By Mikee Natinga Norico
Congratulations to the CPU community’s pride—five young innovators making their mark at the Tech Awards 2025. Photo courtesy of Tech For All Facebook page.
Five outstanding students from Central Philippine University (CPU) were selected as Top 10 finalists in the Tech For All’s Tech Awards 2025, a recognition of young innovators shaping the future of technology in Western Visayas. The announcement was made on August 30, 2025, through Tech For All’s official page, following a rigorous screening process from a pool of applications submitted by fourth-year students and graduates of Batch 2025 across the region.
Representing CPU in this year’s finals are Mykiell Deovenn E. Pagayonan, 4th year BS Software Engineering; Aliason T. Javier, 4th year BS Software Engineering; Faith Niña Marie A. Magsael, 4th year BS Software Engineering; Raine Christine B. Perez, 4th year BS Software Engineering; and Christian Lexis H. Tan, 4th year BS Computer Science.
The finalists were carefully selected by a distinguished panel of judges from DepEd Region VI, DICT Region VI, DEVCON Visayas, Global Shapers Community–Iloilo, and Google Developers Group–Bacolod. They will advance to the Tech Awards finals during the Tech4All Summit 2025, scheduled for September 20, 2025, at Festive Mall, Iloilo City.
Before the summit, the students will undergo the final interview round on September 5, 2025, at the LEDIP Conference Room, Iloilo City Business Center, where recipients of the Outstanding Student Awards and Special Awards will be determined. The Tech4All Summit is part of the Western Visayas Innovative Startup Fest, a weeklong celebration of startups, technology, innovation, and technopreneurship, happening from September 16–20, 2025, across various venues in Iloilo City.
The CPU finalists also shared the inspirations behind their projects, each reflecting a passion for technology and its impact on the community.
Christian Lexis H. Tan drew inspiration from Senator Bam Aquino’s speech at the Innovators Summit 2025, envisioning The Innovators Alley—a tech-driven community initiative that integrates innovation showcases into cultural celebrations like the Dinagyang Festival to give regional innovators greater visibility.
Faith Niña Marie A. Magsael highlighted her desire to use technology as a tool for hope, connection, and empowerment, saying, “Technology should always be about people first, and how it can transform lives and communities for the better.”
Aliason T. Javier shared his vision of building a company that empowers communities and organizations to adapt to the rapid pace of modern society, emphasizing innovation as a bridge for sustainable growth.
“I have always believed that innovation should not only keep pace with change but also guide others in adapting to it. This passion to use technology as a bridge for growth and empowerment is what drives me, because I believe every project should have a lasting impact on the people it serves,” Javier said.
Meanwhile, Mykiell Deovenn E. Pagayonan spoke about his passion for technology and education, dedicating most of his projects to learning and student development, adding, “I still believe the youth are the future of the Philippines, and I want to plant seeds through tech education.”
The recognition of these five CPU students underscores the university’s commitment to nurturing innovation and leadership among its students. As they prepare for the final stages of the competition, the CPU community proudly stands behind them—praying for their success and cheering them on as they represent both the university and the region on this prestigious platform. Congratulations, Centralians!
For more information and updates about Tech4All’s Tech Awards 2025, visit facebook.com/techforall.ph.