In celebration of this year’s BSIS Days, students, esteemed guests, and competition judges got to enjoy an epic and adrenaline-fueled battle of coding programmed to hook you to think outside the box in bringing innovative ideas and technological solutions to life! Building on the success since the introduction of the Hackathon competition last February 2023, this time around marked the second time the competition has been held — generating even more excitement, not only here at Batangas Eastern Colleges but for the entire San Juan community!
Hack-San Juan: Beacon Civic Hackathon Returns
Spearheaded by the Junior Computer Professionals Society (JCPS) from the College of Computer in cooperation with Bridge 360 and the Information Technology Services Office (ITSO), the BSIS Days was comprised of two events (Hack-San Juan: Beacon Civic Hackathon and Mobile Legends Tournament) highlighting the main purpose of celebrating innovation, technology, and empowering Beacons (including the San Juan community!).
On May 6-7, 2024, the second Beacon Civic Hackathon, “Hack-San Juan,” brought together some of the brightest minds to tackle pressing agricultural and climate issues. With the theme “Sowing Innovation, Reaping Resilience: Empowering Agroforestry and Fisheries for Climate Resilience “, this year’s hackathon demonstrated the power of innovation and collaboration in addressing local challenges.
The event starts with a registration for all participating students scheduled at 8:00 AM, followed by an assembly that sets the tone for the 24-hour competition of innovative concepts and problem-solving skills of Beacons and San Juanenos. Dr. Renalyn B. Almario, the Dean of Colleges gave the opening remarks which energized the participating teams, setting the stage for intense competition and learning.
Diving deep into Agroforestry and Fisheries, the Hackathon competition also highlighted an insightful talk, addressed by Keynote Speaker, Prof. Agerico De Villa (BEC School President), entitled “Agriculture in the Crosshairs: Navigating the Challenges of Climate Change.” It was followed by a Panel discussion with “The Situationers“, invited guests and experts comprised of Mr. Tomas Buitizon, Ms. Danzen Hernandez and Mr. JB Rosales. They shared their knowledge and perspectives on San Juan’s agricultural issues, and concerns related to agroforestry and fishery industries.
After a short break, participants received an orientation about the hackathon from Engr. Reijel Gonzales, the Chief Technology Officer (ITSO) and CEO of Bridge 360. and a preview of the previous year’s hackathon, which set expectations high. Later that day, Engr. Gonzales led a comprehensive session on Design Thinking Principles, Prototyping, and Mockup Testing, arming participants with essential tools for the hackathon.
Mentoring, Pitching Presentation, and Awards Night
The hackathon officially began with the Mentoring session, where participants rotated every 10 minutes to gain insights from various Mentors, invited to be guiding lights to our dear Beacon students. This session, along with dinner, fueled the teams for the long night ahead, as they continued designing and developing their projects until the early morning hours of DAY 2.
The Judging Criteria were shared with each team ahead of the competition to pave the way for a deeper understanding of what matters the most to the Judges. And as the night progressed, the participating teams soon greeted the new dawn, DAY 2 and started with a hearty breakfast, followed by another round of mentoring focused on project pitch-making. Teams then spent the rest of the morning preparing their pitches and polishing their presentations. After a much-needed lunch break, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived: the presentation and demo submissions.
The top five finalists were introduced in the evening, and they presented their projects to an eager audience and a panel of judges, which included Mr. Noelito M. Pasco (Municipal Environment Natural Resources Officer), Felix E. Leopango (Head of Department of Agriculture), Oluwatimilehin Akinnubi (Lead Software Developer of Bridge360), Prof. Agerico De Villa (School President), and Richard Dalawangbayan (Senior Developer / College Assistant Instructor).
After careful deliberation, the judges announced the winners:
- Champion: Joshua Allan A. Lorzano, Kenneth Magpantay, and Ken Arthur Malabanan
- 1st Place: Janelle P. Salva, Shaira P. Robledo, and Shanley V. Isabela
- 2nd Place: Jhon Kirby R. Gallo, John Cedrick Mendoza, and Edgar F. Surigao
Looking Ahead
The second Beacon Civic Hackathon was a resounding success, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of our participants. The event not only highlighted the importance of addressing local challenges through innovation but also fostered a spirit of community and collaboration. As we look forward to next year’s hackathon, we are excited to see what new ideas and solutions our brilliant minds will bring to the table.
Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to join us in our next adventure in innovation and civic engagement!
