Spearheaded again this year by PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications through its Developer Network (Smart DevNet), the sixth edition of the AngelHack Manila hackathon was recently held at the ASPACE Makati, with the theme “Seamless.” AngelHack is the world’s most diverse hacker community, driving innovation of tech products through developer programs.
The event aims to enable up and coming tech rock stars from all over the Philippines to build original, creative, and sustainable projects. Smart DevNet is Smart’s developer community program, which promotes app development and technopreneurship by organizing and supporting tech events and meetups.
A total of nine teams competed for various prizes. In the end, it was down to three teams, with Team Relax, You’re Doing Just Fine emerging as the winner. Their project was a digital paluwagan named “Ipon Pinoy,” a funds- or investment-pooling system using a multi-signature wallet.
The winning team was composed of Martin Magpantay, Joussyd Calubig, Dan Michael Molina, and Jonathan Leijendekker. The team won a slot at AngelHack’s 12-week HACKCelerator program, and an invitation to pitch to venture capitalists in Silicon Valley for Global Demo Day.
The first runner-up prize went to Team Mongoose for “Renew: Plastic as Currency,” a system that uses tokens for plastic recycling that can be turned into carbon credits. Team members include Kevin Velasco, Julius Plocios, Daniel Francia, Anthony dela Cruz, and Don Vito Alzaga.
Second runner-up was Team Dolphins with “Ligare,” an educational platform that allows students to learn from people capable of teaching them on classes of their choice. The team is composed of college students Kyle Tan, Pia Zulueta, Alexander Go Tian, and Rupert Se?ga.
As technology levels the playing field, there is indeed more opportunities for growth especially in developing countries like the Philippines. If the contestants are any indication of the nation’s future, Filipinos have a lot to be excited about.
