a facilitator.
UNP’s active participation and significant award haul underscore the university’s commitment to producing globally competitive research that delivers real-world solutions in engineering and technology. This milestone also reflects the strong support of the university administration, led by UNP President Dr. Erwin F. Cadorna, together with URDO Director Dr. Edelyn A. Cadorna, whose sustained leadership and research-focused initiatives continue to empower faculty and students to excel in international research arenas.
Article by: Dean Alvin Pablico
