The Ateneo de Naga University Golden Builders – a cluster of students under the College of Science, Engineering, and Architecture’s Civil Engineering program – took home the champion’s trophy for Skills Olympics 2023 – Digital Road Design Competition, a nationwide contest co-organized by the Construction Manpower Development Foundation, Philippine Contractor’s Association, and Bentley International. The annual competition aligns each participating school in vision and action through the core attributes of ingenuity in approaching engineering challenges, skills in handling applications provided by Bentley, and perseverance in finding solutions amidst the complicated standards and the ever-dynamic complexities of teamwork.
How does one plan and build a road on a given terrain? Behind such deceptively simple question is a flurry of intertwining elements for consideration — from government standards, to safety requirements, to material limitations, to environmental consequences. These factors may be common to seasoned engineers and industry partners, but for CE students: every matter highlighted above can be immensely daunting. Nevertheless, the Golden Builders forged forward, tunneling their way towards the top.
This year’s lineup was composed of John Carlo Peñas, Bernadette Sta. Clara, Ralph Rommel Ibeas, Mhierry Nhiel Tavera, and Bianca Angela Marie Turiano. Renzo Gabriel Barandon, Aldrick Morse Baraquiel, Hannah Kathleen Dacanay, Kenneth Jay Hermosa, Allyn Joshua Nieva, Samantha Kate Sybingco, and Josefa Ella Tabotabo served as members of the support group. CSEA faculty member Maria Femina Avengoza served as their mentor, with senior student Jhon Rei Del Mundo as co-mentor. Faculty members Mark Furio and Abhegail Mangampo also served as consultants. For 2023, the design and engineering challenge set by the organizers was the construction of the Higugma National Highway (using an actual landscape in Leyte).
The contest itself spanned several months, the duration of which almost felt like a semester (in a way, the event felt like an “extra invisible subject,” tapping themes on theory applications and materials management). The whole process was organized into phases, having several meeting sessions with organizers (all of which were online). The phases were Training (May), Design (June to August), and Methodology (September to October). The most anticipated event — the declaration of winners — was held on 11 November 2023 at the SMX as part of the Philconstruct Expo.
What made the Golden Builders’ hard-earned win extraordinary was the their ultimate resolve to conquer previous setbacks and their creative approach to the problem. Learning from last year’s difficulties and having newfound resolve to meet the challenges, the young builders went all-in with fortitude and teamwork amidst the occasional technical issues, creative tension, and late night stays at a nearby bubble tea place.
How does one achieve innovation and creativity? Despite numerous limitations, they have pulled from memory elements from an earlier challenge and, at the same time, considered possible environmental sustainability. They also consulted several manuals to ensure that every concept proposed is safe and legal (at the same time maximizing all possible options). When most participating teams tried to work around the problem of providing a feasible infrastructure along and around the terrain, the Golden Builders fashioned a road through it, drafting a tunnel that works within the set standards, budget, and environmental safety requirements (utilizing several concepts such as permeable concrete). Their grit and wit impressed the judges, thus leading to the young builders’ sweet win this year.
As fellow captains JC and Bernadette recounted the entire phases during the interview, they also reflected on their journey as students of Civil Engineering. How does one progress through a course with a steep learning curve? Two aligned energies were shown to be at play — first was the strong motivation to help others, prompting to go beyond one’s comfort zone, summoning Ateneo’s core value Magis in the process. Despite moments which were mentally and emotionally taxing, the drive to help the community served as their guiding light, giving them the right amount of inner surge to continue. Second was the presence of authentic care, Cura Personalis — faculty and friends were present not just for technical consultation, but also for mental and emotional support (especially that the effects of the global pandemic remain present, with moments of languish and fatigue, albeit subtle, still lingering). One cannot deny moments of personal doubt and group tension (competition and teamwork can make a volatile concoction), but they were resolved in resolutions grounded in authentic kindness and community building. Team leads JC and Bernadette were thankful that despite every complicated challenge, every unseen pressure thrown at them, no one gave up.
Beyond the competition, the Ateneo Golden Builders — past and present — continue their journey, building their own roads as they progress, leading the way with fellow Ignatian engineers.
Credits:
- Picture source c/o John Carlo Peñas
- Interview with John Carlo Peñas and Bernadette Sta. Clara
- PhilConstruct Expo FB Page
