Mark Kennedy Bantugon

Driven by innovation and a commitment to sustainability, Mark Kennedy Bantugon is the visionary behind Pili Seal, an eco-friendly aviation sealant made from waste material of the native pili tree—an innovation set to transform the aerospace and manufacturing industries. Designed to reduce the Philippines’ reliance on imported sealants while empowering local farming communities, Pili Seal earned Bantugon the James Dyson Award in 2021 and established him as a leading voice in sustainable technology.

In 2025, Bantugon’s achievements reached new heights. He was named Asia CEO Young Leader of the Year and became a finalist for the European Patent Office’s Young Inventors Prize, which celebrates innovators advancing sustainability worldwide. The World Intellectual Property Organization recognised Pili Seal® as a Global Youth Changemaker, while major global showcases such as CES 2025 in Las Vegas and PhilippiNext in Manila highlighted the company’s pioneering work. These milestones attracted interest from industry giants, including CATL SG, LG and Aptera Motors,

Currently pursuing his master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering at Mapúa University under a DOST scholarship, Bantugon is expanding his research and product line with Pili Grease, a bio-based lubricant derived from pili shell waste, and a pili-based glue for general-purpose applications. He is also collaborating with the Department of National Defense on a defence-grade variant of Pili Seal for bullet adhesive use—further proving that world-class innovation can indeed rise from Filipino soil.