SINGAPORE (Aug 2026): Beat the heat without high utility bills: a young Pinay student just proved that staying cool can be both low-cost and eco-friendly.
Pinay student Minette Cabaluna represented the Philippines alongside her Indonesian teammate Rayden Cleverson Suhardi as Team Ventra at the 2026 FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge Asia Pacific Finals in Singapore. Together, they created a modular cooling solution built from recycled plastic waste that lowers indoor temperatures without using a single watt of electricity.
Their invention earned Team Ventra a runner-up spot among 48 student finalists from eight markets across the region. The competition, organized by FedEx and Junior Achievement, celebrates two decades of helping young innovators address environmental challenges with practical trade strategies. This year, participants were asked to design sustainable product concepts specifically for the Cambodian market.
Cabaluna and Suhardi tackled both indoor heat and plastic pollution with a simple, practical design aimed at helping local communities. Out of more than 4,000 participants in this year’s challenge, Team Ventra showed how Pinoy talent can lead meaningful conversations on sustainability and youth innovation on an international stage.
