Technology has the power to transform how students learn today and how they lead in the future. In the Philippines, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) signed a memorandum of understanding in 2025 to formalize their commitment to help bridge the gaps on the STEM (science, technology and mathematics) proficiency of Filipino students. Recently, during the 2026 National Science and Technology Fair (NSTF), DepEd also encouraged young students to learn and use technology to help address global and local challenges.
Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges Hackathon
Accenture in the Philippines and The Purposeful Mochii (Mobilizing Children to Harness Information for Innovation) teamed up to conduct the annual ‘Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges’ hackathon that aims to empower young students to discover and create technology solutions to help improve lives. Formerly an all-girls program, the hackathon in its 4th year expanded into a co-ed initiative and welcomed 47 junior and senior division teams from various schools in Manila and Cebu. The young innovators, aged 10 to 17, took on the challenge to ideate and develop prototypes using AI to address real-world problems on women’s health, gender equality in school or workplace, and accessibility.
The Junior category winners are:
| Award | School | Application | Project Description |
| Champion | Homeschool Global | LOL (Label Out Loud) | AI-powered mobile app that helps people read medicine labels |
| Best Prototype | Elizabeth Seton School – South | Hey Bestie | App to help girls understand their emotions, bodies, and menstrual health. |
| Best Pitch | Cebu Institute of Technology University | PrenatalPal | A mobile app that helps BHWs and midwives monitor, remind, and guide moms through safe pregnancies and healthy babies |
In the Senior division, the awardees are:
| Award | School | Application | Project Description |
| Champion | Assumption College San Lorenzo (Team F) | TulayKamay | An AI-powered app that assists and bridges communication between the deaf and hearing community |
| Best Prototype | Ateneo de Manila Senior High School | SimplifAID | An AI-powered text simplification tool designed to support autistic individuals in processing information more comfortably and independently |
| Best Pitch | Assumption College San Lorenzo (Team C) | BasaBata! | A learning app designed to cater to Filipino children aged 4 to 7 who struggle with reading comprehension in a way that is fun, engaging, and accessible to children with different needs |
A social impact award was also given to PAREF Woodrose School’s AllWays solution that helps people with disabilities find deaf, elderly, wheelchair accessible, and mute-friendly restaurants, stores, healthcare services, and restrooms.
To further their skills, Accenture also provided all the hackathon participants with training vouchers to access special courses.
QUOTES:
Ambe Tierro, Country Managing Director and Technology Lead, Accenture in the Philippines, on the importance of building the AI talent of the future in the country:
“AI is rapidly shaping how we learn, work, and solve real-world problems, thus making it essential to build AI understanding and skills from an early age. Accenture believes in connecting education to real-world application, especially for young people. The Breaking Barriers: Building Bridges hackathon gives students hands-on exposure to AI, empowering them to turn ideas into impact. Through this experience, they don’t just learn about AI; they learn to use it responsibly, creatively, and with purpose to address real societal challenges.”
Mona Obedoza, Founder of The Purposeful Mochii, on what it means to organize the annual hackathon and seeing her fellow students participate:
“I’m absolutely thrilled to see how much the hackathon has grown and how far it has gone. It’s amazing to see the smiles on the kids’ faces, deliver their pitches, and to have a front row view to the amazing innovations they come up with. Now more than ever, with the growing prevalence of AI, it’s important to teach kids from a young age on the responsible use of technology in solving real-world problems. I hope more students will join hackathons like this one – to dive in, gain practical experience, and feel proud that they can build something great with technology.”
