What began as a high school science experiment has become a globally recognized innovation with real-world applications in construction, aviation, and defense. Mark Kennedy Bantugon, a 25-year-old licensed aeronautical engineer from Mabini, Batangas, is the inventor of PiliSeal—an eco-friendly industrial sealant made from waste pili resin—and the founder of Pili AdheSeal, a startup based in Batangas that is committed to sustainability and circular economy practices.
At 11, he was already trying to invent things. “At eleven, I was able to discover the little scientist in me,” Mark shares.
He was drawn to sealants at a very young age. “Paborito po tayong daanan ng bagyo. So, kami po, nung bata po kasi kami, pinoforce po kami lagi ng parents po namin na kumain po ng bubble gum. Kasi ginagamit po namin ‘yung bubble gum na pang-patsa po sa butas ng bubong,” Mark recalls.
In 2019, he began his sealant research for his undergraduate thesis, knowing the abundance of trees in the country. He studied various trees to determine their potential as a sealant source.
“Hindi po siya invention na bigla ko na lang natalisod. But a lot of trees ang sinubukan ko, I think six trees. And with the PiliSeal po, parang naka-84 formulations po ako before I was able to get the best formula or composition of my product. So, iba’t ibang amount po ng dagta ng pili,” said Mark.
Bantugon developed PiliSeal on his own, spending long hours in the laboratory, sometimes up to 36 hours straight. “I actually collapsed from fatigue once. Nagka-seizure ako. I was pushing my body to the limit kasi gusto ko na matapos na ‘yung formulation,” he recalled.
PiliSeal is the first sealant developed from discarded pili tree resin—waste produced from extracting essential oil, which he mainly sources from Bicol, Quezon, and Marinduque, where pili trees are abundant. In the perfume industry, essential oil is separated from the resin through hydrodistillation. Only 10 percent becomes essential oil; the remaining 90 percent is thrown away—this is what Mark uses for PiliSeal. He estimates that 155 million kilograms of pili resin waste are generated annually in the Philippines.
“So, ‘yun po ‘yung ginagawa po namin—‘yung 90% po na waste resin, ‘yun po ‘yung ginagamit namin na base ingredient. But aside from the waste resin, we also try to study the raw resin. Kasi we’re very curious din po—baka may potential din ‘yung raw resin. So, we try to study it, and based on the results din po,” he explained.
He now holds a patent for the product and was recognized for obtaining it in just one year—much faster than the usual three to five years. PiliSeal also recently received the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) National Award for Inventors in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Ito po ‘yung may pinakamabilis na granted patent investment in our country. Three times po niyang pinabilis lalo ‘yung patent process because of the quality of the patent document, kasi po ‘yung novelty niya. And aside from that, ‘yung process niya po—very inventive. Ito rin po ‘yung kauna-unahang beneficiary, first beneficiary po, nung program po nila for the youth. Kasi medyo expensive din po ang patent. And recently, we also created a historic milestone in the IAP, the intellectual property and also innovation site. Kasi ito po ‘yung kauna-unahan sa Pilipinas na nabigyan. So, it’s the highest recognition po na binibigay ng WIPO sa Switzerland, ‘yung pinaka-mother global company ng IAP sa buong mundo para sa inventors na may patents,” Mark adds.
The product is now ready for rollout, with its first client being the Department of National Defense (DND). Bantugon originally developed PiliSeal for aviation purposes, given his background as an aeronautical engineer, but was surprised when DND approached him.
PiliSeal will now be used for bullet casings, offering a more cost-efficient alternative to the imported sealant currently used. The imported product has a curing period of one to two days, while PiliSeal cures in just 30 seconds.
“Ito po ‘yung composition po ng ammunition po natin—ito po ‘yung cool yellow po, itong sa baba. Ito po ‘yung casing. Ang bullet po, ‘yung parang tusok po. So, ang sealant po, doon po nilalagay sa loob ng mouth, sa loob po ng mounting po ng case. Tapos saka po ipapasok ‘yung bullet para ma-hold po ng case ‘yung bullet. So, doon po gagamitin ‘yung product po namin sa ammunition po,” he explained.
At an international consumer electronics show where Bantugon was invited along with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), PiliSeal generated the most inquiries, thanks in part to its sustainability program.
While he is customizing the product for various industries, sustainability remains at the core of his work. He is especially interested in supplying companies that can return used packaging. PiliSeal’s business model prioritizes circularity and waste reduction. Packaging is recyclable and durable, and customers are encouraged to return used containers in exchange for incentives. Returned packaging is cleaned and reused.
“Very sticky po kasi ang sealant by nature. May matitira at matitira po talagang sealant sa lalagyan—approximately 1 to 3 percent po nung whole formulation. Pag binalik niya po ‘yung packaging, so nandun po ‘yung mga tiratirang matitigas na sealant. We try to convert it into safe fertilizer po. And then that safe fertilizer po na kinonvert na po namin, ‘yun po ‘yung binibigay namin sa mga pili farmers in exchange po sa pagtatanim pa po ng mas maraming puno ng pili,” he shared.
PiliSeal is also cost-competitive. Its aviation- and defense-grade formula sells for around Php 2,000 per liter, while international brands can go as high as Php 5,000. Their 300ml packaging for construction and general industrial use is priced at $6—cheaper than imported brands ranging from $7 to $20.
“‘Yung pricing po namin, mas mababa pero competitive in performance. And the best part? It’s made locally and sustainably,” Mark emphasized.
He credits several government agencies—DOST, DTI, DOE, IPOPHL, and even DND—for supporting the product from research and development to commercialization.
“Contrary to what many believe, may support po talaga ang government for innovators,” he said. “Kailangan lang i-maximize ng innovators ‘yung mga programa. For example, DOST helped with testing and equipment support. IPOPHL guided me through the IP process. And I was also a DOST scholar.”
But it was his family who first believed in his invention.
“Nag-loan po sila ng Php100,000. ‘Yun po ‘yung naging investment po namin in the innovation side. Sobrang hindi ko po makakalimutan ‘yun kasi because of that act of my parents of loaning money, doon ko po na-realize na if you invest in something worth it, grabe po ‘yung balik in the future,” Mark recalled.
He envisions PiliSeal becoming a multipurpose product serving different sectors—from households to construction, shipbuilding, and aviation.
“I want it to be a multi-purpose product na hindi lang po siya pang-isang industry,” he said. “All industries use adhesives and sealants—construction, fabrication, even households. It’s not like a seasonal product tulad ng gamot sa COVID na after ng pandemic, hindi na kailangan. Sealants are used daily.”
But his biggest goal is to help build national industry.
“Right now, the Philippines is still importing all its aerospace and defense adhesives,” he said. “We hope our company becomes a gateway for the country to have its own sealant manufacturing capability.”
Bantugon is now regularly invited to speak at innovation forums and schools across the country. He encourages students to turn real-life challenges into innovation opportunities.
“Don’t just live and experience life, embrace it and use it as a catalyst for change,” he said. “Yung experience ko mismo ang ginamit kong inspiration to create something useful and feasible.”
He is often approached by students seeking advice after his talks. “Kapag naririnig ko ‘yung ideas ng mga estudyante, sobrang creative talaga. What they need is the right support and platform,” he said.
He added: “A lot of research outputs sa academe don’t make it beyond school. That’s what we’re trying to change—by bridging the gap between academic research and commercialization.”
Despite numerous rejections early in his journey, Bantugon has a message for fellow youth innovators: “Always allow yourself to dream. It is valid. And when you’re rejected, know that sometimes, it’s not denial, it’s redirection.”
In June 2025, PiliSeal was selected as one of three standout innovations during the Luzon Filipinnovation Awards hosted by the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev) Region V in Legazpi City. The awards, part of a national program promoting inclusive innovation, aim to support scalable technologies with real-world applications. PiliSeal joined innovations like the Pilatak Palay Seeder and Rainfold water system as finalists moving to the national level.
Photos by Mark Kennedy Bantugon