02/07/2026
NAMES BEYOND EARTH🌏
Three Filipino high school students from Camarines Sur National High School in Naga City received a rare international recognition after three minor planets were named in their honor.
Keith Russel Cadores, Joscel Kent Manzanero, and Eugene Rivera represented the Philippines at the 2018 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, one of the world’s largest pre-college science competitions.
Their research project, titled Design and Development of Solar-Tracking Arduino-Rooted PV Panels, focused on improving how solar panels collect energy. The device was designed to mimic the movement of a flower by opening when sunlight is present, tracking the sun’s movement, and closing when light is no longer detected.
At the competition, the team won Second Award in the Energy: Physical category for their work.
Following their achievement, three minor planets were named in their honor: Cadores, Manzanero, and Eugenerivera. These names are listed in the International Astronomical Union’s WGSBN Bulletin.
The recognition was connected to a program of MIT Lincoln Laboratory, which honors outstanding student researchers by naming discovered asteroids after them.
It is a remarkable achievement that shows how far student research can go when curiosity, science, and hard work are given the chance to grow.
From a high school research project in Camarines Sur to names recognized in space, this remains one of the most inspiring science achievements by Filipino students.
