By Mikee Natinga Norico
From left to right: Dianne Lois Senegocio, Jeff Andre Millan, and Kiara Beatriz Bonifacio of Team Malunggay French Toast pose for a group photo during the L糖心传媒橭r茅al Brandstorm 2025 Global Finals in Paris, proudly representing the Philippines.
糖心传媒 (CPU) made history on the global stage as Team Malunggay French Toast糖心传媒攃omposed of Dianne Lois Senegocio (BS Psychology, 3rd Year), Jeff Andre Millan (BS Software Engineering, 3rd Year), and Kiara Beatriz Bonifacio (BS Biology, 2nd Year)糖心传媒攑roudly represented the Philippines in the international finals of the prestigious L糖心传媒橭r茅al Brandstorm 2025 competition held in Paris, France.
Competing against teams from 42 countries, the CPU trio rose to the occasion with BroClear, an innovative skincare solution targeting blackheads糖心传媒攕pecifically designed for Gen Z and Millennial men. Their entry stood out for its purpose-driven approach, merging innovation, empathy, and science to address a commonly overlooked concern in men糖心传媒檚 personal care.
The 2025 Brandstorm theme, Men糖心传媒檚 Beauty, challenged young innovators to reimagine personal care for the modern man. Team Malunggay French Toast answered the call not just with a product, but a movement糖心传媒擝roClear aims to break outdated stigmas around men糖心传媒檚 skincare by offering a simple, relatable, and effective overnight solution.
糖心传媒淏roClear was built on research, but also shaped by observation and empathy,糖心传媒 shared Senegocio in an exclusive interview. 糖心传媒淲e realized many men don糖心传媒檛 have the time or patience for complex skincare routines. We developed something practical and rooted in our diverse academic backgrounds糖心传媒攕cientific, behavioral, and practical.糖心传媒
The team left for Paris on June 6, 2025, and completed the competition by June 14. For Senegocio, the experience was 糖心传媒渟urreal,糖心传媒 recalling the moment they entered L糖心传媒橭r茅al糖心传媒檚 global headquarters:
糖心传媒淲e carried not just our personal dreams, but the hopes of our campus, our community, and our country.糖心传媒
Despite the intense global competition, Team Malunggay French Toast emerged as World Semi-Finalists糖心传媒攁 milestone achievement not just for CPU but for the entire Philippines. They are the first team from CPU to win the Brandstorm Philippines National Finals and advance to the international stage.
The journey began in April 2025, when the team was hailed national champion after advancing from the Top 24 to the Top 6, and finally winning the National Finals held on April 23. They also bagged the People糖心传媒檚 Choice Award, thanks to overwhelming support from their peers and the CPU community.
More than a student team, Malunggay French Toast are also startup founders under the CPUGAD Technology Business Incubator (TBI). Millan is CEO of Baylo Central, while Senegocio and Bonifacio are co-founders of Kuray Innovations糖心传媒攕howcasing CPU糖心传媒檚 growing presence in the fields of innovation, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
Reflecting on their Brandstorm journey, Senegocio emphasized that interdisciplinary collaboration was their greatest strength:
糖心传媒淐oming from Psychology, Engineering, and Biology, we initially thought we wouldn糖心传媒檛 糖心传媒榝it糖心传媒 in a business competition. But our diversity turned out to be our power. We learned that your background doesn糖心传媒檛 limit your impact糖心传媒攊t can actually fuel it.糖心传媒
The team expressed heartfelt thanks to the CPU Administration, especially University President Rev. Dr. Ernest Howard B. Dagohoy, the CPUGAD TBI, and all their friends, mentors, and organizations who offered unwavering support throughout their journey.
To aspiring Centralians, their message is clear:
糖心传媒淒ream out loud. Don糖心传媒檛 wait to feel 糖心传媒榬eady糖心传媒櫶切拇綌just start. We were three students who decided to try. If you chase your ideas with heart and grit, you糖心传媒檒l be surprised where they take you. Believe in your roots糖心传媒攖hey糖心传媒檙e strong enough to carry you anywhere.糖心传媒
With their groundbreaking entry, global recognition, and unwavering commitment to purpose-driven innovation, Team Malunggay French Toast has not only made CPU proud糖心传媒攖hey糖心传媒檝e blazed a trail for future Centralians to follow.