By Mikee Natinga Norico
Mykiell Deovenn Pagayonan (center), BSSE- 3 and Team Leader of CPU’s Team SEntralians, receives the first-place award from ICP Philippines and Devcon Philippines during the iThink Hackathon awarding ceremony at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. Photo courtesy of Internet Computer Protocol – ICP Manila Facebook page.
Central Philippine University’s Team SEntralians showcased their blockchain-driven innovation on the national stage at the iThink Hackathon, a flagship event held during Philippine Blockchain Week 2025. Team SEntralians emerged as the first-place winner among 50 competing groups from across the country.
Organized by Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) Philippines, co-organized by DEVCON Philippines, and in partnership with Philippine Blockchain Week—the country’s largest blockchain event—the iThink Hackathon gathered innovators, developers, and aspiring tech leaders from across the nation to build impactful solutions using blockchain technology. Participants were challenged to develop blockchain-based solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The awarding ceremony was held on June 11, 2025, at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.
Representing the Central Philippine University banner was Team SEntralians—composed of Mykiell Deovenn Pagayonan (BSSE 3) as the Team Lead, Ian Clyde Tejada (BSSE 3) as the Developer, and Raine Christine Perez (BSSE 3) as the Design and Documentation Lead.
Their winning entry, Numerus, is an AI-powered math-practice platform tailored for engineering students. It allows users to access a vast library of advanced problem sets (including calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and engineering economics), generate new exercises, receive guided AI feedback on their solutions, and access step-by-step hints when needed. The team also submitted a 53-page software architecture document—an impressive addition that demonstrated both depth and readiness for real-world deployment.
According to Mr. Pagayonan, the idea was born from a desire to help fellow engineering students struggling in math-heavy subjects. “Math can be overwhelming, especially in higher-level engineering courses. Numerus is meant to provide a structured, accessible way to practice and improve,” he shared.
Despite limited time due to final exams, the team officially began working on the project on May 28—just ten days before the submission deadline. They tackled the development in phases, focusing on producing a stable, working prototype. “While organizers only required a pitch deck, video demo, and codebase, we wanted to go further. That’s why we submitted a full software architecture document,” Pagayonan explained.
The team’s journey wasn’t without challenges. Integrating ICP blockchain technology for data storage—a requirement of the hackathon—posed a steep learning curve. Additionally, the team had to build a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for AI validation, a complex task they eventually streamlined for efficiency. “We learned a lot by focusing on functional solutions rather than chasing perfection,” Pagayonan added.
Due to budget and time constraints, only Pagayonan was able to attend the awarding ceremony and receive the trophy in person. Teammates Tejada and Perez followed the event remotely, anxiously awaiting the results. “We were shocked but thrilled. There were so many great teams,” Tejada recalled.
The judges commended Numerus for its practical application and near-ready implementation in academic settings. The team now plans to incubate the project through CPU’s own Technology Business Incubator (CPUGAD TBI). A pilot run with engineering courses is set for the summer term, with additional plans to collaborate with Iloilo-based review centers for board exam preparation integration.
When asked what advice they would give to fellow CPU students interested in joining tech competitions, Tejada emphasized, “Just go for it. Hackathons are about learning and collaboration. Choose a real-world problem, keep your idea doable, and most importantly, enjoy the process.” Perez added, “It’s also a great networking opportunity. Seeing how other teams solve problems can inspire your own creativity.”
Team SEntralians’ victory not only shines a spotlight on CPU’s thriving tech talent but also underscores the university’s growing presence on national innovation platforms.
“We’re planning to have the project incubated under the university’s Technology Business Incubator, CPUGAD TBI. During the summer term, we’ll pilot the platform with special engineering math courses—calculus, differential equations—to collect feedback. We’re also planning to partner with Iloilo-based board exam review centers to test the application and, if they find it valuable, integrate Numerus into their review programs,” Pagayonan said.
As CPU continues to strengthen its commitment to innovation and academic excellence, Team SEntralians’ victory serves as a testament to the university’s growing role in shaping future-ready technologists and solutions-driven leaders.