13/12/2025
✨🤤🏆
HITTING 3 BIRDS WITH ONE STONE:
Bringing Honor to the University of Southern Mindanao 💛💚🏆✨
We incredibly proud to announce that the GRUBilicious Chichaworm by I-Farm Agribiz & Food Products emerged as the Overall Champion at the RAISE SOCCSKSARGEN Innovation & Agripreneurship Pitch Fest 2025!
I-Farm Founder, Mr. John Paul Cabangal competing as a student of the USM from College of Agriculture and an incubatee of the USM-SIKLAB Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubator (ATBI), this win also belongs to the entire USM community. 💚💛
We didn't just win✨
We swept the top spots:
🥇✨1st Place – Pitching Competition
🥇✨1st Place – Best Poster
🥇✨1st Place – Best Booth
We competed with other innovators in Region 12, including Cotabato State University, Mindanao State University–General Santos City, Sultan Kudarat State University, and other contenders from USM.
This success is a testament to the world-class foundation provided by the University of Southern Mindanao under the leadership of USM President, Dr. Jonald Pimentel and the solid mentorship at USM-ATBI headed by Pia Amabelle Flores.
Thank you to Department of Science and Technology, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD); Technology Transfer and Promotion Division of DOST-PCAARRD with Director Noel Catibog; Soccsksargen Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SOXAARRDEC) headed by Dr. Julius Jerome Generao Ele and the Regional Agri-Aqua Innovation System Enhancement Program (RAISE Region XII) headed by Dr. Josephine Rabanal Migalbin, to the Provincial Government of Cotabato with Judy C. Gomez and Cotabato Academe–Private Sector Technology Alliance for Learning, Innovation, Science and Technopreneurship (Catalist) President and Chairman of J3 Information Technology, Inc. with Miss Jeanette “Pam” Lemana- Toledo, EMBA,DPO., for recognizing the potential of the sustainable insect-based food snack!
Let's make real impact, together ✨
One crispy bite at a time! ✨☺