JIECEP-MSU-Gensan claims four-peat SOX summit crown, sustains reign through unity

For the fourth consecutive year, Junior Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines (JIECEP-MSU-Gensan) once again proved its dominance after clinching its another overall championship title at the 15th JIECEP-SOX Summit,  at the Family Country Hotel in General Santos City last October 3-4.

The summit brought together top Electronics Engineering (ECE) students from across the region to showcase their technical skills and creativity.

Amassing a total of 900 points, MSU-Gensan secured the top spot, followed by Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU) with 760 points, while Notre Dame of Midsayap College (NDMC) placed third with 750 points. 

© JIECEP MSU-GSC

Teamwork as key

In a statement by Priyanka Gagni, the JIECEP-MSU-Gensan president and also the governor of this year's summit, the triumph represented not just a competition victory but a shared achievement that mirrored the university’s values of unity and innovation.

"It’s not just a victory in competition but a validation of our shared dedication to continuous growth and innovation," she described.

Gagni further added that any officer, volunteer, and participant contributed to the event’s success through their initiative and shared commitment to excellence.

"Each person understood the importance of their role, and that collective sense of responsibility made our teamwork efficient and inspiring. It was fulfilling to witness how everyone took initiative, supported one another, and remained motivated despite the inevitable challenges. Ultimately, it was our collaboration, trust, and shared passion for excellence that turned this summit into a memorable success," the president stated.

Perspectives among champions

Fourth-year student Vincent Laruan, who won the championship title in 'Bit The Bees' event with his team, noted that the summit inspired him to keep striving for excellence and to help his peers see that success comes from effort and preparation.

"My team and I were only able to answer the questions because we studied for them. It felt satisfying to know that the time we spent learning was well spent, and it shows in the results we achieved during the event," Laruan stated.

The said competition was won with his teammates, namely Prince Zulkifl Mangondato, Sean Benedict Panal, Christian Ian Charles Salas, Mish-al Akir, and Jansen Rey Abuso.

Laruan said the competition reinforced MSU-Gensan’s reputation as a consistent top performer in academic events. 

"The competition on the national level for these academic events is extremely high, and it will make you realize every time that you need to give more than your full effort just to perform well there," the team captain added.

Meanwhile, Sophia Angela Omac, who won back-to-back crowns in the Impromptu Speech event, realized that engineers are not confined to circuits and codes but can also thrive in communication, leadership, and organization.

"Before I doubted the importance of my event, but after I was exposed to the field during my internship, it made me realize that being able to communicate is just as important as the other skills an engineer should have," Omac addressed.

According to her, it  was also a challenging experience, as she is also one of the people working in the aforementioned event, as the secretary of the organization.

"I was also a part of the working committee that spearheaded the event so it was really a challenge for me to find the time to practice considering we were also working hard just so the event would turn out well. I, honestly, just feel so grateful that I was able to juggle everything and winning my event at the same time," Omac emphasized.

For Waqas Al-awadi, champion of the 'Tech-Tok' category, he is glad that his efforts had a positive impact and hopes it inspires others. He was also backed with his co-contestant, third-year student Meliza Balbes.

"I don't know if my success was technically inspiring, but I do hope that I can inspire them to have fun in the course they chose, which is ECE," Al-awadi stated.

He expressed that experience taught him that being an ECE student is not all about academics but about finding joy in what you do. 

MSUan Excellence

The university also dominated other categories, reinforcing its regional supremacy. 

For 'Datathon', they reigned again for the fourth consecutive time, with the efforts of its members, namely Aegyro Loquias, Edrian Samperoy, and Immanuelle Fyan Langoyan, who's also the champion for ‘Speed Typing’.

Meanwhile, third-year student Ezra Luke Bernales also took the title in ‘Digital Poster Making’ and Jad Fritz Ernesto Romero gained the crown for ‘Tetris’ event.

In addition, Gagni reflected that the summit also became a platform for leadership growth and community building, and also strengthened her patience and problem-solving skills, especially when dealing with unexpected issues or conflicting opinions.

“As someone who naturally avoids the spotlight, I learned to embrace situations that challenged my comfort zone," she detailed.

MSU-Gensan’s fourth consecutive victory at the aforementioned summit cements its reputation as a powerhouse in regional engineering education, while also continuing to set the bar high for what it means to be an engineer.