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🌱Our Final Pitch Experience: Showing Our First SustainMix Eco-Friendly CHB Prototype

Today felt like a huge milestone for us, we finally presented our final pitch, and for the first time, we showed everyone the prototype of our eco-friendly Concrete Hollow Block (CHB). Months ago, this was just an idea we talked about during group meetings, and now we were standing in front of the panel holding the actual block we created. It honestly felt surreal.

As civil engineering students, we see every day how construction affects the environment. Cement is expensive, carbon-heavy, and used almost everywhere. At the same time, we noticed how rice husks, seashells, and broken glass just end up as waste. So we thought, “What if we turn these materials into something useful?” That question eventually became the foundation of SustainMix.

Our prototype CHB uses waste materials as partial replacement for cement, something we’ve been testing and revising over and over. Seeing it in its final form during the pitch made us feel proud, kay di gyud sayon ang process. We experimented with rice husk ash, powdered shells, and crushed glass just to find the right mix that still looks and feels like a standard CHB. And even though it’s still a prototype, it symbolized the start of something bigger for us.

During the pitch, we shared our story, not just the technical side, but why this project mattered to us. We explained how construction contributes to carbon emissions and how communities keep dealing with waste that could have been recycled. Our goal with SustainMix is simple but meaningful: to reduce cement use, recycle waste, and create a stronger and more affordable CHB that can help build greener communities.

We also talked about the feedback from the people who tried and reviewed our prototype. Some loved the idea right away, especially the mix of strength and sustainability. Others were a bit hesitant, asking about long-term durability and production scaling. But honestly, we appreciated those comments, they made us see where we need to improve and what our next steps should be.

Looking back, presenting SustainMix wasn’t just about grades or requirements. It felt more like introducing a solution we truly believe in. This project taught us how innovation starts with small ideas, how teamwork really matters, and how engineers can create impact even while still studying.

We may still have a long way to go, but holding our prototype today reminded us that we’re on the right track. SustainMix might just be a student project for now, but who knows? Maybe one day, our eco-friendly CHBs will help build real homes and real communities.

For now, we’re just grateful, grateful for the experience, the support, and the chance to build something that can hopefully make a difference.

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🌱Taking the Next Step: Our Milestone 3 Online Presentation.

Our Milestone 3 online presentation might not have had the big, in person energy, but the pressure was definitely real. There we were, staring at our screens, waiting for our turn while reviewing our lines and hoping our internet wouldn’t betray us. When the instructor finally called our group, everything felt quiet for a second as if the whole week of preparing, validating, and revising just led to that one moment. And as soon as our slides appeared on the screen, it suddenly felt like all the work we had done finally connected.

We shared the story of how SustainMix has been taking shape starting with the problem we discovered in traditional CHB production. Through our interviews, we learned how cement dependency affects costs, quality, and environmental impact, and how most CHB suppliers never really explored using recycled waste as substitutes. Presenting these insights made us realize how important this project could be. Explaining our idea of integrating rice husk ash, seashell powder, and glass into eco-friendly CHBs felt different when spoken aloud it felt more convincing, more possible. It wasn’t just a school requirement anymore; it felt like a solution that could help both the industry and the environment.

As we went through our market strategy, pricing, and projections, it almost felt like we were pitching something real like a team building its first green venture. The questions from our instructor helped us spot areas we need to strengthen, especially in our customer research and prototype development. But after logging out of Zoom, there was this quiet sense of relief and accomplishment. Milestone 3 wasn’t perfect, but it showed how much we’ve grown and how much direction our project now has. Even though everything happened through a screen, it still felt like a genuine step forward one that brings us closer to turning SustainMix into an actual, meaningful innovation.

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🌿 SustainMix Milestone 3 Blog: Turning Ideas Into Purpose

Reaching Milestone 3 in our SustainMix journey felt like another big turning point, not just as students completing activities, but as young innovators trying to bring a real solution to life. This milestone required us to clearly present our idea, explain our decisions, and connect everything to what we learned from our customer interviews, product vision, and value proposition. It was the moment where our concept started looking more like a real venture.

During Milestone 3, we presented our SustainMix concept to our instructor and shared how our product aims to produce eco-friendly CHBs using recycled waste materials like rice husk ash, crushed seashells, and recycled glass. We explained how this approach can reduce cement usage, lower carbon emissions, decrease construction costs, and help address waste management issues. Presenting these details made us realize that SustainMix isn’t just about building blocks, it’s about building impactful and sustainable communities.

We also discussed our target customers, pricing model, value proposition, and why we chose a certain revenue model. At this point, it became more clear that understanding the needs, fears, and expectations of contractors, homeowners, and builders is just as important as designing the product itself. We learned that sustainability alone isn’t enough, people need proof, testing, and trust. That reminder helped guide us to focus more on product validation, certification, and awareness-building as our next step.

What made Milestone 3 more memorable was how it strengthened our teamwork. Each member shared ideas, corrected gaps, and supported one another during the discussion. It felt like we were no longer just brainstorming in class, instead, we were pitching something that could actually be used in real construction sites here in the Philippines.

Overall, Milestone 3 taught us that innovation requires vision, evidence, teamwork, and purpose. We now see SustainMix not only as a school output, but as a meaningful solution that could help build stronger homes and greener communities.

“SustainMix: Build Stronger, Live Greener.”

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SustainMix Blog: Reflecting on Our Milestone Journey

This week, we presented our SustainMix milestones to our instructor. It felt like telling the story of how our project slowly came to life. From the beginning, we tackled the problem of traditional CHBs that rely heavily on cement, causing both high costs and carbon emissions. Then, step by step, we worked on solutions, creating eco-friendly CHBs using waste materials, learning about our target customers, and validating our ideas through interviews.

While presenting our milestones, I realized that each phase had its own challenges and small victories. There were moments of confusion, disagreements, and even stress, but we managed to push through because we believed in what we were doing. Our instructor asked thoughtful questions that made us reflect deeply, like how our idea could actually work in real-life construction and what makes it truly sustainable. Explaining our journey helped us see that every small task, from research to designing our magazine cover in Game 3, to mapping our customers in Game 4, was part of something bigger. SustainMix wasn’t just a class project anymore; it was becoming a real solution in our minds.

After the presentation, we also had a team evaluation. At first, I thought it would just be a formality, but it turned out to be one of the most meaningful parts. We also talked about areas for improvement, but in a respectful and supportive way. It was nice to see how honest and open everyone was. Through that, I realized that teamwork isn’t just about dividing tasks, it’s about understanding each other’s strengths and learning to grow together.

One of the highlights of Game 5 was discussing the Impact and Effort Matrix. It helped us identify which tasks and ideas truly mattered. We learned that focusing on the right priorities, like building trust with contractors and getting certifications, would make SustainMix more realistic and valuable. It was one of those moments where everything finally made sense.

Looking back, Game 5 made me appreciate how far we’ve come as a team. We started with just an idea, turning waste into something useful, but now we have a vision that’s grounded in real understanding. Presenting our milestones reminded us of our progress, while evaluating each other reminded us of the people behind that progress.

In the end, SustainMix isn’t just about creating eco-friendly CHBs. It’s about building stronger relationships, greener ideas, and a shared purpose. Every meeting, interview, and presentation brought us closer to making our vision real, one block at a time.

As our team always says:

“SustainMix — Build Stronger, Live Greener.” 🌿

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Growing Through Our Milestones.

This week felt like a moment of realization for our team. After all the brainstorming, interviews, and sleepless nights working on SustainMix, we finally got the chance to present our milestones to our instructor. It was both exciting and nerve-wracking, like sharing the story of how our idea slowly grew from a concept into something meaningful.

As we presented, we walked through each step of our journey from identifying the problem with traditional CHBs, to creating our eco-friendly solution using waste materials, to validating our ideas with real people. It was nice to look back and see how much we’ve done, even the small details we thought didn’t matter before. Our instructor listened carefully and asked questions that made us think deeper about our idea, how sustainable it really is, how it can help in real construction, and what challenges we still need to overcome.

During the discussion, I realized that every milestone we achieved wasn’t just about meeting deadlines, it was about learning something new each time. We learned how to communicate better, how to trust our process, and how to listen to one another’s ideas. There were times when things didn’t go smoothly, but we managed to adjust and help each other. It made me appreciate how much teamwork can really shape a project.

After the presentation, we also evaluated each member of the group. Honestly, I thought it would be a bit awkward at first, but it turned out to be an honest and inspiring moment. We also gave suggestions on how we could improve, but in a kind and supportive way. It felt good to recognize everyone’s efforts and to know that we all played an important part in building this project together.

Reflecting on everything, I realized that SustainMix isn’t just about making eco-friendly CHBs, it’s about growth, collaboration, and purpose. Our milestones weren’t just tasks; they were lessons. We didn’t just build blocks, we built confidence, teamwork, and a shared dream of making something that could truly make a difference.

And that’s what SustainMix really stands for building stronger, living greener, and growing together.

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🌱 SustainMix Blog: From Vision to Validation

Looking back at our SustainMix journey, I can say we’ve hit some important milestones that really changed how we see this project. What started out as just an idea in class slowly became something that feels real, something that could actually help.

In Game 3, our big milestone was the magazine cover “From Waste to Homes.” At first, it felt like pure imagination we placed smiling families in front of eco CHB houses, contractors proudly holding blocks, and waste materials turned into something valuable. But while doing that, it didn’t feel like “just an activity” anymore. It felt like we were telling a story of the future we wanted to see. It made me realize that vision matters. SustainMix isn’t just about making CHBs it’s about building homes, cutting costs, and giving communities a greener way of living. That was a turning point for us; it gave our idea life and purpose.

Then came Game 4, another milestone that made us dig deeper. We focused on our customers and created the value map and customer map. We also went out and interviewed real people contractors, homeowners, business owners. That’s when we saw both excitement and concern. People liked the idea of sustainability, but they still worried about price, durability, and certification. Contractors wanted something reliable, homeowners cared about affordability and safety, and stores wanted assurance that customers would actually trust eco CHBs. For us, this was a wake-up call, our idea was promising, but we had to work on building trust and awareness to really make it work.

From there, we added more milestones like building a prototype, getting feedback, and validating the problem through interviews. Hearing that people liked SustainMix because it’s eco-friendly, strong, and affordable felt really good, but they also reminded us about challenges like scaling up and getting certifications. These steps taught us that milestones aren’t just boxes to tick off. They’re lessons that shape how we move forward.

What I’ve learned is this every milestone has meaning. Game 3 taught me to dream big, Game 4 taught me to listen and understand, and the interviews reminded me that innovation only works if people believe in it. SustainMix is no longer “just a school project” for me. It’s something that could help change how homes are built in CDO and maybe even beyond.

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Digging Deeper: From Curiosity to Real Voices

Sometimes the best lessons don't come from books, but from experiences and real voices.

Last Tuesday, our group finally presented Game 2, and honestly, it was a rollercoaster of nerves and excitement. Before standing in front of the class, I kept asking myself, “What if I forget what to say?” But the moment we started, everything felt lighter because we were there for each other. Every time one of us stumbled, someone else was ready to catch up. That kind of teamwork made me realize we weren’t just presenting we were growing together.

The activities themselves were surprisingly fun. The 5 Why’s pushed us to dig deeper into the problem, like peeling back layers until we found the root cause. The Fishbowl felt like being part of a talk show where we shared ideas while others just listened it was nerve-wracking at first, but also empowering. The Blind Side was a wake-up call that, yes, there are still many things we don’t know, and that’s perfectly fine because it means we still have space to learn. And the Memory Wall? That was my favorite. Looking back at our shared experiences reminded me how important it is to celebrate small wins and appreciate the people beside you.

But this activity doesn’t end there. The continuation is even more exciting we’ll be doing interviews with the people who might actually use our product: CHBs with waste materials. And that feels different because it’s not just us talking anymore it’s about listening to real voices. I’m genuinely curious about what they’ll say. Will they trust CHBs made with waste materials? Will they see it as a good idea, or will they have doubts? Whatever their answers are, I know it will help us see things from another perspective.

For me, Game 2 taught me that learning isn’t just about having answers ready. It’s about asking the right questions, listening with an open mind, and working together as a team. Last Tuesday gave me confidence to share my thoughts, and now the interviews will help me practice listening deeply. Slowly, I feel like this project is connecting our classroom work to the real world and that makes me even more excited for what’s ahead.

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Turning Waste Into Opportunity, Not a Burden in Our Community

When we started this project, I honestly thought it was just another requirement. But as we dug deeper, I realized how connected it is to our daily lives. Cement is something we see everywhere our houses, our schools, the roads we walk on but I never really thought about how much damage it does to the environment. Knowing that CHBs rely so much on cement made me realize that even the most ordinary things around us can have a hidden cost.

While doing the 5 Why’s, I began to understand why people stick to cement. It’s cheap, strong, and always available. Builders are used to it, and alternatives aren’t really known or promoted. For me, the bottomline is simple, we keep using cement not because it’s the best for the environment, but because it’s the most convenient. That made me reflect sometimes we choose what’s easy, even if it’s harmful in the long run.

The best part of this project for me is the solution. I found it inspiring that something we call “basura” like rice husks, seashells, or broken glass could actually become useful in construction. It showed me that innovation doesn’t always mean something high-tech or complicated it can be about rethinking waste and giving it new value. Our goal of making CHBs that are strong, affordable, and eco-friendly made me realize that business can also be a way to help the community and the planet.

In the end, this project taught me to see things differently. Problems like pollution, waste, and carbon emissions used to feel too big for me to do anything about. But now I see that even small ideas, like changing the mix of a hollow block, can create impact. For me, Technopreneurship is about that mindset seeing problems not as burdens, but as opportunities, and turning what others see as basura into something valuable for our future.