On the final day of the Singapore trip, the six groups of Filipino high school Sophomores from Xavier School presented their business proposals to the teachers and mentors who guided them in the entire course of the biology-ecology-entrepreneurial educational excursion in Singapore. For two hours, the AVR of Hwa Chong School, one of the most prestigious secondary schools in the Merlion Country, was filled with a storm of ideas inspired by the various technological and scientific innovations that the enthusiastic students witnessed in the last five days.

Eplistone (Group One) defended their idea of selling ink cartridges of ballpoint pen made entirely of cornstarch-based plastic.

Seconds (Group Two) showed us their Scouter, a device which will help doctors scan the body for ailments through a biological chip to be surgically inserted in the bodies of the patients.

nGenes (Group Three) presented a universal portable battery charger for all electronic devices, which can extend the life of any portable gadget ever made

Manila Executives (Group 4) showcased their medicine pill which will take the place of chemotherapy;

eXScel (Group 5) demonstrated how their biological spray will decompose plastic wastes.

Platypus Industries

(Group 6) won the votes of the judges with their idea of creating Bio-steel.

Our Singaporean guides, Mr. James Tan and Ms. Szegar Tan, were very impressed with the speech skills and questioning/debating techniques of the students who participated in these presentations. Mr. Tan told us that these high school boys were far more impressive than the batches of college students whom he guided (through the same tour) before.

I agree with Mr. Tan. I thought that the students did their best--considering that they had never learned to make business presentations before this trip. I was extremely impressed with the amount of effort and verve they exhibited during this trip.

It was a very fruitful trip, indeed. And I am very proud of these kids. :)