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Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino expressed strong support for leveraging blockchain technology to enhance transparency and accountability in the Philippines. He delivered this through a video message at the Blockchain Campus Conference 2025 held at Cavite State University on November 15.
Ally of Blockchain Tech
Legislative Support
Senator Aquino, the author of SBN 1506 or the Citizens’ Access and Disclosure of Expenditures for National Accountability (CADENA) Act, specifically highlighted the technology’s potential to drive “transparency, accountability, and good governance” across the country.
In his message, he encouraged the nearly 2,000 students, builders, and industry leaders in attendance at the BCC to continue their innovative work.
“Natutuwa po talaga ako na makita ang pagsulong ng tamang paggamit ng blockchain upang palakasin ang transparency, accountability, at good governance sa ating bansa. At inaasahan ko po na patuloy kayong mag-i-innovate, magdi-discover at magtatrabaho para sa ikabubuti ng ating mga kababayan at ng ating bansa.”
Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino
Aquino also committed to being a legislative ally for the burgeoning industry, assuring attendees of support in the Senate.
“At asahan po ninyo na may kakampi kayo sa Senado na susulong din ng tamang paggamit ng panibagong teknolohiya para mabigyang solusyon ang mga issue ng ating bayan.”
BCC 2025 Highlights
Cadena Bill
The Blockchain Campus Conference 2025 featured keynotes on the CADENA Bill. It mandates the full disclosure of government transactions by establishing a Digital Budget Portal.
- The bill aims to promote transparency and accountability in the budget process by requiring all budget-related documents and project details to be uploaded to the platform in a verifiable, traceable, and tamper-resistant manner, leveraging blockchain technology.
Worth Reading: Bam Aquino’s CADENA Bill Receives Full Support of Senators
Empowering Student Builders
In a response to BitPinas, Julius Patrick Fresco, Chief Growth Officer, Co-founder, and Director of Partnerships of The BLOKC, said Senator Aquino’s advocacy for the CADENA Bill highlights the importance of educating students and developers on blockchain’s role in transparency and good governance.
“BCC provides students and developers with practical, real-world insights into how decentralized systems can support good governance. Whether through tamper-resistant records, digital identities, traceable public funds, or open data systems. We believe blockchain literacy should extend beyond commercial use cases. By exposing young builders to governance-focused applications, BCC hopes to empower the next generation to contribute to more transparent and efficient public systems.”
Julius Patrick Fresco, Chief Growth Officer, Co-founder, and Director of Partnerships, The BLOKC
According to Fresco, BCC intends to broaden its engagement with government stakeholders in future editions. Plans include inviting more legislators, regulators, and policy experts to participate in discussions and contribute to educational initiatives focused on responsible innovation and digital governance.
BCC 2025 Program vs Previous Years
Expanded Tracks and Partnerships
According to the organizers, the full-day event was structured to blend technical education with community engagement, featuring keynotes, two in-depth panel discussions, and competitive esports tournaments.
In addition, Fresco reported several key changes compared with previous editions. He noted stronger academic participation this year, with more universities, student groups, and campus communities joining the event nationwide.
- The conference also introduced more defined career and talent pathways. These included mentorship programs, job-matching opportunities, and clearer entry points for students exploring roles in the web3 sector.
- A new set of governance, compliance, and policy tracks was added.
- They also highlighted broader industry representation. Web firms, AI companies, fintech players, enterprise blockchain groups, gaming communities, cosplay organizations, and government offices were all present.
Organizers said partnerships with government agencies and institutions were significantly expanded. They added that bringing in both web2 and web3 companies helped students understand how traditional digital platforms intersect with emerging decentralized technologies.
As per the media release, the program opened with remarks from BCC Head Jay Consejo. In addition to Senator Aquino’s message, government participation also came from the Department of Information and Communications Technology, with ICT Literacy and Competency Development Bureau (ILCDB) Provincial Focal Person John Philip Tan who delivered an Innovation Talk.
Speaker Lineup
Keynotes covered a wide range of web3 and AI developments.
- TraXion Tech Inc. CEO Ann Cuisia outlined major updates to the CADENA Bill.
- StartupLabs PH CEO Richard Prodigalidad urged students to seize what he described as a pivotal moment in technological history.
- Base Philippines Country Manager Eli Becislao presented the network’s student programs and builder initiatives.
- CryptoSnake Founder Fred King discussed strategies to stay secure amid concerns over the so-called Q-Day.
- New Prontera’s John Sedano introduced the Bagyo App, a blockchain-powered disaster resilience tool.
- Ripe COO and Co-founder Sam Silver demonstrated how their technology streamlines real-world workflows.
- PC Express’ Jerome Matti capped the segment with the Nvidia RTX AI Tech Update, which drew strong interest from developers, creatives, and AI-focused builders.
- PC Express also maintained audience engagement through its popular Piso Auction.
Panel Discussions
The event also featured two panel discussions that showcased both industry expertise and student-led innovation.
- The first session, moderated by Base Philippines Country Manager Eli Becislao, brought together New Prontera’s John Sedano and Ripe COO and Co-founder Sam Silver, who discussed sustainable web3 product development, community-driven adoption, and practical lessons from building in the space.
- The second panel shifted the spotlight to emerging talent, featuring Aaron Sopeña of Cavite State University, Wildstrikes Co-Founder and PUP QC alumna Shaina Dolorosa, UPHSL Game Developers Club President Sherwin Limosnero, Cavite State University blockchain developer Tristan Triñanes, and Wildstrikes Co-Founder and PUP QC student Carl Bergado.
- Their discussion underscored how student innovators are contributing to the future of blockchain development in the Philippines.
Competitions and Community
Esports tournaments and a cosplay competition were also held during the event.
- Participants competed in Mobile Legends, Valorant, Vi 3v3 Arena, and Andrometa, drawing a steady stream of students and campus representatives.
- In Mobile Legends and Valorant, the NU Bulldogs secured the championship titles, with the Faith Colleges Bravehearts and LPE Tempest placing second in their respective divisions.
- Ladislao Esports, LPE Calvary, Threepings, and ROG RAIKIRI qualified for the Vi 3v3 Arena finals.
- In the Andrometa bracket, Charlito Jr. C. Nodalo finished first, followed by Arch Baetingo, Reinian Rosales, and Mariel Pocollan.
- The cosplay competition concluded with Christian Umali taking the top spot, while Kevin Espiritu, Jolito Beral, and Gabe Naquita placed next in the ranking.
Looking Forward
Fresco added that the next edition of the Blockchain Campus Conference will offer more technical workshops, breakout sessions, and hands-on learning activities for participants.
He noted that students can expect increased opportunities through hackathons, startup showcases, scholarships, and internship openings provided by partner companies. The event will also feature additional real-world demonstrations.
Fresco said improvements to the conference setup are also planned. These include enhanced networking spaces, dedicated learning zones, and areas designed to facilitate interaction between students and industry professionals. He added that more web3 partners are expected to join the event.
What is the Blockchain Campus Conference
The Blockchain Campus Conference (BCC) is an educational event series in the Philippines focused on promoting blockchain technology. It aims to provide students and professionals with information on decentralized finance, web3, and the use of blockchain in sectors such as finance, government, and gaming.
Organized by groups including The BLOKC, the conference features keynote speeches, panel discussions, and exhibitor booths from industry representatives, academics, and government officials. The program is structured to connect academic learning with practical industry experience and regularly includes student-oriented activities such as hackathons to support skills development in the local blockchain community.
Previous BCC Events
- 2023: The first ever BCC was held at Mapúa University’s School of Information Technology in Makati City on November 25, 2023. It was supported by the Solana Foundation as sponsor and co-presenter.
- 2024: The conference expanded its reach significantly, with multiple regional legs. Key events included the Manila leg (June 13-14) at iAcademy Nexus in Makati, and the Mindanao leg (October 10-11) at Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao in Davao City. The Mindanao event, the third iteration of the BCC, gathered over 1,500 attendees and featured a hackathon finals.
This article is published on BitPinas: Blockchain Campus Conference Marks 4th Year with Bam Aquino’s Full Support for Transparency Tech
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