Gicel Roger Salvilla, News, Communication Management Office
As the countdown begins for the Shell Eco-marathon Autonomous Driving Competition in Poland on June 24–28, 2026, a team of young PUP student-innovators is accelerating their preparations. They’re bringing not just a prototype vehicle, but a vision of sustainable engineering built from purpose, resilience, and ingenuity.
Representing the country as the sole Philippine team, PUP WIRED—the university-wide organization and official Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineer (IEEE) student branch, in partnership with TESDA RTC NCR—has assembled a multidisciplinary group of engineering students to compete in one of the world’s most prestigious energy-efficiency challenges. Their entry, a prototype electric vehicle named SIDLAK—a Visayan term meaning to shine, radiate, or brilliance—captures the team’s aspiration to illuminate the future of mobility through innovation. Leading the team is Cristian Marl Maranon (BS Electrical Engineering, 4th year) as Team Manager, alongside Angel Ortega (BS Electrical Engineering, 4th year) as Technical Lead. The engineering backbone of SIDLAK is supported by John Louis Alano (BS Mechanical Engineering, 4th year) as Mechanical Lead, Dwayne Brayan Cahilig (BS Mechanical Engineering, 4th year) as Fabrication Lead, and Chris Celine Tibule (BS Electrical Engineering, 3rd year) handling braking systems. Completing the team are Rodeliene Aloc (BS Electrical Engineering, 4th year) for ergonomics, Ian Lourenz Santos (BS Electrical Engineering, 4th year) for electrical systems, and software leads Daniel Cosare (BS Computer Engineering, 3rd year) and John Paul Curada (BS Computer Science, 3rd year). Guiding them are faculty advisers Engr. Benson Pulga, Engr. Kevin Suliva, and Dr. Edison Mojica.
At the heart of their journey is a shared mission to redefine mobility through sustainability. For Maranon, the competition is more than a technical pursuit, it is a platform to elevate Filipino talent on the global stage. “We’ll try our best to win this competition and show that Filipino and PUPian talent can be internationalized and proudly represented abroad,” he shared. The inspiration behind SIDLAK is grounded in real-world challenges. Amid the global energy crisis, the team recognized the urgency of developing cleaner alternatives. Their solution: an electric vehicle prototype built not from costly imports, but from recycled materials sourced from previous projects and scrap within the college—a testament to both resourcefulness and environmental responsibility. “As future engineers, we want to make the future sustainable. We want to make it coal-free, carbon-free, and focus more on the engineering and efficiency side so we really want to push this innovation further,” Maranon emphasized. The project reflects a deeper commitment—not only to technological advancement but also to long-term impact. For PUP WIRED, SIDLAK is just the beginning. “As an organization, we want to push this project to more heights and to join more competition yearly about sustainability,” he added.
Their work directly contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). By developing an energy-efficient, low-emission vehicle using recycled materials, the team demonstrates how student-led innovation can address global environmental challenges while promoting sustainable industrial practices. As they prepare to represent the Philippines on the international stage, the team is also extending an invitation to the wider community support. “We would like to invite all PUPians, kapwa iskolar ng bayan to cheer us on… as the sole team and university from the Philippines to join the Shell Eco Marathon in Poland. We also would like to invite companies, especially renewable companies, who would want to support us on this initiative,” Maranon called. With travel, logistics, and technical development requiring significant resources, the team is open to partnerships, sponsorships, and donations that will help bring SIDLAK to Poland.
Those who wish to support or collaborate with the team may reach them through their official Facebook page, PUP WIRED, or via email at officialeewired@gmail.com and cristianmarl.maranon10@gmail.com.
As SIDLAK prepares to take on the roads of Poland, it carries more than engineering precision—it carries the drive of a nation, powered by young minds determined to shine, radiate, and bring brilliance to a more sustainable future.
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