With the current state of engineering in the Philippines revealing deep systemic cracks as typhoons and earthquakes continue to strike and claim lives, the 21st National Civil Engineering Summit (NCES 2025), organized by the UP Association of Civil Engineering Students (UP ACES), stood as a call to rebuild stronger foundations. Anchored on its theme “Breaking Grounds,” the five-day summit gathered thousands of students, professionals, and industry leaders to confront pressing societal issues and reimagine civil engineering’s role in nation-building.
The Summit officially began last September 19 with Jumpstart, marked by a ribbon-cutting, summit blessing, and the traditional “Grand Pakain.” More than a festive opening, Jumpstart honored the UP Institute of Civil Engineering faculty, staff, and ACES members whose efforts laid the foundations for this year’s summit. It also welcomed participants to the Civil Engineering Exhibit, a two-week showcase highlighting the six core fields of civil engineering through interactive booths that allow visitors to experience civil engineering’s transformative power in both its technical and social dimensions.
On September 20, 50 teams from 23 high schools nationwide gathered for the Bridge Building Competition (BBC), where they constructed bridges from barbecue sticks under material, time, and cost constraints. Teams were judged on strength-to-weight ratio (45%), cost efficiency (35%), design (10%), and craftsmanship (10%), with special awards for People’s Choice and Best Bridge Design and Craftsmanship. With this unique event mechanics accounting for cost-efficiency, the competition highlighted the real-world balance between durability, economy, and aesthetics.
“In a practical sense, natuturuan talaga natin ‘yung participants to think critically,” shared BBC Co-head Miguel Enrico Naguit. “Dahil din sa current issues sa civil engineering, natutulungan natin sila [high school participants] na magkaroon ng realizations kung paano ba talaga binubuo ang ating mga public infrastructures and kung gaano talaga kalaki ‘yung epekto kapag may pagkukulang sa isang aspect ng pag-construct halimbawa na lang ‘yung paggamit ng substandard materials, budget limitations, time delays/constraints.”
In the end, one team emerged as champions, the St. Peter the Apostle School Team A, taking home medals and Php 20,000 cash prize, proving that their bridge was truly built to outlast.
This vision of providing high school students a wider perspective on engineering is further amplified through the High School Career Talk as Engr. Johanna Trespeces emphasized in her talk titled “The Heart Within the Hard Hat” that being a true engineer means solving problems that make a tangible impact in society. This is followed by another speech from the November 2024 Civil Engineering Licensure Examination topnotcher, Engr. Josh Andrew Martija, where he said that, “there is no greater pride than creating something safe and lasting that will serve millions of people.”
On September 24, 250 participants were immersed in the world of civil engineering through ImmerCE 2025: Civil Engineering Laboratory Tour and Civil Engineering Career Fair. The laboratory tour opened the doors of the UP Institute of Civil Engineering (UP ICE), giving participants access to five laboratory stations at the UP ICE Compound: Environmental and Transportation Engineering, Construction and Management Engineering, Structural Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Geodetic Engineering as well as special laboratory stations at UP Cristy Hernandez Activity Center featuring the Bi-axial Shake Table, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Receiver, National Hydraulics Research Center (NHRC): Hydrostatic Force and Weirs, NHRC: Friction Losses in Pipes and Hydraulic Jump. With equipment ranging from proctor compaction test apparatuses to water circulation systems, students are provided with the experience and opportunity rarely available to many schools nationwide.
“We’re happy to really get to see kung paano nag-wo-work ‘yung laboratories, because we are part of the pioneering batch of the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, so we never got to experience the actual laboratories,” one of the civil engineering student participants, Aljanna Larubis, shared.
Running alongside the tour, the Civil Engineering Career Fair bridged the gap between university and industry. Participants engaged with more than a dozen of companies through the Job Fair, honed their skills at Gear Up with mock interviews and resume consultations, and listened to Company Talks from GHD and Aboitiz Construction. The fair also featured inspiring Career Talks: from Engr. Joshua Rosendo’s practical roadmap to licensure, to Engr. Lurebe Mae Paña’s call to pursue purpose-driven engineering by being part of non-government organizations.
“I’m really glad that I became part of the Gear Up, because I am already a fourth-year student, I am graduating soon so I believe that the Gear Up was very important for me; it was an essential before I graduate because I got to talk with someone who is hiring and that is already a simulation of how they would conduct job interviews,” Aljanna added.
On October 6, over 1,600 participants gathered for the National Civil Engineering Symposium, a day devoted to inclusive, sustainable, and purpose-driven engineering. The event opened with UP ACES President Ian Kristofer Marquez, who declared:
“Breaking ground has become both a challenge and a call to action. Just like in construction, we are called to break ground on outdated practices, harmful stigmas, and systemic issues that have tainted our field.”
The first major talk, “The Society’s Backbone: Envisioning Critical Infrastructure for Nation’s Improvement,” was delivered by Ar. Ryan Chai M. Cabañez of Palafox Architecture Group, Inc. He emphasized that the Philippines is not overpopulated, but rather unevenly developed, with progress centered in urban areas while remote communities remain neglected. Echoing Architect Felino Palafox Jr.’s principle, he said that development must be spread evenly, like butter on bread.
The symposium also featured TAMPEI Philippines as an advocacy partner, hosting a multisectoral dialogue on community-centered affordable housing. From the discussion, Dr. Ferdinand Germar, UP Building Research Services Director, stressed compliance with the National Structural Code to ensure safety amid typhoons and earthquakes, while Dr. Dina Magnaye, Dean and Associate Professor of UP School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP), called for urban designs that integrate homes with schools, workplaces, and transport systems. Engr. Carlo Bongcac, TAMPEI Board of Directors representative, also underscored that integrity and compassion must guide every institution’s role in addressing the housing crisis.
A surprise message from award-winning journalist Jessica Soho, who has consistently been firm with her principles as a journalist, further grounded the day in integrity, urging young engineers to remain truthful and ethical in their practice—even when faced with corruption and compromise.
Culminating the symposium was the Inspirational Talk, “People at the Core: Reshaping the Nation through Integrated Engineering,” delivered by human rights lawyer, youth advocate, and Akbayan Partylist representative Atty. Chel Diokno. He reminded participants that at the heart of engineering lies the shared duty of being Filipino:
“Pareho-pareho tayong mamamayang Pilipino, and I hope that because of that, we have something in common to fight for.”
Calling for transparency and accountability, he added:
“Buksan na ang SALN ng lahat ng opisyal ng ating pamahalaan… Hangga’t walang pananagutan, balewala ang mga imbestigasyon. Kaya ang huli nating panawagan—ikulong na ang mga ‘yan!”
Immediately after his talk, Diokno rushed back to the House of Representatives to advocate for the budget increase for free college education in state universities, which was later approved.
Finally, the National Civil Engineering Quiz (NCEQ) on September 26 brought together 85 undergraduate teams from across the country to test their mastery of the discipline. After three rigorous rounds of computations, analysis, and problem-solving, Cebu Technological University – Dumanjug Extension Campus emerged as the 2025 NCEQ Champion, taking home a Php 60,000 cash prize and a 100% Free Board Review and Refresher course from Review Innovations. More than a showcase of skill, the NCEQ symbolized the discipline’s unwavering commitment to excellence.
In Photo: The 2025 National Civil Engineering Quiz Champions from Cebu Technical University – Dumanjug Extension Campus, being awarded with a revolving trophy and a Php 60,000 cheque.
As the 21st National Civil Engineering Summit drew to a close, it marked not an end, but the beginning of a new decade of purpose-driven engineering. From Jumpstart’s call to Embark with Vision, to the Exhibit’s challenge of Reimagining Dimensions, from bridges that dared to Build to Outlast at the Bridge Building Competition, to laboratories and careers explored Beyond the Grid through ImmerCE, from the Symposium’s mission to Reshape the Core, and to the Quiz’s call to Rise to the Summit, NCES 2025 has truly broken grounds for the new generation of nation-builders. In his closing remarks, the UP ACES President Ian Kristofer Marquez reminded everyone:
“This is not the end, but the beginning of greater things ahead. Remember, we are only breaking ground to start this decade. Let’s continue to break ground and build a future that stands firm in integrity, compassion, and purpose.”
