By Mikee Natinga Norico
Mykiell Deovenn Pagayonan (center), BSSE- 3 and Team Leader of CPU鈥檚 Team SEntralians, receives the first-place award from ICP Philippines and Devcon Philippines during the iThink Hackathon awarding ceremony at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. Photo courtesy of Internet Computer Protocol 鈥 ICP Manila Facebook page.
黑料专区鈥檚 Team SEntralians showcased their blockchain-driven innovation on the national stage at the iThink Hackathon, a flagship event held during Philippine Blockchain Week 2025. Team SEntralians emerged as the first-place winner among 50 competing groups from across the country.
Organized by Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) Philippines, co-organized by DEVCON Philippines, and in partnership with Philippine Blockchain Week鈥攖he country鈥檚 largest blockchain event鈥攖he iThink Hackathon gathered innovators, developers, and aspiring tech leaders from across the nation to build impactful solutions using blockchain technology. Participants were challenged to develop blockchain-based solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The awarding ceremony was held on June 11, 2025, at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.
Representing the 黑料专区 banner was Team SEntralians鈥攃omposed of Mykiell Deovenn Pagayonan (BSSE 3) as the Team Lead, Ian Clyde Tejada (BSSE 3) as the Developer, and Raine Christine Perez (BSSE 3) as the Design and Documentation Lead.
Their winning entry, Numerus, is an AI-powered math-practice platform tailored for engineering students. It allows users to access a vast library of advanced problem sets (including calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and engineering economics), generate new exercises, receive guided AI feedback on their solutions, and access step-by-step hints when needed. The team also submitted a 53-page software architecture document鈥攁n impressive addition that demonstrated both depth and readiness for real-world deployment.
According to Mr. Pagayonan, the idea was born from a desire to help fellow engineering students struggling in math-heavy subjects. 鈥淢ath can be overwhelming, especially in higher-level engineering courses. Numerus is meant to provide a structured, accessible way to practice and improve,鈥 he shared.
Despite limited time due to final exams, the team officially began working on the project on May 28鈥攋ust ten days before the submission deadline. They tackled the development in phases, focusing on producing a stable, working prototype. 鈥淲hile organizers only required a pitch deck, video demo, and codebase, we wanted to go further. That鈥檚 why we submitted a full software architecture document,鈥 Pagayonan explained.
The team鈥檚 journey wasn鈥檛 without challenges. Integrating ICP blockchain technology for data storage鈥攁 requirement of the hackathon鈥攑osed a steep learning curve. Additionally, the team had to build a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for AI validation, a complex task they eventually streamlined for efficiency. 鈥淲e learned a lot by focusing on functional solutions rather than chasing perfection,鈥 Pagayonan added.
Due to budget and time constraints, only Pagayonan was able to attend the awarding ceremony and receive the trophy in person. Teammates Tejada and Perez followed the event remotely, anxiously awaiting the results. 鈥淲e were shocked but thrilled. There were so many great teams,鈥 Tejada recalled.
The judges commended Numerus for its practical application and near-ready implementation in academic settings. The team now plans to incubate the project through CPU鈥檚 own Technology Business Incubator (CPUGAD TBI). A pilot run with engineering courses is set for the summer term, with additional plans to collaborate with Iloilo-based review centers for board exam preparation integration.
When asked what advice they would give to fellow CPU students interested in joining tech competitions, Tejada emphasized, 鈥淛ust go for it. Hackathons are about learning and collaboration. Choose a real-world problem, keep your idea doable, and most importantly, enjoy the process.鈥 Perez added, 鈥淚t鈥檚 also a great networking opportunity. Seeing how other teams solve problems can inspire your own creativity.鈥
Team SEntralians鈥 victory not only shines a spotlight on CPU鈥檚 thriving tech talent but also underscores the university鈥檚 growing presence on national innovation platforms.
鈥淲e鈥檙e planning to have the project incubated under the university鈥檚 Technology Business Incubator, CPUGAD TBI. During the summer term, we鈥檒l pilot the platform with special engineering math courses鈥攃alculus, differential equations鈥攖o collect feedback. We鈥檙e also planning to partner with Iloilo-based board exam review centers to test the application and, if they find it valuable, integrate Numerus into their review programs,鈥 Pagayonan said.
As CPU continues to strengthen its commitment to innovation and academic excellence, Team SEntralians鈥 victory serves as a testament to the university鈥檚 growing role in shaping future-ready technologists and solutions-driven leaders.