📷: Sarah Hazel Moces Pulumbarit (UPM-IPPAO)
Manila – Officials from the US Embassy Commercial Service visited the University of the Philippines Manila last February 3, 2026 for the meet and greet with the university inventors. The event was dubbed as “Meet & Greet: UP Manila Inventors & the U.S. Embassy Commercial Service” which took place at 10:30 a.m. at the 2 nd Floor Board Room of Henry Sy, Sr. Hall. The delegation from US Embassy was composed of Christopher Feather (Commercial Officer), Sophia Ordoña (Commercial Specialist), and Jeanne Santiago (Commercial Assistant). They were welcomed by Chancellor Michael L. Tee and TTBDO Director Dr. Lourdes Marie S. Tejero. The gathering commenced by introduction of the US embassy delegation and then the UP Manila inventors.
Afterwards, the technologies in UP Manila portfolio were presented starting with the Augmented Experience E-health Laboratory (AXEL) Immersive Gamification Technology System (ImGTS) by Dr. Maria Eliza R. Aguila. She was followed by Dr. Emmanuel P. Estrella and Dr. Nathaniel S. Orillaza, Jr. who presented about the external fixators for broken bone which they invented. Engr. Jed M. Bellen, Senior Development Management Officer of TTBDO informed the US Embassy delegation about the Novel Antigen Peptides invented by Dr. Salvador Caoili’s group and the plan for its co-development with potential collaborators in US universities or start-ups. Engr. Marinela Gravides, Senior Business Development Associate of TTBDO then presented the gamut of technologies available at UP Manila for licensing. Specifically, Engr. Gravides mentioned the ETox-NPS which can detect new psychoactive substances (NPS) and its inventor Dr. Ailyn M. Yabes expounded further on the technology. The last presenter was Dr.
Raul V. Destura who showcased the diagnostic technologies developed by his company, the Manila HealthTek, which is also a spin-off company of UP Manila.
After the presentations of technology, Ms. Sophia Ordoña, introduced the SelectUSA Tech Program of the US Government. Then, Ms. Jeanne Santiago discussed about the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2026. The event was ended with a short remarks by Engr. Jed M. Bellen and picture-taking followed. The program was hosted by Mr. Vince Dominic B. Leaño.