WHO WE ARE
A Southern Nevada Fil-Am and AAPI culture and STEM education program that centers both engineering and cultural education to provide an enriching, empowering, and competitive experience for youth in grades 8-12.
MISSION
Balikbayan Bots empowers Fil-Am and AAPI students, by blending robotics training with a connection to cultural heritage. Our mission is to develop technical skills, inspire innovation, and instill a sense of community pride and responsibility, all while honoring the spirit of "Balikbayan"—the tradition of returning home to give back and uplift our communities.
The Student Teams
Design
Computer Aided Design (CAD)
Design Parts and Assemblies for Robot Mechanisms
Create Drawings for Fabrication
Fabrication
Hand tool and power tool operations
CAM, CNC Machining
Read Technical Drawings
Assembly
Robot part integration
Verify parts manufactured to spec
Wire and electrical management
Programming
Develop controls for robot
Computer Vision
Debugging and structured problem solving
Business & Marketing
Photography & videography
Team website & Social Media
Sponsorship communications
Fundraising
Event Planning
Kultura
Weekly Kultura topics
Areas of focus for Fil-Am History Month and AAPI Heritage Month
Coordinate with local AAPI organizations/ community partners
Mabuhay, welcome!
Join a competitive robotics travel team for grades 8-12! Check out Balikbayan Bots, operating out of UNLV. No experience necessary!
Fill out our interest form and we'll contact you to schedule a free shop tour, you'll see our facilities and get the opportunity to drive a robot.
/balik + bayan/
The word balikbayan is a combination of the Tagalog words balik, which means to return or to go back and bayan, which means homeland. Together, balikbayan means returning to the homeland. Starting around the 1970s, Filipinos living abroad were encouraged to return home and bring gifts and supplies to help their relatives. Tax incentives made it accessible to send boxes of goods back to family and friends giving rise to the custom of balikbayan boxes. This practice of sending balikbayan boxes is a cultural reflection of the desire for Filipinos who have left the country in search of better opportunities to provide for and take care of their loved ones back in the homeland.
The goal of Balikbayan Bots is to reflect this spirit by encouraging students to reflect on how their knowledge and experiences may connect with where they come from.
For more information on the history of balikbayan boxes, here's an feature from the LA Times.