A student team from Silliman University in Dumaguete won the first Can You HackIT hackathon held in Cebu City. Their project, Bant AI, was awarded Top 1 and Best Use of AI.
Bant AI is an app that detects harmful online content and alerts parents in real time. It also analyzes emotional tone to help families respond better. The app supports Filipino, Cebuano, and English.
The event was organized by the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP). It brought together 28 student teams from 14 schools for mentorship and a one-day build challenge.
Can You HackIT aims to connect students with tech leaders and promote innovation across the country. It was supported by Accenture, IBM, EY GDS, Lexmark, Carelon, Philtech, and local partners CIT-U and CIB.O.
IBPAP said the success of the Cebu event shows that tech talent exists beyond Metro Manila. The group plans to expand the program to other regions.
“We’re not just opening doors,” said IBPAP President Jack Madrid. “We’re building new ones and making sure no student with talent, heart, and hustle gets left standing outside.”
