BluBLOC varsity shines in 24th Philippine Robotics Olympiad, qualifies for world stage

Ateneo de Manila’s Junior High School-Senior High School (AJHS-ASHS) BluBLOC Varsity Team recently concluded a successful debut at the 24th Philippine Robotics Olympiad (PRO). The PRO's "preliminary round" was held from 21-22 July 2025 at the Mall of Asia in Pasay City, while the final round took place on 16 August 2025 at Dr Yanga’s Colleges, Inc in Bocaue, Bulacan. 

According to its official website, the PRO is an “annual science educational event that primarily aims to challenge the intellectual skills and critical thinking of elementary and high school students.” This year’s theme was “The Future of Robots.” The team was coached and accompanied by BluBLOC moderators Mr Jason Arias, Mr Joel Falgui, and Mr Lavi Subang.

Future Engineers Team Qualifies for World Robotics Olympiad 

Leading the accolades for BluBLOC was the Future Engineers team, which finished in the Top 6 of their category—earning a qualification spot for the 2025 World Robotics Olympiad Asia-Pacific Open. 

The team was led by Junby Layaoen (12-Xavier), with members Liam Daga (12-Daniel) and Marcus Crisostomo (8-Chabanel), and Josef Ansay (11-Wright) as a support member. Tasked with building a self-driving car that could navigate obstacles and park itself, the team earned praise for constructing the vehicle entirely from scratch, without relying on pre-made parts.

Future Innovators Teams Earn Podium Finishes

In the Future Innovators category, both BluBLOC entries delivered strong performances:

• Team A (Senior High School category) finished in the Top 6 with their project “Handles”—an AI-powered stuffed toy designed to serve as a conversational companion for senior citizens. The team was led by Hanns Bumatay (11-Fontoura), with Ethan Hizon (11-Perez) and Daylight Ibay (8-Fugishima).

• Team B (Junior High School category) placed in the Top 8 with “Solace,” another AI-powered stuffed toy, this time created to assist toddlers and monitor vital health signs such as body temperature. The team was led by Gavin Mallari (9-Goto), with members Sannie Pascua (9-Gelabert) and Gab Asuncion (9-Gelabert).

RoboMission Teams Reach Finals

Both BluBLOC entries in the RoboMission category also reached the final round following a competitive qualifying stage.

• Team A, using a Spike Prime robot, was led by BluBLOC team captain Dylan Lim (9-Gelabert), with Ian Auto (9-Garnier) and Aidan Cabaya (9-Kisai).
• Team B, which used a Mindstorms EV3 robot, was led by Nathan Ballatan (11-Torres), with Matty Trinidad (8-Delgado) and Marc Tiongson (8-Francisco).

Both teams scored 60 points, showing significant improvements throughout the competition.

Looking Ahead: Representing the Philippines on the Global Stage

Up next for the BluBLOC team is the World Robotics Olympiad Asia-Pacific Open, which will be hosted by the Philippines this weekend—19 to 21 September 2025, in Pasay City. The Future Engineers team will represent the country, marking the first time Ateneo has qualified for this prestigious international robotics competition.