The University of the Philippines Technology Transfer and Business Development Office (UP TTBDO) conducted “KAFAGWISE”—a high-impact two-day technopreneurship and innovation training at the Orchard Hotel from 3 to 4 August 2026.
Derived from the Ibaloi term Kafagway (the original name of Baguio) combined with “wisdom,” the workshop was born of a strategic Quadruple Helix collaboration among Saint Louis University (SLU), UP Baguio, and the SIGLAT Baguio Youth Innovation Hub, with the care of the CPDSO, Local Government of Baguio. Grounded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—specifically SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)—the initiative leverages cross-sector expertise to tackle Baguio’s urban carrying capacity challenges and build solutions for a livable, inclusive, and creative “Baguio 2043” vision.
Central to this transformative activity was the participation of 32 faculty members from SLU, joined by delegates from the University of Baguio, University of the Cordilleras, and Benguet State University. SLU educators responsible for teaching technopreneurship and general entrepreneurship across four core schools—the SAMCIS, SEA, SONAHBS, and STELA—served as vital pillars throughout the program. Their multi-disciplinary presence demonstrated how business acumen, engineering design, health sciences, and human-centered liberal arts must converge to train future venture leaders.
Day 1 opened with welcome remarks by Ar. Donna R. Tabangin (Head of the City Planning, Development, and Sustainability Office) and an inspirational address by Barangay Captain Levy Lloyd Orcales, who emphasized that innovation begins by listening to community needs. Dr. Luis G. Sison, Director of UP System TTBDO, presented the Technopreneurship Framework and led a panel discussion with Ar. Tabangin, Barangay Captain Orcales, and Dr. Roland M. Hipol (Coordinator, UP Baguio Science Research Center) on reverse pitching urban challenges. Interactive morning and afternoon workshops guided SLU faculty through opportunity identification using root-cause techniques like the “Toyota Five Whys,” customer attunement principles, Tech101 case studies, venture proposal validation, and innovation curriculum mapping across academic tracks.
Day 2 immersed participants in practical execution, beginning with a recap and modules on design thinking, design preparation, and intellectual property (IP) prior art searches. Faculty teams formulated pretotypes, developed low-fidelity Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), and mapped customer ROI—testing solutions such as precision-agriculture UAVs. Following sessions on continuity roadmaps and pitch preparations, the workshop culminated in a dynamic Demo Day where cross-faculty teams pitched their startup concepts to feedback from designated investors and prospective clients, concluding with an institutional commitment signing and the awarding of certificates.
By internalizing growth mindsets, IP pretotyping tactics, and venture-building frameworks, attending SLU faculty members are now equipped to integrate these strategies directly into SAMCIS, SEA, SONAHBS, and STELA curricula. As these educators mentor hundreds of aspiring innovators, their participation in the KAFAGWISE program ensures that academic research at Saint Louis University will translate into viable real-world enterprises—driving long-term economic resilience and sustainable development across the Cordillera region. (Article and Photos by the SLU RISE Center)
