Highland air met the hum of innovation as **MALAYBALAY CITY** welcomed visionaries, dreamers, and doers for *Digital Malaybalay City (DIGI MC) 2025*. More than just a conference, it was a movement—an ambitious step toward weaving technology into the fabric of everyday life. From October 29 to 31, Bukidnon State University became a crossroads of ideas, with innovators, freelancers, educators, and international delegates exchanging wisdom on how tech can inspire opportunity, inclusion, and sustainable growth.
A City Wired for the Future
The event was part of Malaybalay’s **Smart and Connected Malaybalay** agenda—a strategic vision to build a digitally empowered, future-ready community through responsible innovation and collaboration. Transitioning from tradition to tomorrow isn't easy, yet the city government showed it is ready to bridge gaps and invite all sectors to the conversation.
Freelancer **Ruffel Mae H. Maghano** gave a heartfelt reminder that resilience remains the secret ingredient in navigating the competitive digital job market. She urged participants to craft routines that foster both productivity and well-being. "Manage your time well—balance multiple clients while leaving time for yourself and your family," she advised, planting seeds of discipline in the minds of aspiring digital nomads.
From creative branding to authentic representation, **Vee Trimidal**, founder of *The Vee Crafts*, painted a vivid portrait of how values and storytelling can carve a permanent space in people’s memories. A brand, he explained, is more than just a logo—it is a living, breathing personality that can inspire trust.
The Human Side of Technology
An equally compelling narrative was woven by **Ma. Estella Bravo**, senior product designer at Shape Construction, who showcased artificial intelligence not as a replacement, but as a partner in creative endeavors. With tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Nixie, she invited participants to use AI as a way to expand ideas and streamline complex projects.
On the educational front, **Professor Franch Maverick Lorilla** envisioned schools as innovation hubs—entities that actively fuse learning with industrial and community needs. His words carried weight: “The highest form of transformation is a university that educates, drives research-based solutions, and contributes to regional growth.”
Meanwhile, **Jaymark Dumio** of DICT-10 introduced **LAKIP**, a platform designed to promote digital literacy and close the technology gap across communities. Through training and awareness campaigns, LAKIP empowers individuals to truly harness digital tools, creating ripples of progress far beyond city borders.
From Global Perspectives to Local Guardians
Brazilian software engineer **Joao Marcelino Fantin Lerina** spoke of adaptability as the lifeblood of technology professionals. To him, being a supervisor is not just a title—it is the resolve to keep learning, especially in a digital landscape that reinvents itself daily.
Finally, **Keren Happuch Lacadin** of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry brought the focus back to safety in the digital realm. In an age of hyperconnection, she reminded attendees that caution is as vital as creativity. Thinking before sharing, connecting only with trusted individuals, and using secure websites form the armor of a responsible digital citizen.
**DIGI MC 2025** was more than an agenda—it was a living proof that Malaybalay City is ready to embrace the opportunities of the digital future without losing sight of humanity’s shared values. As the curtains closed on the three-day gathering, one thing became clear: innovation is not just about machines or code—it is about people, collaboration, and the courage to build a smarter, more inclusive community.
