A 7-Year-Old Pinay Is Named Winner of An International Contest on Aircraft Design 🇵🇭

Helene Margaret Bariso Elias, a seven-year-old Filipino girl, was selected as one of the regional winners in an international competition launched by the International Civil Aviation

Organization (ICAO) on design of future aircraft.

Elias was one of the select few who received an award from ICAO Secretary General Fang Liu and ICAO Council President Olumiyiwa Benard Aliu at awarding ceremonies held in Montreal during the ICAO Innovation Fair on 22 September 22.


She was accompanied by her parents when she received her award.

Helene Margaret Bariso Elias (front row in blue dress) joins the other winners of the ICAO competition on design of future aircraft. (Photo courtesy of Philippine Embassy in Canada / MANILA BULLETIN)

Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronila Garcia sent a letter in early September informing the girl about her achievement ahead of a public announcement made by the ICAO.

Garcia thanked the young winner for making the Philippines proud of her accomplishment at such a tender age.


Earlier this year, as part of ICAO75 celebrations, the ICAO launched three innovation contests for the next generation of aviation professionals: “Ideas” contest for ages 6 to 12, “Concepts” (13 to 17) and “Prototypes” for tertiary students and researchers.

At the inaugural Innovation Fair, it announced the winners of the contest.

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Some were also able to personally receive their award in Montréal from the ICAO secretary general and the president of the ICAO Council.


The regional winners of the Ideas contest are Africa: Sina Fekadeneh and Caleb Fekadeneh of Ethiopia; Asia-Pacific: Helene Margaret Bariso Elias of the Philippines; Middle East: Haya Hamad Ali Al-yarboey of Qatar; North America: Sadie Hanley of Canada; and South America: Santiago Rodriguez of Venezuela.

The winner for Europe, and global winner of the Ideas contest, is 10-year-old Marco Boccalatte of Italy.

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This article first appeared on Manila Times.

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