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T3 Campuses spearhead first Arduino technology forum and exhibit at Rolle Hall
By Suzette A. Quesada-Magano, Ph.D.

The 1 Cavite Arduino Technology Research Forum and Exhibit was held on April 22, 2019
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from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Santiago M. Rolle Hall, CvSU-Main Campus, Indang Cavite.
The event was organized by the Office of the Vice-President for Research and Extension
(OVPRE) and College of Engineering and Information Technology, with the help of a number of
sponsors: American Spaces Philippines, Fablab Manila, Sparkfruit Electronics, LEENTECH
Network Solutions, RoboRAVE Philippines, and LITL.

The said activity’s aim was to expose students and teachers to an event where they could
accomplish the following goals: exhibit and present their Arduino-based research, interact and
collaborate with other Cavite schools as well as nearby cities and provinces, and update
themselves on the current application of Arduino technology on instruction, research, enterprise,
and information technology. The local research forum was conducted in preparation for a much
bigger event in the near future: an international conference to be held at CvSU in 2020. The said
future project was meant to be accomplished in partnership with the American Center, Manila
and American Spaces Philippines.

The program began with a doxology led by Pamela Daphne R. Busog, CvSU-Trece Martires
City Campus Extension Coordinator, followed by the singing of the Philippine National Anthem
led by Steven G. Quisto, a BS Information Technology student. The opening remarks were
given by T3 Campus Administrator, Prof. Noel A. Sedigo and the introduction of the CvSU
Administration Council by Prof. Allan Robert C. Solis, Director of the Public Information and
Community Relations Office. Messages to the seminar’s participants were given by the following
guest speakers: Dr. David L. Cero, Dean of the College of Engineering and Information
Technology, Dr. Camilo A. Polinga, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ruel M. Mojica,
Vice President for Research and Extension, and the University’s very own president, Dr.
Hernando D. Robles. The certificate for the keynote speaker was awarded by the University
President himself, together with the T3 Campus Administrator, Prof. Sedigo.

T3 MIS Officer Keno A. Villavicencio introduced the first keynote speaker, Richard F.
Prodigalidad, President and CEO of LEENTECH Network Solutions, a company that specializes
in mobile application design and development, digital marketing and consultation, and cloud
server and management solutions. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between LEENTECH
and Cavite State University was signed afterwards. The morning plenary session featured the
following topics: Arduino, Education, and Training (led by guest speaker Arvin S. Buendia,
Robotics Specialist for the CIIT College of Arts and Technology and author of a few Arduino-
based robotics textbooks), Arduino Integration on Laboratory Instruction (led by Keno A.
Villavicencio, IT instructor of CvSU-T3 and Arduino-based research presenter for the 2019
International Conference on Open and Distance e-Learning in Taiwan), Arduino Local and
International Competitions (led by Mervin A. Boco, Robotics Coordinator of Tagaytay City
Science High School and International and National Robotics Competitions Champion and
Awardee in Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia, and the Philippines).

For the afternoon session, participating schools and companies featured their works in the
Arduino oral-based and display-based project presentation portion, followed by the competition
named “Arduinothon.” The next keynote speaker was Jeanie M. Duwan, Assistant Cultural
Affairs Officer for the US Embassy, who was later proceeded by a new set of guest speakers for
the following topics for discussion: American Spaces (led by Xavier E. Lara, Director of
American Spaces Philippines), Arduino International Association and Events (led by Michael