Two research teams from Grade 12-ABM from the University of the Philippines High School in Iloilo (UPHSI) earned recognition at the 2nd World Research and Innovation Festival – International Conference for Business, Tourism, and Hospitality Management (ICBTHM 2025). The virtual conference, organized by West Visayas State University, took place on February 28, 2025.
ICBTHM 2025, the culminating event of the World Research and Innovation Festival, served as a platform for student researchers from universities worldwide to present their work alongside scholars, professionals, and industry experts. The conference featured innovative studies on various aspects of business and economic development.
The event began with a morning plenary session featuring international speakers who shared insights on sustainable economic growth, tourism advancements, and key business trends. In the afternoon, pre-recorded research presentations were screened in designated breakout sessions, allowing participants to explore and engage with diverse studies. An open forum followed, where professionals and reviewers provided constructive feedback and recommendations for further research improvement. The event concluded with an awarding ceremony recognizing outstanding research contributions.
The research team composed of Mickole Borjie Atinado, Poi Marie Cabrera, Ma. Isabelle Cordova, Rochelle Fuentes, Gabrielle Nicolae Panolino, and Zharry Joy Zerrudo won First Place in the Best Paper Award under the business cluster for their study, “Assessing the Financial and Economic Viability of Artisanal Salt Production Methods: A Case Study of Miag-ao’s Budbud and Guimaras’ Tultul Salts.”
Another team, consisting of Tiffany Lorraine Casidsid, Mary Antoniette Nalangan, Robert Caesar Pinuela, Hyacinth Trish Quimbao, Justin Mark Solas, and Wayne Diah Umani, secured Second Place in the Best Paper Award under the same category for their study, “Measuring the Level of Xenocentrism Among Iloilo City Residents and Its Determinants.”
Additionally, another research group composed of Lori Ysabel Doricarion, Ranee Arjuonne Eclavia, Sol Freya Planta, Mary Nicole Pornel, Feona Aiacia Rosaldes, and Mikaela Sophia Tilano presented their study, “Financial and Economic Viability of Milkfish Farms in Dumangas, Iloilo Using Earthen Pond Technology,” at the same conference.
All research projects were conducted as part of the Integrated Research Apprenticeship (IREAP) course under the mentorship of Dr. Reynold D. Tan.
This achievement highlights UPHSI’s commitment to fostering research excellence and equipping students with the knowledge and skills to address real-world economic and business challenges.
