Team Home Hero from Adamson University proudly poses with the panel of judges after being named Champion of IGNITE Philippines 2025. Their winning project, Home Hero, impressed the judges with its innovative and practical solution for connecting households with trusted home-repair professionals
MANILA, Philippines — October 9, 2025. Innovation, creativity, and the Filipino spirit of excellence shone brightly at the IGNITE Philippines 2025 Finals, held at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Conference Center, Makati City. After a thrilling showcase of groundbreaking ideas from some of the country’s most promising student innovators, Team Home Hero from Adamson University emerged as this year’s grand champion.
Empowering Filipino Homes through Smart Innovation
Home Hero, the winning project, is a mobile application that connects users with trusted home-repair professionals, simplifying household maintenance through technology. The team — composed of Dustin Romulus Bien Mendoza, Jayzel Sale, and Catherine Sulit, under the mentorship of Dr. Amy C. Daraway — impressed the judges with their project’s real-world practicality, technical soundness, and strong potential for commercial success.
The victory also comes with an exciting opportunity: the team will represent the Philippines at the OGIS-RI Software Challenge Award 2025 in Osaka, Japan this December. Along with ₱100,000 worth of prizes, the students will embark on an all-expenses-paid trip to Japan — a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet global innovators and showcase Filipino creativity on the international stage.
FIT Academy Business Unit Head, Ms. Gladys Lavilla, shares the vision and purpose behind IGNITE Philippines 2025 — a program designed to empower young Filipino innovators to transform ideas into real-world solutions.
“This is a proud milestone not just for Adamson University, but for the entire nation,” said FIT Academy’s Gladys Lavilla during the awarding. “Home Hero embodies what IGNITE Philippines stands for — innovation that solves real problems and improves lives.”
Celebrating the Finalists’ Brilliance
The competition drew 13 entries from FIT Academy’s partner schools nationwide, with the Top 5 finalists chosen to compete live at the finals. Along with the winning team, each of the other finalists presented unique tech-driven solutions that reflected both creativity and purpose:
- Team TechTitan from Emilio Aguinaldo College – Cavite with “DreamSpace”, a next-level productivity platform for team collaboration.
- Team X-03 from De La Salle Lipa with “Dream WeAI-ver”, an AI-driven app that interprets dream descriptions through psychology and technology.
- Team Savvies from Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges Inc. with “Historicam”, an AI-powered camera app offering instant historical insights.
- Team TechTribe from Arellano University with “SurrealApriori”, a next-generation approach to data analytics using a reimagined Apriori algorithm.
Each entry showcased the diversity of ideas emerging from Filipino students, from data science and AI to human-centered applications, all judged based on creativity, technological innovation, feasibility, usefulness, and engagement.
Team TechTribe from Arellano University (Team members: Evander Wines, Alex Tasarra Somera, and Jerdan Gondayao together with their teacher/coach Prof Jay-R Torres)
Team Savvies from Mariners’ Polytechnic Colleges, Inc (Team members: Ariane Posas, Andrea Veronica Nopre, and Aliza Mae Atag together with their teacher/coach Prof. Mario B. Cagitla Jr.)
Team x-03 from De La Salle Lipa (Team members: Tyron Scott Lucena, Nhat Vu Le, and Benedict San Juan together with their teacher/coach Prof. Donna Garcia)
Team Tech Titans from Emilio Aguinaldo College-Cavite (Team members: Althea Marie Halili, Jeaira Loubel Clemente, and Valerie Joy Ignacio together with their teacher/coach Prof. Aira Nhaire C. Mecate)
An Afternoon of Inspiration and Innovation
The event was graced by OGIS Philippines executives and industry leaders, including President Ms. Sakiyo Fukuoka, Managing Director Mr. Kerwin Malabanan, Chief Strategic Officer Mr. Takamitsu Yoshida, Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Kenichi Tsujikawa, and Business Analyst Ms. Michiyo Endo from OGIS-RI Japan.
In her opening message, Ms. Fukuoka reminded participants that “every innovation begins with courage — and the will to bring ideas to life.”
OGIS Philippines President, Ms. Sakiyo Fukuoka, opens the IGNITE Philippines 2025 Finals with a message reminding young innovators that “every innovation begins with courage — and the will to bring ideas to life.”
FIT Academy’s Business Unit Head, Ms. Gladys Lavilla, further emphasized IGNITE’s role as a launchpad for the country’s next generation of tech innovators.
Throughout the afternoon, participants and guests witnessed how young Filipinos are leveraging technology to address everyday challenges — proving that innovation is not confined to laboratories, but inspired by life itself.
The Spirit of IGNITE Philippines
Launched by FIT Academy under OGIS Philippines, IGNITE Philippines 2025 is the first in what will be an annual student innovation challenge designed to empower the next generation of Filipino tech creators. The program aims to nurture creativity, technical skill, and entrepreneurial thinking among college students, encouraging them to develop software solutions that respond to real-world needs.
Beyond being a competition, IGNITE Philippines serves as a platform for mentorship, collaboration, and discovery, bridging the gap between academic learning and industry innovation.
“Innovation starts with a dream — and today, our students have proven that dreams, when coded with passion, can shape the future,” Mr. Malabanan said in his closing remarks.
OGIS Philippines Managing Director, Mr. Kerwin Malabanan, closes the IGNITE Philippines 2025 Finals with an inspiring message about the power of vision and collaboration in shaping the next generation of Filipino innovators.
As the curtains closed on IGNITE Philippines 2025, one thing was clear — the future of Filipino innovation burns bright, fueled by young minds ready to make their mark on the world.
Stay tuned to FIT Academy and OGIS Philippines’ social media pages and website as we follow Team Home Hero’s journey to Osaka, Japan this December — where they will proudly represent the Philippines and showcase the brilliance of Filipino student innovation on the global stage.