𝐁𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐎 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐎𝐏| 𝐈𝐒𝐔 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 | ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY

Student researchers at Isabela State University Cauayan Cluster presented studies aimed at addressing real-world problems in technology, education, governance, and social development during the 2026 Search for Best Graduate and Undergraduate Research held at the BPOTS Training Hall, May 26.

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲

Leading the graduate level, Allan C. Taracatac secured First Place for the study “Expert-Aligned Evaluation of Open-Ended LLM Responses Using Comprehensive Quality Scoring” under Prof. Dr. Arnel C. Fajardo, reflecting emerging work in artificial intelligence evaluation.

Jasten Keneth D. Traceñe placed second with “ReFormer-KD: A Hybrid CNN-Transformer Architecture and Lightweight Distilled Student Framework for Fine-Grained Mangrove Species Classification,” also under Dr. Fajardo’s supervision, focusing on environmental classification through deep learning models.

Las Johansen B. Caluza, ranked third for “T-LASNet: Feature-Engineered CNN for Tikag Leaf Classification in the Bang Weaving Industry,” was also advised by Dr. Fajardo, linking machine learning applications to local industry needs.

𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲

At the undergraduate level, First Place went to Kennie Angelo Estrellon, Nathaniel Panis, and John Ansley Rocel for “Sentiment Analysis to Student Services of ISU Cauayan Using Natural Language Processing Framework,” under Dr. Marvee Cheska V. Natividad, focusing on improving institutional services through data-driven analysis.

Second place was awarded to Abigaile Cyrene Ramos, Catherine Hellio, and Edizan Buguina for “Clustering Patterns of Teenage Pregnancy in Cauayan City,” under Dr. Liezl S. Abuzo, addressing public health concerns using statistical clustering approaches.

𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲

Mary L. Respicio earned first place for “Moral Foundations and Political Constraints: Understanding How Cancel Culture Influences Elite Behavior” under Asst. Prof. Geralda P. Hoggang, examining sociopolitical dynamics in digital discourse.

Jan Beverly C. Dela Rosa placed second with “Life Within the Border of Fear: Deportability, Vulnerability, and Transnational Social Protection Among Undocumented Filipino Domestic Workers in Mainland China,” under Dr. Shiela Antonette D. Bacud, exploring migration and labor vulnerability.

Third Place went to Rhoda Mae R. Dacasim, Shekinah A. Lelina VI, Joven E. Marinay, Angel G. Peña, and Ana Kristina I. Pira for “Multilingual Communication in a Smart City: Examining Translation Practices and Needs in Cauayan City’s Disaster, Environmental, and Urban Communication,” under Dr. Krisha Camille R. Angoluan, focusing on language use in public information systems.

𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐲

In the higher education cluster, Second Place was awarded to Leomar M. Angeles, Crizol L. Aquino, Cristel Kate P. Casela, Teodolfo M. Dalog Jr., and Shamae A. Pepano for “Lesson Planning: Difficulties and Strategies of BEED Graduates in Their Internship,” under Dr. Genalyn L. Capelo, highlighting instructional challenges in teacher education.

Studies were assessed based on originality, methodological rigor, clarity of presentation, relevance to societal and professional needs, and oral defense performance.

The search seeks to translate undergraduate and graduate research into publishable outputs and practical knowledge, fortifying the university’s research utilization agenda.

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