Since 2022, the Technology Application and Promotion Institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI) has been amplifying Filipino ingenuity through the Gawad Alunig x Dalumat (GAxD).
Developed at a time when the Philippines was reeling from the global pandemic, this national campaign leveraged the power of storytelling to highlight homegrown technologies. It also served as a response to the proliferation of disinformation and misinformation, particularly with various misconceptions and false claims on science and technology.
2022 – 2024: Empowering Science Stories through Citizen Journalism
The pilot GAxD campaign in 2022 focused on excellence in Citizen Science Journalism. Gawad Alunig spotlighted the Best KALIPUNAN Science Youth Correspondents who produced engaging newscasts. On the other hand, Gawad Dalumat honored outstanding school-based science publications.
Tapping into the value of grassroots storytelling, the inaugural GAxD generated close to 500 invention leads and contributed to a 25% increase in DOST-TAPI’s approved funding proposals.
For the second edition, GAxD maintained the same citizen science journalism format but further evolved into a nationwide campaign to encourage innovators that could join the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit (ClusteRICE).
That year’s campaign focused on the critical contribution of science and technology in major sectors of society, from agriculture, education, livelihood, health, disaster management, and engineering. By contextualizing innovation within real-world issues, GAxD contextualized the relevance of science and technology in daily life.
In 2023, the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) honored the DOST-TAPI’s GAxD campaign with a Silver Anvil Award under the Specialized PR Program Category. Further, Marketing-Interactive Philippines also recognized the campaign with a Gold Award for Excellence in Relationship Marketing.
In addition to these triumphs, the campaign sparked a 200% surge in invention proposals and the nationwide production of dozens of science newscasts and publications—clear evidence of community-driven storytelling’s impact.
Building on the campaign’s award-winning momentum, GAxD was deliberately structured to generate proposals for its third edition in 2024. Cash awards were increased to strengthen participation.
The 2024 campaign spotlighted the technologies focused on Tech-Trans, small businesses, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). It further strengthened journalistic standards in science reporting among student publications while intensifying public engagement on issues vital to nation-building.
2025: Empowering Innovation Stories through Creative Advertising
The latest GAxD edition marked a new chapter with a strong emphasis on science visual storytelling through creative advertising. Through this shift, DOST-TAPI aims to open opportunities for more Filipino storytellers to join the conversation and amplify community ingenuity.
Moreover, stakes are higher than ever with prizes of up to PHP 75,000 for the Gawad Alunig (Audio-Visual Category) grand winner and PHP 60,000 for the Gawad Dalumat (Photo Essay Feature Category) champion.
For more information about the GAxD campaign, please visit TAPI.DOST.gov.ph and follow DOST-TAPI on Facebook. To learn more about GAxD, you may email DOST-TAPI at impakt.tipd@tapi.dost.gov.ph or contact DOST-TAPI’s mobile number 09082447842 (available on Viber or WhatsApp).
The Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) is among the DOST’s service agencies tasked to promote technology commercialization and innovation support services, created under the Executive Order No.128 on 30 January 1987.
For more information about DOST-TAPI’s programs and services, you may email info@tapi.dost.gov.ph, call (02) 8582 1450 loc. 2167, or visit the official DOST-TAPI Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DOST.TAPI.
