Behind the Lens: My Experience at the Manila STEAM Convention
A couple of weeks ago, I had the exciting opportunity to attend the Manila STEAM Convention, hosted by my school, International School Manila. This event brought together high school students from different schools to present their innovative projects and research in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math.
I was part of the STEM clubs (a club in my school that focuses on STEM based events and opportunities) media team, helping with hosting, escorting guests, and capturing the moments through photos. Being on the media team gave me a unique perspective—I got to witness not just the incredible projects, but also the enthusiasm and creativity of my peers firsthand.
The day started with career-focused seminars from professionals in various fields. These talks were both practical and inspiring:
- Gerile Mendoza, a seasoned software engineer, shared her experience with “vibe coding,” explaining how to use GitHub CoPilot and other vibe code softwares.
- Dr. Gene Tiongco, the Associate Director of the Physician Relations Group of St Luke’s Medical Center and a seasoned plastic surgeon walked us through the long journey from medical school to clinical practice, emphasizing a passion for helping others, hard work and endurance, and real-world experience.
- The FRC team 9715, the first FRC robotics team from the Philippines, shared insights about competing in international robotics competitions.
Hearing directly from professionals helped me understand what it takes to succeed in STEAM careers and gave me concrete advice for my own future.
After the seminars, the convention transitioned into the science fair, where high schoolers presented their research and innovations. A few projects stood out in particular:
- A team designed a 3-D printed prosthetic arm called Gripflex that could be easily taken on and off, combining engineering skill with practical medical applications. This was one of my favorite presentations by far.
- Another group presented on trusses, explaining their structure and real-world uses in engineering and architecture.
- One student researched AI models to diagnose brain tumors from MRIs. Instead of training three separate AI models for three different angles, they discovered that training a single AI model with multiple angles was much more efficient, showing the potential of AI to streamline medical diagnostics.
It was amazing to see the creativity, problem-solving, and technical skill that went into each project. Being able to photograph and document these presentations gave me a front-row view of innovation in action.
Being part of the media team meant I wasn’t just observing—I was actively contributing. I helped with hosting, escorting presenters, and capturing photos of key moments. One of my favorite parts was photographing students as they demonstrated their projects. Seeing their excitement and pride firsthand was incredibly rewarding.
The convention was a powerful reminder of how much passion, dedication, and creativity students and professionals bring to STEAM fields. I left inspired by both the projects and the career seminars. My role on the media team also gave me a new appreciation for teamwork and event coordination. Overall, it motivated me to explore my own projects and consider how I can contribute to STEAM in meaningful ways.
The Manila STEAM Convention was more than just an event—it was a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. From career seminars to student innovations, I felt inspired and motivated throughout the day. Being part of the media team allowed me to witness these moments up close, and I can’t wait to see the next generation of innovators present their ideas at future conventions.
Cosmic Quills 