The Tala-An kickoff session of the Search for the Ten Outstanding Maritime Students of the Philippines (TOMSP) 2026 officially brought together the Top 20 finalists from various Maritime Higher Education Institutions (MHEIs) at the STI Training Academy on September 15, 2026.

The event served as the opening activity for this year’s search, marking the beginning of the finalists’ journey toward earning recognition as some of the country’s most outstanding maritime students.