On February 25, 2026, we joined the 2026 Division Research Congress at the Viewpoint Hotel, Digos City. It was my first time participating in the Division Research Congress. I was not just attending. I was presenting.

We arrived early, about 30 minutes before the program. But as expected, the program started late, almost an hour after the posted time. We went straight to the registration line. While waiting, I was already listing everything in my head. Posters, slides, demos, and the quiet prayer: Lord, please let everything work today.

2026 Division Research Congress - Padada National High School

Padada National High School delegates at the 2026 Division Research Congress, Viewpoint Hotel, Digos City.

What we brought to the congress

Padada National High School had two action research studies that day:

  • Hearing Functions (Samuel John E. Parreño and Alleander Kate L. Gicale)
  • QualiMatch (Joe Faith C. Bernardino and Samuel John E. Parreño)

In simple words, this is what they were about.

Hearing Functions helps students “hear” graphs using sonified mappings (value-to-pitch and slope-to-pitch). The goal is to help them interpret functions better, especially when they confuse height with rate of change.

QualiMatch is a web app that helps Grade 11 students align qualitative research questions with the right design and data sources, so their Practical Research outputs become clearer and more consistent.

The part people do not see

Most people only see the final output. The printed paper, the poster, the slides, and the presenter in front.

But the part that tested us the most was not even the writing. It was the signatures and approval sheets.

That week, the Division research focal was out on official business. We really struggled to get his signature on the required sheets. For a moment, it felt like everything would be delayed. The pressure was real because one missing signature can stop everything, even if the study is already done.

There was also a misunderstanding at first. He thought we were not submitting anymore. Our submission was already past the ideal timing, but by God’s grace he still accepted it after seeing our effort and that the work was already complete. We placed the fully bound, complete paper on his table. No excuses. No promises. The work was there.

That week taught me something. Sometimes the battle is not the research itself. Sometimes the battle is simply staying faithful to finish and submit, even when the process is hard and the timing is tight.

Waiting for the TV and the “everybody look” moment

Our session started late because there was a shortage of TVs for presentations. We waited about an hour because the TV had to be fetched from another branch of the hotel.

Then when it was finally our turn, my demo needed a speaker. I brought one.

When I played the demo, the sound was loud enough that people around the hall suddenly paused and looked. The funny part is that the venue had two parallel sessions happening in the same hall, plus poster presentations, so it was already noisy. Then the audio demo played and for a few seconds it felt like the whole hall noticed us. I remember thinking, okay Sam, this is either impressive or embarrassing. Lord, please let this be the impressive kind.

The presentation and the pressure

After we presented, I felt relief.

Before that, I was tense. In international conferences, there is sometimes a language barrier that naturally reduces the questions. In a local congress, we understand each other well, so there is extra pressure because questions can be more direct and detailed.

What surprised me was that there were no tough questions. They were impressed by the project. That encouraged me, not because it fed my ego, but because it affirmed that the study was clear, meaningful, and communicated well.

The awards and the surprise

We were humbled to receive recognitions and awards during the congress:

  • Best Research Paper: Hearing Functions (PHP 10,000)
  • 2nd Best Poster Award: Hearing Functions (Alleander Kate L. Gicale)
  • 2nd Place, Best Oral Presentation (Parallel Session): Samuel John E. Parreño
  • 2nd Best Slide Presentation (Parallel Session): Samuel John E. Parreño
  • Best Overall Oral Presentation: Joe Faith C. Bernardino
  • Best Overall Slide Presentation: Joe Faith C. Bernardino

I will be honest. I felt that our papers would place somewhere. But I did not expect Best Research Paper. It was competitive, and the other papers were good too. That award felt like pure favor. It reminded me that when God gives something, it is not always because you expected it. Sometimes it is simply His kindness and mercy.

What stayed with me

When the day ended, I felt tired, happy, and quietly grateful.

At the same time, I felt a weight. A good kind of weight. A reminder that research should not end in certificates or applause. It should return to the people. It should help classrooms, help schools, help communities. Publication is not the finish line. Many times, it is only the beginning.

This congress did not feel like an ending. It felt like a starting point.

Para sa Diyos! Para sa Bayan!

“God’s favor is not only seen in awards. It is seen in the strength to finish, the grace to endure the process, and the calling to give the work back to the people.”