Graphics and Design (GD) students Trisha Mae Bretaña and Mary Therese Abadilla [and their Chinese counterparts] bested teams to claim First Prize in the final round of the 2026 China-ASEAN SEAMEO Creative Merchandise Design Competition in Guiyang, Guizhou Province, People’s Republic of China.
College of Technology Dean Dr. Janice Alivio and Graphics and Design Chair Asst. Prof. Montecillo, who served as coach and mentor, quickly shared the news with the University’s Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI) Office following the awarding ceremony today.
Dr. Alivio said in a statement that one of the members of the panel of judges personally approached CTU to commend the team’s output, describing it as an impressive and well-executed design that stood out among the entries presented during the competition.
Adding to the University’s accolade, Asst. Prof. Montecillo was likewise conferred the Outstanding Instructor Award, one of the event’s special recognitions.
Prior to the competition, the delegation completed a couple of required rehearsals and technical preparations before advancing to the final presentation platform.
The students have participated through a fully funded international mobility sponsored by Go Study Global Education, a China-based organization and one of CTU’s long-standing international partners. Meanwhile, the accompanying academics have received partial funding.
The competition formed part of the 2026 China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week, highlighting the creative use of Artificial Intelligence-Generated Content (AIGC) technologies to support and enhance merchandise design centered on ASEAN-related themes, including culture, educational cooperation, and sustainable development.
Entries were evaluated based on cultural integration, innovation and originality, practicality and feasibility, and brand alignment, bringing together outstanding student designers from participating institutions across the region.
Among the institutions contributing to the event were Guizhou Polytechnic of Construction, Bijie Industry Polytechnic College, Guizhou Aerospace Vocational and Technical College, Qiandongnan Polytechnic College, Guangxi XUE ER SHI XING Commerce & Exhibition Co., Ltd., and Prism (Guangzhou) Digital Technology Co., Ltd.
CTU’s partnership with Go Study Global Education, first established in 2022, has recently been reactivated, further strengthening the University’s strategic footprint in China./IAI
