IN A stunning display of grit and innovation, the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) Rocketry Team has once again made waves on the global stage as it qualifies for the 2025 Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) to be held in Midland, Texas, USA.
With their newly designed rocket, Siklab, the team is set to compete from June 9 to 14 at the Midland International Air & Space Port, marking their second consecutive qualification to the world’s largest university-level rocketry meet.
The achievement, formally announced by AdDU President Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ, in a press conference, was lauded as a representation of Ateneo’s commitment to applied research, innovation, and mission-driven excellence.
Siklab, which means "ignite," embodies the spirit of ignition — not just for this project, but for the future of aerospace technology in the Philippines.
The IREC, organized by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (Esra), brings together more than 2,000 students from over 150 universities across the globe. Teams are challenged to build and launch rockets to altitudes of 10,000 or 30,000 feet using solid, liquid, or hybrid propulsion systems.
Behind the scenes, the journey has been anything but easy.
"As project lead, I don’t really see the smaller breakdowns among our team members," said Avery Clyde Dimasuhid. "But I do feel the pressure on the administrative side, especially when procurement delays affect everything else. It can be frustrating when our project timelines clash with our midterm or final exams. There were times it felt impossible. Still, we pulled through – all-nighters, back-to-back reports – we just held on."
Patricia Reyes, AdDU Intern
Patricia Reyes, AdDU InternFor Dimasuhid and the rest of the team, the goal has always been bigger than just winning.
"Success for us goes beyond competition. Just being part of this is already a huge achievement. It shows the world what Mindanao can do. We're competing with well-established institutions abroad that can launch rockets at will. Here, even just securing permits or sourcing materials is a struggle. But the fact that we’ve built something that can fly – that’s a win in itself."
Mentor and astrophysicist Dr. Rogel Mari Sese echoed the broader purpose behind the mission. “This, as it's part of the goals of the university, is to further the aerospace engineering program as well as push the boundaries on what we are capable of doing — not just here in Davao City or the Davao Region, but in Mindanao and showcasing it to the rest of the country and the world,” he said.
Fr. San Juan affirmed this commitment in his message: "As the team prepares for IREC 2025, we will continue to support them — not simply for the competition itself, but for the deeper formation it represents." Patricia Reyes with reports from DEF