Six months after securing the US$ 20,000 grand prize as global champions of Taiwan Excellence’s “Go Green with Taiwan” contest, Filipino Gen Zs Dignity Lagunay and John Edison Tubil are exploring opportunities to implement their winning entry.
Their proposal, “Sweet Solutions to the Plastic Crisis: Compostable Sugarcane-Based Alternatives,” stood out among hundreds of global entries. Both Silliman University Junior Marketing Organization (SUJMO) members proposed bridging JuTien Cleantech Co., Ltd.’s sustainable sugarcane-based packaging technology with Negros Island’s abundant sugarcane bagasse resources.
Where are they now? Post-graduation, Lagunay completed an internship at a sustainable enterprise, witnessing “green consumerism” beyond statistics. Tubil, serving as president of Silliman’s humanitarian organization, has expanded his network to guide other sustainability advocates.
“This generation and the market is shifting towards green consumerism. We’ll definitely carry these learnings and experiences with us as we implement our project,” the winners shared.
What’s next? The duo remains committed to actualizing their proposal, planning correspondence with JuTien Cleantech and potential investors. They aim to join the generation prioritizing sustainability over profit.
Taiwan Excellence launches “Go Healthy with Taiwan” in 2024, inviting innovative wellness solutions through Taiwan’s industries and practices.
Mr. Alex Lai, Director of Taiwan Trade Center Manila, stated: “Taiwan Trade Center Manila is proud to invite entries from around the country for the Go Healthy with Taiwan initiative. We look forward to seeing innovative solutions that will encourage more partnerships with the industries of Taiwan. With the previous win by Edison and Dignity, much is expected from the Philippines.“
Advice for aspiring participants: Tubil advises: “If you’re really interested in joining, you have to know your reason why. Focus on your purpose. You have to commit to actualizing your goal beyond just winning. If you have that big reason, you have actually already won.”
Lagunay added: “For those who are interested in joining… I strongly recommend you join it. Oftentimes, the solution may just be at your doorstep. Or it’s in a friendly country called Taiwan.”
Go Green with Taiwan, led by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and Taiwan International Trade Administration (TITA), received over 350 entries from 45 countries. For Go Healthy with Taiwan updates, follow Taiwan Excellence on Facebook and Instagram.
