A group of Filipino students won an award for devising an artificial intelligence (AI) waste management tracking system at the 2025 Asia-Pacific (APAC) Solution Challenge held in Manila in June.

The competition brought together student-led projects from across APAC, each employing Google AI tools to address critical global challenges.

The award celebrates the project that effectively leveraged AI technology to develop a practical solution to pressing issues affecting communities.

The lone Filipino delegation was comprised of students Josh Gorospe, Joaquin Galang, Eisha Janel Tablante Alva, and Angelica Mae Tadique, all from Holy Angel University in Angeles, Pampanga. By winning the People’s Choice Award for their submission, the group also received a cash prize of US$1,000, or about ₱56,000.

“It’s one thing to talk about the potential of AI. It’s another thing entirely to witness it in the hands of brilliant, passionate students who are using it not to chase trends, but to heal our planet, strengthen our communities, and even save lives,” said Sapna Chadha, Vice President for Google Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier, in a LinkedIn post congratulating all the finalists.

“To all the finalists: you are not the ‘next generation’ waiting in the wings — you are leading right now. Your work is a breathtaking reminder that the heart of innovation isn't just code; it's about courage and compassion,” Chadha added.

Antonio García Zaballos, Director of the Digital Sector Office at ADB, said the Google Solution Challenge "was a cornerstone of the Asia-Pacific Digital Transformation Forum 2025."

“We saw the power of student-led innovation to address real-world challenges in healthcare, sustainability, trade, and tourism through technology and AI,” Zaballos continued.

“The energy and creativity of the students were truly inspiring — we are seeing the future of sustainable digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific region,” he added.

Other award recipients at the forum included GeoGemma (winner of Best AI Use Case) and (N + 1)-th Time’s the Charm from Pakistan, and Atempo from Konkuk University, South Korea, which won the Most Societal Impact Award for their AI-powered emergency room matching platform. Other teams from South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, and Japan were also recognized.