The 2025 Baguio Smart City Convergence, held on November 26–27, 2025 at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center, gathered innovators, students, researchers, and technology leaders from across the Cordillera with the theme “Where Innovation Meets the Community.” The two-day event provided a collaborative space for presenting solutions that advance Baguio City’s vision of a more efficient, sustainable, and people-centered urban landscape.
One of the major highlights of this year’s convergence was the Smart City Pitching Challenge, a creativity- and innovation-driven competition where student teams proposed data-informed, community-responsive, and sustainability-oriented smart city solutions. A total of 53 teams from 10 participating schools showcased their ideas across four thematic tracks: Environmental Sustainability, Better Public Services, Economic Prosperity, and Technological Urban Innovation.
From the strong lineup of finalists, four teams emerged as the Top 5 performers in their respective categories: Team Project Phylon for Environmental Innovation. Team SPIDARWOMEN for Better Public Services, Team VYRAL for Economic Prosperity, and Team Tech-No-Logic for Technological Urban Innovation.
Among these outstanding groups, the University of the Cordilleras (UC) delivered an exceptional performance, earning top distinctions in two major categories.
Team Project Phylon of the UC–COE secured 1st Place – Chan in the Environmental Innovation category with their innovative proposal, “Kinetic ElecTREE-City,” a tree-inspired, community-based green infrastructure that integrates solar, wind, and kinetic energy harvesting to promote cleaner and more sustainable urban environments. Composed of Fatima B. Castillo (BSMexE), Hans Stephen Bautista (BSCpE), Kim Marvin Valdez (BSMexE), and Jerahmeel D. Rulloda (BSMexE), and mentored by Engr. Jason Clarence Manio, the team’s project aligns strongly with several Sustainable Development Goals. It supports SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) by promoting accessible and renewable energy technologies, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by introducing eco-friendly infrastructure that enhances urban resilience and livability, and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by reducing carbon emissions through clean energy harvesting and contributing to climate-change mitigation efforts.
1st Place- Champion Environmental Sustainability Team Project Phylon
Team VYRAL of the UC–COE 1st Place in the Economic Prosperity category with Project UMALI (Urban Management, Access, and Local Information), a smart public kiosk network designed to centralize Baguio City’s official digital services while promoting local businesses. By enhancing access to reliable information, strengthening tourism engagement, and improving data availability for informed city planning, the project supports inclusive digital transformation and economic growth. Composed of Jasper Basilio (BSECE), Harvey Basinga (BSCpE), Krystelmae Navia (BSMexE), and Gary Paus (BSEnSE) under the mentorship of Engr. Maria Victoria E. Castillo, the team’s work advances SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by uplifting local enterprises through digital visibility, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by establishing smart, modernized public service infrastructure, and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by improving urban accessibility and fostering a more connected, citizen-centered city experience.
1st Place-Champion Economic Prosperity Team Vyral
The outstanding performance of the UC-College of Engineering teams reflects the university’s strong commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration, and social responsibility among its students. Their contributions to the Smart City Pitching Challenge highlight how youth-driven solutions can support Baguio City’s vision of a more connected, data-informed, and sustainable urban environment. As the city continues its journey toward smart and inclusive development, the University of the Cordilleras proudly stands at the forefront, empowering future engineers and innovators to create technologies that uplift communities and inspire meaningful change.
Top 5 Better Public Team Spidarwomen (Right) and Top 5 Technological Urbanization Team Tech-no-logic (Left)
