YGG Pilipinas and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) have announced the first results of MFW City, their joint talent development initiative designed to equip Metaverse Filipino Workers (MFWs) with the technical skills, mentorship, and career pathways needed to participate in the global digital economy. Its inaugural effort, carried out in the MIMAROPA region, trained participants in the Move programming language for the Sui blockchain, successfully producing 50 graduates.
Of the total 127 participants, 80 percent were third-year or higher students in computer science, IT, computer engineering, or related fields, with nearly half already coding for one to two years. The program addressed a clear exposure gap by introducing blockchain for the first time to a highly skilled cohort: 76 percent had zero prior exposure to blockchain, and none had experience with the Move language. The program required a high level of commitment, with one online class and one in-person class held each week in Puerto Princesa, complemented by mentoring sessions with Sui contributors and ecosystem partners for feedback and code review.
The pilot attracted a diverse group of participants, with one in five being female, and students from various educational institutions across the region, including Palawan State University, Holy Trinity University, Fulbright College, the Association of Computer Scientists (ACS), and STI College.
“We’re thrilled with how it’s gone and we’re tremendously proud of the effort that everyone put in—DICT, YGG Pilipinas and Metaversity, and especially the students,” said James Wing, Head of AAA Gaming Partnerships at Mysten Labs, the first contributor to Sui. He cited the challenges posed by severe weather and connectivity issues, noting that the strong graduation numbers and innovative projects reflected the students’ ability to adapt under difficult circumstances.
Typhoon Tino struck Puerto Princesa on November 4, bringing severe flooding, power outages, and disruptions to internet and mobile connectivity. The typhoon forced the cancellation of the final class, yet the cohort still achieved a notable 40 percent completion rate for a voluntary blockchain developer program, demonstrating sustained commitment despite both technical demands and natural disaster disruptions.
The program culminated in capstone project presentations, where students designed and launched working prototypes on the Sui blockchain and pitched their solutions to a judging panel. Teams were challenged to develop trusted and verifiable systems for recognizing community contributions across schools, guilds, and online communities to support employment applications.
Two members of the winning team, Nicholo Dela Rosa and JK Rabanal, were flown from Puerto Princesa to speak at the YGG Play Summit held at SM Aura Premier in Bonifacio Global City from November 19 to 22, 2025. Their team, The Scouts, developed Campfire, a platform that digitizes certificates while functioning as a gamified, NFT-based community system. The first runner-up, Spot Me, created a web application connecting event organizers and participants through reward-based engagement.
By piloting the program in Puerto Princesa, the collaboration demonstrated how regional hubs can serve as scalable and replicable models for delivering blockchain education and professional development across the Philippines. This initiative aligns with DICT’s mission to create eight million digital jobs by 2028.
DICT MIMAROPA supported the program by providing training hubs, computer laboratories, and internet access, including Starlink connectivity for remote areas, while mobilizing participants through regional networks. Meanwhile, YGG Pilipinas, through its Metaversity platform, led the program’s curriculum design, mentorship, workshops, project sprints, demo days, and certification process.
