Individuals, companies with sustainability-driven impact, purpose shine at the 2024 Gawad Yamang Isip Awards

May 2, 2024

Several Filipinos and homegrown brands who harness their intellectual property (IP) assets to create impact bagged this week the much-coveted Gawad Yamang Isip (GYI) Awards and other special awards from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Meanwhile, over 40 individual and institutional partners were also given the spotlight for their support to further the efforts of the IPOPHL in strengthening IP protection and enforcement.

The GYI awards is the country’s most prestigious award that recognizes IP rights holders who have contributed significantly to innovation, creativity and business.

This year’s awards follow the theme set by the WIPO for World IP Day which focuses on “IP and SDGS: Building our common future with innovation and creativity.” 

Below are the GYI categories and their corresponding winners:

1. Inventions – D&L Industries, Inc. 
2. For Industrial Design – Stanley Ruiz
3. Performing Arts – Gary Valenciano
4. Visual Arts – Ramon Orlina
5. Trademarks – Rags2Riches

“Our GYI 2024 Awardees are truly a cut above the rest, especially in the indelible mark they have created on society and for sustainability. We hope, like the GYI awardees before them, they continue to inspire others to contribute to a better society through the lives they lead and through the IPs they made,” Director General Rowel S. Barba said. 

IP Champions Award

One of the two IP Champion Awards given this year was conferred to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as received by Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, for his efforts to champion the protection of the IP of Filipinos, including access to benefits for their creations. The president was awarded for his recognition of the importance of a dynamic and resilient innovation ecosystem, as shown through his leadership at the National Innovation Council.

Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Allan B. Gepty also received an IP Champions Award for his invaluable contribution as former Deputy Director General and Officer-in-Charge of IPOPHL. His current role, which takes charge of international trade policy and negotiation, aids in accelerating and sustaining the country’s economic growth.

PiliSeal and other green tech receive WIPO awards

Aside from the GYI, IPOPHL also presented the WIPO National Award to Engineer Mark Kennedy Batnugon for his Pili Seal. The WIPO National Award recognizes innovators, creators, entrepreneurs and businesses that leverage their IP assets to contribute to the country’s development. 

IPOPHL also conferred another set of WIPO special awards to last year’s winners of the former’s Socially Relevant Technology Contest, which aims to highlight sustainable technological solutions to environmental challenges. 

The following are the recipients under the youth category and the corresponding inventions that earned them the awards: 

1. Dennis S. Comia Jr., Kate Geve Danielle R. Manahan, James Darren N. Magboo and Caryl Joy A. Atienza from the Bansud National High School-Regional Science High School (MIMAROPA) – Chitosan-Loaded Cellulosic (CLC) Membrane for Wastewater Filtration Derived from Acetobacter xylinum and Philippine Blue-Eyed Sea Urchin Shell Wastes
2. John Cedric Angeles, Carlo Barretto, Serafin Gamad, Leandro Manlutac and Aira Mayuno from Technological University of the Philippines (2nd place) – Automated Superworm Segregation System for Multi-Plastic Biodegradation using a low-cost, low-power system called an ESP32 which has Computer Vision for Real-Time monitoring via Mobile Application. 
3. Julius Rafael N. Calayan, Wes Vincent M. Ferrer, Aaron Jon R. Francisco and Allen Anthony C. Yap from the Mapúa University (3rd place) – Automated leveling delivery bracket attachment.

Below are the winning companies under the professional category:

1. Session Groceries (1st place)  – Food Processing Technology
2. VISON Technologies Corporation TITAN (2nd place) –  Vision-based Traffic Information and Analysis
3. LITHOS Manufacturing ML Foldable Tank with Zeramic Filter (3rd place) – Rainwater Harvesting System for Water Security in Remote Areas 

IAP and Women in IP

IPOPHL also took the spotlight on Dr. Armando Reosura, Director for IP Management at the Hilado Memorial State University, for his invaluable assistance as pro bono patent agent under the Inventor Assistance Program. Dr. Lizah Dorao-Pascual, Medical Corps Officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, was also recognized for having the first patent grant processed under the WIPO Inventor Assistance Program.

Amina Aranaz – Alunan, acclaimed bag designer and co-founder of SoFA design Institute, was also named “Woman in IP” for 2024 for her work to empower other women in the field of design. 

Top filers and IP agents

IPOPHL also highlighted the Top Filers in 2023 for having an active protection strategy that inspires others to protect their IP rights. The winning institutions and companies are the following:

1. Top Patent Filer – Agusan Del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology
2. Top Utility Model Filer – Cebu Technological University
3. Top Industrial Design Filer – Design Center of the Philippines
4. Top Trademark Filer – INSPI Philippine Venture Merchandise Corp
5. Top Copyright Filer – Cignal TV, Inc.
6. Top Madrid Protocol Filer – Progressive Medical Corporation 

The Top IP Agents who have processed the most IP filings as a service to IP rights holders were also recognized. Below are the top agents in 2023:

1. Top Patent Agent – Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & De Los Angeles 
2. Top Utility Model Agent – Leodivino A. Lawas
3. Top Industrial Design Agent – Federis & Associates Law Offices
4. Top Trademark Agent- Edmar A. Tundayag

Institutional, enforcement and event partners

For this year, the Office also cited  its 2023 partners who have supported and helped further the impact of IPOPHL’s programs and efforts.

Among these institutional partners are: 

• Office of Senator Angara
• Commission on Audit
• Department of Foreign Affairs
• DTI-Export Marketing Bureau
• National Commission on Indigenous People
• De La Salle University 
• Integrated Bar of the Philippines
• Licensing Executives Society of the Philippines
• Philippine Franchise Association

In the area of enforcement, IPOPHL recognized the following partners: 

• WIPO ( Building Respect for IP Division and Judicial Institute)
• Gianmatteo Vittorio Guidicelli 
• Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA Manila)
• Associate Justice Maria Rowena Modesto-San Pedro
• Bureau of Customs (BOC)
• Manix Abrera
• National Book Development Board (NBDB)
• PLDT/SMART
• GLOBE Telecom
• SKY CABLE Corporation
• DITO Telecommunity

IPOPHL also owed a large part of the successful celebration of the NIPM 2024 to its event partners, namely:

• Presidential Communications Office
• National Commission for Culture and the Arts
• National Economic Development Authority
• Design Center of the Philippines
• Chamber of Cosmetics Industry of the Philippines

The following news media companies also garnered awards:

1. Most IP News Stories Published –  The Daily Tribune 
2. Most IP News Stories Broadcasted – Radyo Pilipinas
3. Best Independent Online News Media – ThePhilBizNews 

Deputy Director General Ann Claire C. Cabochan expressed hopes that the GYI 2024 would inspire others to help build an IP system that propels the fulfillment of the 2030 SDGs.

“As we add another chapter to our nation’s innovation story through the 2024 GYI Awards, we hope that many more will take inspiration from what Filipinos can achieve through ingenuity and sheer determination to create a better world. Indeed, innovation is key in helping us address many of the world’s problems, while allowing MSMEs to grow, and creators and innovators to sustain their endeavors,” Cabochan said.  # # # (Janina Lim, Information Officer III)