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A flip-flop that can charge your smartphone? Yes, it now exists! Thanks to three young Filipinas who invented them.

But that's not all that is commendable about their invention. The flip-flop-cum-power bank is also eco-friendly because it is made from recycled plastic.

Filipina achievers Denise V. Carpio, Naiah Nicole A. Mendoza and Abigail Z. Silva, the young ladies who invented the flip-flop power bank. / Source:iJuander

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature 2015, every year, 4.8 to 12.7 million tons of plastic make their way to the ocean.

Sixty percent of these plastics come from several countries, including the Philippines.

In an episode of iJuander, Oceana Campaigns Associate Coleen Salamat explained the immensity of the plastic pollution that the Philippines and the whole world is currently experiencing, and how grim the future could look like if we don't act now.

“Kung lumalangoy po tayo, pumupunta tayo sa beach, nakikita po natin na ang dami nang single-use plastic pero tip of the iceberg pa lang po 'yon.

“Parang ang estimate po ng ating mga scientist ay 99% ng plastic ay nasa ilalim ng dagat.

“Hindi po natin kayang linisin at linisin ang ating dagat at napakalaki po nito, kung patuloy naman po 'yung pagpro-produce at paggamit ng single-use plastic.”

It has also been predicted that by 2050, there will be more plastics than fishes in the ocean.

But thankfully humans seemed to have heeded the global wake-up call to take the urgent steps in saving our environment by adapting to a more sustainable or eco-friendly lifestyle.

Proof of this is the prevalence of businesses and individuals who now opt to produce and use eco-friendly products and services.

Three young Filipinas are among those who took exceptional steps in addressing the plastic pollution in the country.

They did not only create multi-functional footwear, but they did so using a groundbreaking technology which converts plastic into usable material for making flip-flops.

The flip-flop power bank / Source: iJuander

The three outstanding young Filipinas are Denise V. Carpio, Naiah Nicole A. Mendoza and Abigail Z. Silva.

They are senior high school students at the Doctor Yanga College, Inc. (DYCI) and members of Philippine Robotics Team.

They refer to themselves as DYCI Novus and describe their tech trio as vanguards of the world's most precious treasure, Mother Nature.

Their one-of-a-kind invention is called Project Feet, which enables them to make flip-flops or slippers from recycled plastics such as Type 1 and Type 5 plastics.

Naiah explained why these are the plastics they have chosen as materials for their flip-flop-cum-power bank.

“Karaniwang po kasi sa mga plastic na ito , gingamit po natin siya araw-araw pero dini-dispose lang din po, kaya nagiging cause po siya na ma-pollute ang ating mga drainages, rivers.”

Abigail then detailed how they were able to turn the eco-friendly flip-flop into a power bank.

“Mula po sa aming na-mold na tsinelas, ito po ay nilagyan namin ng piezo discs para po ito ay makapag-generate ng electricity na maii-store sa power bank.”

The talented ladies demonstrating how to use the flip-flop power bank. / Source: iJuander

In November 2020, their invented technology, Project Feet, won the gold medal in the World Robot Olympiad in Canada.

They beat 700 students from 40 schools who also participated in the competition.

Indeed, their invention is unique and beneficial for both the users and the environment.

It can definitely come in handy during times of calamities like typhoons, when people need practical footwear and spare batteries to charge their smartphones, in case of power interruptions.

And don't forget, it's eco-friendly too, which makes it a 3-in1 global solution.

Watch the full feature about these three outstanding young Filipinas and their invention in the 'iJuander' video below.

For more inspiring stories like this, watch iJuander every Sunday at 7 p.m. on GMA News TV.

And for more lifestyle content, head out to GMA's Lifestyle page.

Get to know other Filipina achievers in the gallery below.