SLSU Civil Engineering Students Secure 1st Runner-Up Finish at National Seismic Design Challenge, Earn Epicenter Award
On April 17, 2026, inside the halls of the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City, the ground did not need to shake to test resilience—the minds and creations of future engineers did. It was here that the 1st National Undergraduate Seismic Design Challenge: Beat the Quake – The Main Shock gathered twenty of the country’s most promising university teams, each determined to prove their mastery of structural design under simulated seismic forces.
Representing Southern Leyte State University (SLSU), third-year BS Civil Engineering students Hanna Fe M. Gorme, Carl Asriel Agapay, and Vernie C. Mellorin entered the national stage not as strangers to competition, but as tested contenders. Having secured 2nd place in the Davao Regional Leg, they earned their place among the “Conquerors”—the top three teams from each of the four regional legs: Baguio, Cebu, Davao, and NCR. Alongside wildcard teams dubbed the “Avengers,” they formed a competitive field of innovation, strategy, and precision.
Guided by their student coach, Karl Dexter Bahinting, and faculty coach, Jommar V. Tagalog, the SLSU team carried with them not only technical knowledge but also the pride of their institution. The challenge was deceptively simple in concept yet demanding in execution: construct a tower using only sticks and glue, then subject it to a series of increasing seismic intensities.
As the testing began, tension filled the auditorium. One by one, towers succumbed to the simulated tremors. But the SLSU structure stood firm. It withstood 0.3g uniaxial motion, then advanced through biaxial intensities of 0.5g, 0.7g, 0.8g, and 0.9g—without collapse. Even as the shaking intensified, their tower remained unyielding, a testament to careful design and engineering discipline.
With only two teams left standing—the SLSU team and Cebu Technological University (CTU) Dumanjog Campus—the organizers pushed the limits further. The frequency was increased to 1.2, a level intended to break even the strongest designs. Yet still, both towers endured.
In the end, the tie was broken not by failure of structure, but by time. The deciding factor came down to the additional seconds incurred during the construction phase, giving CTU-Dumanjog Campus the championship title. SLSU emerged as 1st Runner-Up—an achievement marked not by defeat, but by excellence under pressure.
Beyond their placement, the team also earned the Epicenter Award, recognizing them as the group with the strongest wave of online support—a reflection of the pride and unity of the SLSU community behind them.
Organized by Xstructures and sponsored by the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (ASEP), the competition served as a platform for students to apply theory to real-world challenges in structural and earthquake engineering.
For the SLSU team, the experience was more than a contest—it was a defining moment. They expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to represent their university and to be exposed to high-level competitions that sharpen both skill and character. Equally, they acknowledged the unwavering support of Southern Leyte State University, the Faculty of Engineering, the Civil Engineering Department, the PICE SLSU Student Chapter, and sponsors whose encouragement and assistance helped make their journey possible.
In a competition designed to simulate destruction, the SLSU team instead built something lasting: a story of resilience, collaboration, and engineering excellence.