The Multiple Applications for Reality-Virtuality Experience Laboratory (MARVEL), a groundbreaking research initiative by the Our Lady of Fatima University’s Research Development and Innovation Center (OLFU-RDIC), has been conferred the 2025 Excellence in Project Implementation and Completion (EPIC) Award by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).
The prestigious recognition was presented during DOST-PCIEERD’s 15th anniversary celebration on 6 June 2025 held at the Manila Marriott Hotel, Pasay City. Themed “15 Years of Innovation: Breaking Boundaries in Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology,” the event gathered innovators and research institutions nationwide in honor of outstanding contributions to science and technology advancement.
The MARVEL project, spearheaded by Dr. Michael Joseph Diño, Director of OLFU-RDIC, emerged as one of the top-performing projects under the DOST-PCIEERD’s Institutional Development Program (IDP). Officially launched in 2023, MARVEL has been lauded for its cutting-edge infrastructure that supports mixed reality applications in medical, allied health, and maritime training environments.
Receiving the EPIC Award on behalf of OLFU were Dean Ramonita Salazar, Campus Administrator of the OLFU Quezon City Campus; Joseph Carlo Vital, MARVEL’s Head of Motion Capture and Programming; and members of the OLFU-RDIC research team.
The EPIC Award distinguishes research projects that demonstrate exemplary execution and impact, particularly in delivering timely outcomes that contribute meaningfully to the scientific community and national development. MARVEL’s advanced capabilities in immersive simulation place OLFU at the frontier of digital education and position the University as a strategic contributor to the country’s technological competitiveness.
Designed to align with the evolving demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the MARVEL laboratory is envisioned as a dynamic platform for equipping students, educators, and professionals with the competencies required in an increasingly digitized and global learning environment.
This national recognition underscores OLFU’s growing leadership in research and innovation, reinforcing its commitment to academic excellence and its role in shaping the future of technology-enhanced education in the Philippines.
Story contributed by the Research Development and Innovation Center (RDIC)
