#Proudviscan Nathan Omandam is #GoingGlobal with his international award at Innovation Summit

The path to groundbreaking innovation is rarely easy, but for those driven by a passion for discovery, the journey itself is the reward. For Nathan Omandam, an MS in Chemistry student at Visayas State University (VSU) and a dedicated Technical Specialist, that journey has been defined by boundless enthusiasm and an unwavering commitment to advancing scientific knowledge.

His hard work recently earned national recognition at the Enactus Philippines National Competition and Innovation Summit 2026, held at De La Salle University from October 9–10. There, Mr. Omandam received the prestigious Asian Youth Championship Award 2026 and accompanied his team in representing VSU in an early-stage innovation showcase.

Viscans’ road to innovation competitions

VSU advanced from the top 200 to the top 60 in the Enactus Philippines National Competition, earning a place in the Early-Stage Project Competition Track. The university was represented by graduate students Nathan Kelsey B. Omandam (MS in Chemistry), John Mark R. Fransisco (MS in Horticulture), and Lady May C. Sebidos (MS in Tropical Ecology), alongside Faculty Adviser Mr. Kevin Nick S. Bandibas. The four competition finalists were Southville International School and Colleges, Ateneo de Davao University, West Visayas State University, and Quezon City University.

The team members were selected for their complementary expertise. Mr. Fransisco brought specialized knowledge of Aklan piña fiber, a key element needed to bridge the gap between VSU’s industry partners and the local challenges in Aklan. Ms. Sebidos focused on the business model and revenue schemes, balancing out the team’s technical strengths.

Reflecting on the experience, Mr. Omandam noted that the team’s main area for growth lies on the financial side of their innovation, particularly in exploring market pricing. He explained that benchmarking the Aklan piña fiber—their core focus—remains challenging in the Philippines because the industry is still small.

Mr. Omandam also shared his impressions of West Visayas State University’s entry. While VSU’s project focused on instrumentation and spectroscopy, WVSU utilized biotechnology—an approach that surprised him due to its high inherent cost and their existing industry partnerships. This contrast made WVSU's presentation stand out to him during the competition.

VSU’s participation in Enactus marks a step forward in the university’s pursuit of innovation, paving the way for younger Viscans with projects capable of reaching the international stage and contributing to a more sustainable nation. 

Youth innovator pursues excellence

While attending the Enactus Philippines National Competition and Innovation Summit 2026 as VSU representative,  Mr. Omandam earned a distinguished distinction: the Asian Youth Championship Award 2026. Evaluated on rigorous criteria, he was named one of 35 exceptional youth innovators selected from over 20 countries.

The recognition was a thrilling moment for Mr. Omandam. After two years of exploring the field of agricultural chemistry, his hard work officially paid off, giving him a long-awaited victory. It was, for him, a welcome change after frequently placing as first runner-up. 

Grateful for the support behind his achievements, he highlighted two key mentors who guided his works. First was an initiative under the Director for Extension, Dr. Catherine C. Arradaza, where Mr. Omandam worked on different deliverables; upon the suggestion of the Director, the projects could continue while he was enrolled in a master’s program. Second was a project guided by his thesis adviser, Dr. Felix M. Salas, whose laboratory courses helped him build a pipeline. As Mr. Omandam described it, the process involves capturing the “chemical fingerprint” of a substance and applying statistical modeling to unlock versatility across various practical applications.

Reflecting on support and elevating innovation industries

What truly drives an innovator to excel? For Mr. Omandam, the answer lies in a specialized corner of the scientific world: chemistry-focused intellectual property. His journey into this niche was strengthened at an IPOPhil workshop where he noticed something striking— he was the only chemist in the room. That realization sparked a goal to become a certified patent agent and chemist, setting his sights on an underexplored intersection of science and law.

Behind his ambition is a strong network of mentorship. Under the guidance of his thesis adviser, Dr. Felix M. Salas— a well-versed chemistry professor in intellectual property— Mr. Omandam learned the intricacies of patent drafting. Together, they drafted patents for several projects, some of which have already been filed and are currently undergoing examination.

“And yeah, it was fun. It’s a bit difficult on the aspect that not a lot of people could relate or could help you because not a lot of people like chemistry and not a lot of people like patents. It was very fun,” he reiterated.

Navigating the learning curve, however, required a shift in perspective. Mr. Omandam initially believed that a patent application had to be flawless on the first attempt. That misconception was cleared up by Ms. Maria Louella Tambis, head of VSU Innovation and Technology Support Office, who offered encouraging advice: perfect drafts aren’t expected on the first try.

His dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. Dr. Justine Bennette H. Millado, Assistant Professor of the Department of Pest Management and his direct supervisor, noted that his strong work ethic fully matches his enthusiasm for innovation.

“The best thing about Nathan is that he’s very innovative. If one solution doesn’t work, he gives us a lot of alternatives… It’s my first time actually working with Nathan…  I appreciate that kind of attitude,... So it takes a lot of load off the project leaders,” she emphasized. 

And for the young innovator, he advises aspiring student-innovators at VSU: “take the leap”. He points out that the university offers robust grants and support programs to help students transform their ideas into reality, just as it did for him.

“I say to the younger viscans, “go for it”. We might not know, you might gain maybe millions of seed grant in the next few years, you can test your ideas.”

While pathfinding in science and innovation is a long process, he reassures fellow young visionaries that there is always time to achieve great things, one step at a time.

This article aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

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