The “Bayanihan@AIM: Restarting Philippine Business and Society after COVID-19” virtual hackathon ended on a very optimistic note after the live virtual presentations by the finalists last May 18, 2020.
A total of sixty-seven teams participated in the Institute’s first ever virtual hackathon. AIM organized the hackathon to generate innovative solutions to help address three challenges that Philippine business and society will face post COVID-19: Food Security, Jobs and the Future of Work, and Support for MSMEs.
Participants were given two weeks to work on their hacks. A distinguished list of mentors led by AIM professors Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go, Jamil Paolo Francisco, Rene Domingo, Gaston Ortigas, Felipe Calderon, and Sandeep Puri, were joined by external mentors Joseph Ian Gendrano and Kristine Dara Ever Juan from PLDT Innolab, to provide critical guidance and advice to all the teams as they relentlessly pursued the most original, practical, and fitting solution to the specific challenge they have chosen.
The panels of judges for each of the challenges were composed of:
Challenge 1: Food Security
Cherrie D. Atilano – President and CEO and Founding Farmer of AGREA Philippines; Gregory Francis H. Banzon – EVP and COO, Century Pacific Food, Inc.; Pacita Juan, Founder, ECHOstore; and Ma. Estela O. Nievera, President and CEO, Cabalen Group of Companies.
Challenge 2: Jobs and the Future of Work
Paolo Azzola, COO and Managing Director, PayMaya Philippines; Catherine S. Ileto, Social Impact Lead and Senior Director, Sutherland Global Services Philippines, Inc.; and Chito S. Maniago, Country Head for Communications and Government Affairs, GSK Philippines.
Challenge 3: Support for MSMEs
Carlo O. Asuncion, Chief Economist, Union Bank of the Philippines; Jonah de Lumen-Pernia, Trustee and Vice President, Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines; Jorge Lindley S. Ong, Group Head, Security Bank of the Philippines; Anna Meloto-Wilk, President and Co-Founder, Human Nature; and Primitivo Paypon, Executive Director, AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator.
The top three finalists for each challenge were selected based on the following criteria: Originality (30%), Alignment to national objectives and SDGs (30%), Practicality (30%), and Presentation (10%).
The final round was a well-attended virtual event via Zoom. The proceedings commenced with AIM President and Dean Dr. Jikyeong Kang’s welcome remarks, followed by Associate Dean Jamil Paolo Francisco’s introduction of the mentors and judges. ARO Executive Managing Director Bernie Jiao served as the event’s host.
Each of the finalists’ video presentations was played for the judges’ further scrutiny and review. After each presentation, judges had the opportunity to ask questions from the team members, or comment on the ideas/solutions presented.
Adjudged as the best among the finalists, and the grand winners in their respective challenges were:
Team GulayIsLife for Food Security. Team members are: Amherstia M. Ojerio and Rodette A. Astoriano
Team WTF: Workforce of the Future for Jobs and the Future of Work. Team members are: Kevin Anthony Sison, Carmelita Esclanda, Elijah Justin Medina, and Naman Punit.
Team Syft for Support for MSMEs. Team members are: Michael Glenn Kakumoto, Jann Skyler Teng, Ariel Silva, Jr. and Florentino Gonzales, IV.
Each winning team received PhP50,000 in cash courtesy of Gold Sponsor Security Bank Corporation, and each team member was gifted a mobile phone by PLDT Enterprise.
In the midst of the pandemic and the adverse impact it has inflicted on the global economy, AIM wishes to thank and salute outstanding companies like Security Bank Corporation for their continuing support for activities that play a crucial role in nation building. The hackathon would not have been as successful if not for SBC’s generosity and solid support. The bank really stood by the hackathon during this difficult time.
The same goes to Metro Pacific Investment Corporation and PLDT Enterprise. Without their support, not to mention the crucial mentoring by Jojo and Dara, the hackathon would not have been the wonderful learning experience it has been for the participants.
Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all the teams for rising to the challenge to contribute to nation-building during this most critical time. You are truly the future of the country!
