Manila, Philippines — June 2025

In a prestigious evening that celebrated the best of blockchain innovation and advocacy across the Philippines, the Block Awards 2025 honored trailblazers who have significantly advanced the local Web3 ecosystem. Held under the auspices of the Blockchain Council of the Philippines (BCP), the ceremony featured key figures from across the nation’s blockchain community and recognized leaders across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, as well as distinguished educators, advocates, and brands.

The event which is part of the Philippine Blockchain Week 2025 opened with welcoming remarks from BCP Chair Donald Lim, setting the tone for a night of inspiration and recognition. The program concluded with closing remarks from Luis Buenaventura, Jury Lead and one of the country’s foremost blockchain thought leaders.

Regional Champion Awards

Luzon Blockchain Leader: Eliezer Rabadon
Recognized for demonstrating exceptional leadership, innovation, and influence in promoting blockchain adoption throughout Luzon.

Eliezer Rabadon is a tech entrepreneur and ethical hacker known for his expertise in app, web, and game development. He is the CEO and Co-Founder of DVCode Technologies Inc. and serves as the Technical Lead of ICP.Hub Philippines. His work spans smart contract development, cybersecurity, and IT consultancy, including roles at Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp..

Eliezer has been recognized by Meta (Facebook) for his ethical hacking contributions. He has also written about cybersecurity threats, such as the GitDump exploit, which exposed vulnerabilities in government systems. His journey from a self-taught coder to a successful CEO is an inspiring story of resilience and determination.

Visayas Blockchain Leader: Kookoo Crypto
Honored for impactful contributions to the Visayas blockchain ecosystem, particularly in education, advocacy, and community building.
Here’s what I found about Kookoo Crypto:

Kookoo Crypto is a Filipino crypto content creator known for his work in Web3 gaming and blockchain education. He collaborates with MetaSports and Coins.ph to bridge Web2 and Web3 gaming. His YouTube channel, Kookoo Crypto TV, covers topics like Axie Infinity, crypto tips, and play-to-earn games. He has a strong presence on TikTok, where he spreads awareness about crypto and decentralized finance.

Mindanao Blockchain Leader: Davao DeFi Community (Ruben Lacumba)
Celebrated for advancing blockchain leadership and innovation in Mindanao, highlighting inclusive regional engagement.

Founded by Ruben Lacumba Jr., also known as Rubz, the community aims to educate and empower individuals through workshops, events, and partnerships. DDC collaborates with local universities, professionals, and government units to spread blockchain knowledge across Mindanao. Ruben Lacumba is a visionary leader in the DeFi space, working to demystify blockchain technology and promote financial inclusion

See interview with Ruben here.

Community Champion Awards

Outstanding Web3 Community: Cryptita Plays (Arshelene Lingao)
Acknowledged as a leading grassroots DAO or Web3 community for governance, collaboration, and real-world use.

She co-founded Cryptita Plays, an initiative that simplifies blockchain concepts for beginners, especially young learners. She partnered with Bitget to launch the Young Learners’ Encyclopedia, an illustrated book designed to teach children about blockchain and cryptocurrency.

Cryptita Plays also runs a Mini-Library Project, providing beginner-friendly books on crypto and digital safety to underserved communities. The initiative aims to bridge the digital divide by making blockchain education accessible to schools and community centers. Cryptita is also a member of the Women in Blockchain Philippines.

Blockchain Educator of the Year: Coach Miranda Miner (Arlone Abello)
Awarded for exceptional contributions to blockchain literacy through educational platforms, content creation, and training.

He is the CEO of Global Miranda Miner Group (GMMG) and the founder of IMPACT (Innovative Movement of the Philippine Association of Crypto Traders). He has been featured in Yahoo Finance, ABS-CBN News Channel, and Manila Times for his insights on crypto trading trends. He advocates for blockchain education, emphasizing its importance for Filipino youth.

Before entering the crypto space, he spent over 15 years in corporate leadership, including roles at Google’s global operations and a telecommunications company. He runs CrypTalk: University Caravan, a program designed to educate students about crypto and blockchain.

Follow Coach Miranda on Facebook.

Web3 Youth Advocate Award: Gelo Wong
Recognized as a dynamic under-30 leader promoting blockchain innovation and learning among youth groups and schools.

Gelo Wong is a Filipino entrepreneur and Web3 strategist known for his work in blockchain and digital asset adoption. He is the Co-founder & Chief Growth & Strategy Officer at BayaniChain, a company accelerating the adoption of digital assets. He has held leadership roles in various industries, including food, logistics, real estate, retail, and tech.

Gelo is also an angel investor and manages a Web3 fund, supporting startups in the blockchain space. His approach to business emphasizes team well-being and inclusive leadership, ensuring growth for both companies and individuals.

As a 22-year-old founder scaling a tech company, this recognition means a lot. But more than that, this award is a reminder that the next generation is paying attention to what we build and how we lead. – Gelo Wong on FB

Brand Champion Awards

Most Innovative Blockchain Project: Viridian Technologies Inc. and Pitaka (Emman Navalan)
Honored for groundbreaking blockchain integration that showcases scalability, utility, and originality.

Pitaka is a crypto wallet built on Tetrix Network, allowing users to store, manage, and exchange blockchain assets across multiple networks.

Emman Navalan is the CEO and Founder of Viridian Technologies Inc. He started as a civil engineering student at the University of Santo Tomas before transitioning into blockchain and Web3 development. He co-founded Tetrix Network in 2021, aiming to bridge blockchain ecosystems and support central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). His vision includes making blockchain technology more accessible and integrating decentralized finance (DeFi) into mainstream financial systems.

Follow Viridian Technologies on Facebook.

Best Web3 Customer Experience: CoinsPH (Jen Bilango)
Recognized for delivering seamless, secure, and user-friendly blockchain-powered customer interactions.

Coins.ph is a leading digital asset exchange in the Philippines, offering crypto trading, remittances, and financial services. It was founded in 2014 and has grown into a fully regulated fiat and cryptocurrency platform, supporting over 100 tokens.

Jen Bilango is the Country Manager of Coins.ph. She has a strong background in finance, investment banking, and Web3. Before joining Coins.ph, she was an Executive Director at a leading investment bank and worked at the Asian Development Bank. She also played a key role in BlockchainSpace, where she led the Guild Partner Program, connecting Web3 communities to gaming projects.

Under her leadership, Coins.ph has focused on financial inclusion and Web3 literacy, launching initiatives like cross-border payments using stablecoins. She believes that crypto can revolutionize remittances, making transactions cheaper and faster for Filipinos abroad.

Follow Coins.PH on Facebook.

Overall Champion Awards: Blockchain Leader of the Year

In a rare and symbolic gesture, the highest recognition of the night—the Blockchain Leader of the Year Award—was presented to two exemplary leaders:

Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Former DICT Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development
Honored for her unwavering leadership in shaping blockchain and digital innovation policy in the Philippines and as a pioneer of countryside digital empowerment and one of the earliest champions of Web3 in government.

Jocelle Batapa-Sigue is a trailblazer of digital empowerment and inclusive innovation in the Philippines, with over two decades of pioneering work at the intersection of law, policy, and technology. A multi-awarded digital leader, she served as Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) from 2022 to 2025, helping transform the Philippine digital ecosystem to support startups, digital freelancers, digital nomad ecosystems, and tech-enabled countryside economy.

She organized the first blockchain event in Bacolod under the Bacolod-Negros Occidental Federation for Information and Communications Technology (BNEFIT) with DynaQuest Technologies and Hybrain in 2017. From then on, she fully supported all initiatives in promoting blockchain.

In her role at the DICT, Jocelle represented the Philippines as an ITU Councilor, underscoringher role in shaping global digital development policies. She has been a keynote speaker and panelist in numerous national and global forums, advocating for ethical, inclusive technology and the digital empowerment of women and youth across Asia-Pacific.

She co-founded the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP) and the Philippine ICT Innovation Network, pioneering the growth of digital jobs and tech startup ecosystems in the countryside.

Jocelle has been recognized nationally and internationally for her transformative work in ICT and inclusive development. She was awarded as a 2016 TOWNS (The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service) Awardee for ICT. In 2013, she received the Philippine Individual ICT Contributor of the Year Award from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and IBPAP. Her leadership was further recognized when she was named one of the Top Ten Outstanding Young Leaders in 2009 by the Asia Society Foundation.

An accomplished lawyer, law professor, and public speaker, Jocelle has also led design thinking bootcamps, policy innovation labs, and women-in-tech mentoring circles across the ASEAN region. She is an outspoken champion of AI governance, ethical technology, and youth leadership in the digital age.

Her work paves the way for a future where skills, ideas, and innovation can thrive beyond borders—from rural communities to global tech arenas.

🌐 Learn more at jocellebatapasigue.com

Emilio Aquino, Former SEC Chairperson is celebrated for enabling the regulatory environment crucial to the responsible growth of the blockchain ecosystem in the country. As the former Chairperson and CEO of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Philippines, he played a pivotal role in modernizing the country’s financial regulatory landscape during his tenure from 2018 to 2025. As the first CPA-Lawyer to lead the SEC, Aquino brought a unique blend of legal expertise and financial acumen to the position, championing policies that strengthened corporate governance and investor protection.

Under his leadership, the SEC implemented groundbreaking reforms, including the passage of the Revised Corporation Code in 2019, which streamlined business registration and made corporate structures more adaptable. Aquino also spearheaded the commission’s digital transformation, launching multiple waves of online business registration platforms to simplify processes and ensure transparency. His ambitious SuperVision 2025 strategy sought to position the Philippines as a leading player in Southeast Asia’s corporate sector, reinforcing investor confidence and financial security.

Beyond regulatory policies, Aquino was instrumental in removing the Philippines from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list, improving access to beneficial ownership data and enhancing anti-money laundering efforts. He also embraced fintech innovations, recognizing blockchain and digital assets as emerging technologies that required structured regulations to foster responsible growth.

Aquino’s career was built on a foundation of academic excellence. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in Accounting from Universidad de Zamboanga, then pursued law at San Beda University, where he placed 16th in the 1992 Bar Exams. His thirst for knowledge extended to fintech advancements, earning credentials from Tsinghua University and the Cambridge Fintech and Regulatory Innovation Program to stay ahead of global trends.

Throughout his tenure, Aquino’s vision helped transform the SEC into a modernized, forward-thinking institution, ensuring that Philippine businesses and investors could thrive in an increasingly digital economy. His efforts in corporate regulation, investor protection, and fintech adoption left a lasting impact on the financial landscape of the country.

About the Block Awards 2025

The Block Awards 2025 served not only as a celebration but also as a reaffirmation of the Philippines’ role as a rising hub of blockchain innovation in Asia. Through strong leadership, inclusive development, and cross-sector collaboration, the BCP continues to cultivate a thriving blockchain ecosystem—from grassroots advocates to institutional pioneers.

At the Philippine Blockchain Week, a moment of recognition and artistry intertwined as the awardees became recipients of a rare piece by National Artist Jose Joya and his grandnephew, contemporary artist Andre Baldovino. Presented by Scarletbox and the Philippine Blockchain Council, the symbolic plaque was not just a token of achievement—it was a tribute to the fusion of technology, legacy, and creativity.

Scarletbox took center stage at the Block Awards, unveiling a special collaboration that bridged generations through the power of art and blockchain technology. National Artist Jose Joya, hailed as the Father of Philippine Abstract Art, left an enduring legacy with paintings valued between USD $1 million to $3 million. With permission from the Joya family, Scarletbox introduced an exclusive one-of-one series, seamlessly merging Joya’s bold abstraction with Baldovino’s expressive strokes. The result was a dialogue across time—where Joya’s work stood as the “rock foundation” and Baldovino’s contributions represented the fluidity that flows around it.

Each artwork was meticulously crafted as a museum-grade giclée print, framed to last over a hundred years and accompanied by an authenticity certification and a matching NFT. These pieces were gifted to Block Awards winners, marking excellence in both heritage and the forward momentum of blockchain-driven innovation.

Through Scarletbox, the timeless masterpieces of National Artists are now being made more accessible, preserved, celebrated, and immortalized on the blockchain—ensuring that Philippine artistic heritage continues to inspire future generations in both the physical and digital worlds.

About the Blockchain Council of the Philippines:

The Blockchain Council of the Philippines stands at the forefront of blockchain adoption in the country, uniting visionary leaders across various industries to promote education, policy advocacy, and technological innovation and share a mission of advancing blockchain integration nationwide.

It is spearheaded by a distinguished group of professionals whose impressive credentials and industry expertise are driving the nation’s blockchain revolution.

Leading the council is Dr. Donald Patrick Lim, President of DITO CME, a fierce advocate for blockchain education and digital transformation. Under his leadership, the council has spearheaded initiatives that encourage businesses and government sectors to embrace decentralized technologies.

Donald Patrick Lim, PhD – Chair and President
Donald Lim is a veteran in the technology and digital marketing space, with extensive experience from his leadership roles at major organizations such as DITO CME and ABS-CBN Corporation. As a driving force behind the inaugural Philippine Blockchain Week, Lim combines academic rigor—holding an MBA from Murdoch University and a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix—with strategic vision, setting a clear direction for blockchain innovation in the Philippines.

Chezka Gonzales – Vice President External
Chezka Gonzales brings a unique perspective to the council through her diverse background. Formerly an Airbus A320 pilot and a reservist in the Philippine Air Force, she successfully transitioned into the digital realm to co-found Philippine Blockchain Week. With credentials that include a Crypto Mastercourse certification, Gonzales excels in forging international partnerships and voicing the council’s initiatives on a global platform, thereby extending its reach and impact.

Noel Samson – Vice President Internal
Noel Samson is recognized for his robust operational expertise and his ability to manage tech-driven projects with precision. His experience in coordinating digital transformation initiatives ensures that the council’s internal processes are streamlined and efficient, aligning everyday operations with the broader strategic goals of advancing the blockchain ecosystem locally.

Mark S. Gorriceta – Corporate Secretary
Mark Gorriceta is a renowned legal expert with a stellar reputation in corporate transactions and fintech regulatory matters. As Managing Partner at Gorriceta Africa Cauton & Saavedra, his accolades—including recognition among the Top 100 Lawyers in the Philippines—underline his deep expertise in capital markets, M&A, and digital asset law. Gorriceta’s oversight in corporate governance guarantees that the council maintains the highest standards of legal integrity.

Emman Navalan – Treasurer
Emman Navalan stands at the intersection of blockchain technology and digital finance as the CEO and founder of Viridian Technologies Inc. He is the visionary behind the Tetrix Network and the innovative crypto wallet, Pitaka. Navalan’s entrepreneurial acumen and commitment to developing robust digital solutions empower the council with the fiscal stability needed to champion transformative projects in the blockchain space.

Together, these officers form a powerhouse leadership team at the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, poised to redefine digital innovation and set a new standard for excellence in the rapidly evolving world of blockchain technology.

Alongside the officers are key figures such as is Brian Poe Llamanzares, President of Pantheon Holdings, whose focus on strategic partnerships ensures that blockchain remains a key driver of economic growth.

Sheree Gotuaco, Founder and CEO of Scarletbox.io, is another powerhouse within the council, spearheading initiatives in NFT and digital collectibles, helping introduce Filipinos to the global Web3 ecosystem.

Chezka Gonzales, co-founder of Philippine Blockchain Week (PBW), who envisioned a platform where education and industry engagement could flourish. Their leadership continues to guide blockchain communities toward sustainable growth.

Also founding trustees are Gail Concepcion Cruz-Macapagal and Imelda “Ida” Tiongson are influential figures in the Philippine blockchain and fintech industries, each contributing significantly to the advancement of Web3, digital finance, and governance. Gail is a Certified Blockchain Expert and the Country Director of DynaQuest Technology Services Inc., a company specializing in blockchain solutions. She is also the Founder of Women in Blockchain Philippines, an initiative that promotes female leadership and inclusion in the blockchain space. Imelda “Ida” Tiongson

Ida Tiongson is a fintech and governance advocate, serving as the President of Opal Portfolio Investments (SPV-AMC) Inc. and an Independent Director at Pru Life UK Philippines.

Both leaders continue to shape the future of blockchain and fintech in the Philippines, advocating for education, regulation, and industry collaboration.

Together, these leaders form the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, working to educate, engage, and collaborate with various sectors. Their efforts pave the way for broader blockchain adoption, ensuring that the Philippines remains a hub for digital innovation and fintech advancements.