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By Heherson Valdez
IN PHOTO: Ms. Julienne Stephanie Fabin-Agapin, inventor of UnVas; Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena, DOST-TAPI Director; DOST-TAPI personnel; and community members of Gumamela Neighborhood Association Housing Cooperative (GNAHC) during the UnVas Community-Based Production Training held on November 15-16, 2025.
The Philippines continues to face a pressing challenge in providing sustainable employment. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the unemployment rate, released on November 6, 2025, was recorded at 3.8 percent in September 2025, slightly higher than the 3.7 percent rate in the same month last year. This translates to 1.96 million unemployed Filipinos, highlighting the ongoing need for initiatives that generate meaningful livelihoods while promoting social and environmental impact.
Filipino innovator Ms. Julienne Stephanie Fabie-Agapin, who earned her degree in Chemistry from the University of the Philippines Visayas, is addressing this challenge through Unas Canvas (UnVas), an eco-friendly canvas and lifestyle material made from dried banana leaves. UnVas originated not in a laboratory, but from a real-world challenge.
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By Aiya Rodjel
How a nationwide campaign is inspiring Filipino creatives to champion homegrown technologies
TAGUIG CITY — What does it take to turn Filipino innovations into moving stories worth sharing? For the Technology Application and Promotion Institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI), the answer lies in meeting aspiring storytellers where they are. That’s why DOST-TAPI has been hosting in-person and virtual pocket launches since the campaign’s launch last October.
DOST-TAPI utilizes GAxD in-person pocket launches as a strategic platform to achieve two main goals. First, the launches clearly communicate the campaign’s rules and regulations to all interested participants. Second, face-to-face gatherings maximize the opportunity for promotion of local innovations. While each launch is designed to clarify requirements and eligibility, all events featured unique and tailored sessions to boost engagement.
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