Two AJHS BluBLOC builds among Top 25 in Asia at 2025 Legoland Malaysia School Challenge

The Ateneo de Manila Junior High School (AJHS) BluBLOC Juniors and Seniors Teams recently competed in the 2025 Legoland Malaysia School Challenge — with both teams earning spots among the Top 25 in Asia in the Primary and Secondary Divisions, respectively!

With the theme “Dream Destination,” students were tasked — according to the Legoland Malaysia website — to reimagine anything “...from magical islands and futuristic cities to hidden jungle escapes. Students will design a LEGO® creation that brings their ideal place to life. Whether inspired by fantasy or reality, this is your chance to build a destination that people would dream of visiting!”

The Juniors Team, competing in the Primary Division (ages 10–12), was led by Marcus Crisostomo (8-Chabanel), with team members Lara Bumatay (7-Aranha), Marc Tiongson (8-Francisco), and Teo Isidro (8-Delgado). Their build was a vibrant replica of Tubbataha Reef in Palawan, complete with colorful corals, diverse marine life, and a majestic butanding (whale shark) as its centerpiece. The team shared that their build aimed to spotlight the reef’s incredible biodiversity — a natural treasure that deserves to be protected for future generations.

The Seniors Team competed in the Secondary Division (ages 13–17) and was led by Gavin Mallari (9-Goto), with team members Kico Bravo (9-Lalemant) and Seth Rocha (8-Canisius). Their impressive entry showcased a Martian space base, complete with satellites, space vehicles, and a towering space traffic control center. Inspired by the limitless potential of space exploration, the team envisioned a future where humanity has established permanent research facilities and tourist destinations beyond Earth.

The 2025 Legoland Malaysia School Challenge Finals brought together hundreds of students from seven APAC countries: Malaysia, India, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, and China. The competition ran from 1 July to 10 August 2025, with the Top 25 announced on 22 August. The finalists — the top five in each category — were revealed on 3 September, while the grand finals winners were announced on 23 September 2025.

Coached by Mr. Jason Arias, Mr. Joel Falgui, and Mr. Lavi Subang, both Ateneo BluBLOC teams are honored to be recognized among the Top 25 in their respective age categories — especially considering the competition received over 4,000 entries from across Asia.

Their certificates and prizes are currently being shipped from Malaysia, and both LEGO builds will be on public display in the AJHS Library after Teen Read Week.