Empowering Students Through Blockchain Innovation: MarSU’s CICS Leads the Charge Toward the Future of Web3
Boac, Marinduque, November 6, 2025. The Marinduque State University (MarSU) College of Information and Computing Sciences (CICS), in collaboration with CrypTita Plays, successfully hosted Empowering Students Through Blockchain Innovation, a one-day educational and interactive event designed to equip students with foundational knowledge of blockchain technology and its real-world applications.
The activity gathered students, educators, and industry professionals for a day of talks, live demos, and discussions on how blockchain and Web3 can drive innovation and career opportunities for the next generation of tech leaders.
CICS Dean Dr. Ronjie M. Malinao opened the program by highlighting how blockchain education aligns with MarSU’s mission to produce globally competitive, future-ready graduates. He also recognized the 21 student volunteers who helped organize the event, saying their dedication represents “the true spirit of innovation, collaboration, curiosity, and community.”
CrypTita Plays founder Arshelene “Tita Arsh” Lingao set the tone with a welcoming message that encouraged students to learn with openness and confidence. A Putong ceremony followed, symbolizing Marinduque’s pride and hospitality as the province embraces new technologies.
The learning sessions featured speakers from the Philippine Web3 community, starting with Ray Tristan Publeo of The BLOKC and Base Philippines, who discussed Blockchain 101. He broke down the core concepts of distributed systems, cryptography, and consensus, emphasizing how these technologies power decentralized innovation.
John Paolo “Tito Jops” Santos followed with DeFi 101 with OKX Wallet, sharing over 20 practical ways to earn in crypto and Web3, while stressing the importance of wallet security and responsible investing. Mike Stephen Galang and John Rommel Octaviano from Avalanche Team1 PH deepened the discussion with real-world blockchain use cases, focusing on subnets, decentralized apps, and Web3 security best practices.
The afternoon sessions, led by Rhomuel Brian Macahilig and Tita Arsh, tackled the growing impact of blockchain on non-tech careers and digital literacy. Both highlighted how Web3 can be a platform not just for profit, but for purpose by empowering people and communities to participate in the digital economy.
Adding excitement throughout the day were games, raffles, and spin-the-wheel prizes courtesy of sponsors Avalanche Team1PH, OKX Wallet, and Blockchain4Youth. The event closed with an open forum and words of gratitude from CICS, celebrating how collaboration between academia and industry can shape the future of digital innovation.
Innovation in Action: BASE Hackathon 2025 Challenges Students to Build on the Blockchain
Following the seminar, CICS students participated in the BASE Hackathon 2025, organized by BASE Philippines in partnership with CrypTita Plays and Blockchain for Youth.
Before coding began, mentor Ray Tristan Publeo introduced participants to blockchain development essentials, from Smart Contracts and Base Scan to Ohara.ai, an AI-powered platform that allows users to build apps simply by describing them.
With the challenge focused on creating fun, replayable, and user-friendly blockchain apps, students formed teams and brought their ideas to life. Dean Dr. Malinao also visited the hackathon to show support and cheer on the participants.
After hours of intense coding, Team Ctrl+Play emerged as the Champion, winning ₱5,000. Team Salty Salad placed second (₱3,000), followed by Team KamponNiLouLou in third (₱2,000).
The hackathon was an opportunity for students to apply their learning, collaborate under pressure, and witness firsthand how blockchain and AI can intersect to solve real-world challenges.
A Future Built on Collaboration and Innovation
The success of Empowering Students Through Blockchain Innovation and BASE Hackathon 2025 reflects MarSU CICS’s growing role as a catalyst for emerging tech education.
Alongside Stocksify and Brgy. Tamago, NEN Digital is a proud Media Partner, supporting the initiative by amplifying stories of student innovation and bridging academia with the evolving Web3 ecosystem.
As MarSU students explored the limitless potential of blockchain and AI, one thing became clear. Innovation isn’t just about technology; it’s about people coming together to build the future.
By Nina Crisostomo | NEN Digital