Silliman University emerged as the top winner of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines’ (IBPAP) first-ever Can You HackIT hackathon in Cebu City, kicking off a bold new chapter for regional tech innovation.
Held earlier this month, the weeklong program culminated in a high-stakes, one-day hackathon that brought together 28 student teams from 14 schools across the Visayas region.
The program’s first-ever champion is Merge Conflict, a student team from Silliman University in Dumaguete City, who presented their project: Bant AI, an application designed to detect harmful online content in real time.
“We wanted to build something that protects kids before the damage is done. And more than that, we wanted to help parents understand what their children are truly going through online,” the team said.
Bant AI impressed judges by not only winning the Top 1 Award but also being recognized for Best Use of AI. The app monitors online content, sends real-time alerts to parents, and offers emotional analysis to help families better respond to potentially harmful digital experiences.
The platform supports Filipino, Cebuano, and English, ensuring accessibility for local communities.
Moreover, the hackathon was powered by industry giants including Accenture, IBM, EY GDS, Lexmark, Carelon, and Philtech, and was supported by local institutions like Cebu Institute of Technology University , Cebu IT-BPM Organization, and DITO Telecommunity.
“This was a full-force community effort. It worked because the industry didn’t just show up, they rolled up their sleeves and helped shape the future alongside our students,” IBPAP president and CEO Jack Madrid said.
Built in just a matter of weeks, the Cebu event is now a proven model. IBPAP has confirmed that Can You HackIT will be expanding to other regional tech hubs across the Philippines.
“We’re not just opening doors. We’re building new ones, so no student with talent, heart, and hustle gets left outside.” Madrid said.
Can You HackIT aims to be a national platform where students can build solutions that matter while being guided by real-world industry leaders.
IBPAP is the leading organization for the country’s IT-BPM industry. Representing over 400 members, IBPAP drives innovation, talent development, and sustainable growth across the sector.
