Aptos Foundation partners with BLOKC, DOST-ASTI to launch Hiraya Network

The Aptos Foundation partners with Department of Science and Technology - Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), Blockchain Lead Organization and Knowledge Center (BLOKC) for the launch of the Hiraya Network to introduce new opportunities for blockchain technology and Web3 in the country.

During the launch event at Enderun Colleges on Thursday, Hiraya Network Country Lead Mark Hugh Neri discussed the network’s role in cultivating talents and founders in the Aptos Ecosystem in the country.

Neri said that as a group, their goal was to teach Filipinos about blockchain technology and help them earn their first cryptocurrency without purchasing it, and provide resources to help Filipinos build their own projects or startups.

“I think what Hiraya Network could offer is to uplift yung mga Filipinos… I think. What's more valuable with me is I can also offer them [Blockchain] and share it to other people as well. So parang kaya nating iangat yung buhay ng mga kapwa natin Filipino through the opportunities, through legit and real opportunities na kaya i-offer ng technology such as blockchain through Hiraya Network,” Neri said in an interview with GMA Integrated News.

(I think what Hiraya Network could offer is to uplift Filipinos… I think what's more valuable to me is I can also offer them and share it with other people as well. So it’s like we can help uplift our fellow Filipinos through the opportunities, through legit and real opportunities that technologies such as blockchain can offer through the Hiraya Network.)

Through the Hiraya Network, Neri said they intend to cultivate a community of Filipinos with the “founder mindset” in the country.

The Network will be holding academic collaborations on capacity-building, technical trainings for research and development in the future.

“Gusto namin [pairalin] na hindi lang dapat mag-end yung goal natin as an employee, but also try to build our own companies ourselves. Kasi we know there are a lot of potentials sa Pilipino and andito yung Hiraya Network to bigyan ng konting push pa yung aspect,”  he shared.

(We want to [enforce] that our end goals should not only be to be an employee, but also try to build our own companies ourselves. Because we know there are a lot of potentials in Filipinos, and the Hiraya Network is here to give a little push to that aspect.)

“[We will] try to integrate yung education doon sa mga existing curriculum, provide means kung paano pa matututo yung mga bata, students mostly, and then we'll have activities na they can showcase those skills. If we can discover na may potential projects that we can help build and support, definitely we'll provide and help them secure funding as well para matuloy,” he added.

(“[We will] try to integrate education in existing curriculums, provide means on how kids or mostly students could learn further, and then we’ll have activities where they can showcase those skills. If we can discover that there are potential projects that we can help build and support, definitely we'll provide and help them secure funding as well so that it can continue.)

The DOST-ASTI and BLOKC supported the launch, with the government agency playing a vital role in encouraging the further study and adoption of blockchain development in the country.

“Primarily, yung role ni ASTI is more on the technical coordination, technical collaboration with them… We are partnering with the BLOKC and other industries to really promote yung use of Blockchain and Web3 kasi kahit kami sa amin, we are into research and development on emerging technologies, such as AI and Blockchain, web technologies, wireless technologies, etc... and Blockchain is one of the emerging technologies that we're working with,” said Roxanne Aviñante of DOST-ASTI.

(Primarily, ASTI’s role is more on technical coordination, technical collaboration with them… We are partnering with the BLOKC and other industries to really promote the use of Blockchain and Web3 because even with us, we are into research and development on emerging technologies, such as AI and Blockchain, web technologies, wireless technologies, etcetera. and Blockchain is one of the emerging technologies that we're working with.)

DOST-ASTI is looking into exploring potential funding for capability development.

“We want to build something. We want this technology to be used, to be adopted, to be commercialized. And we really want to put confidence in sa mga tao na pag-ginamit namin yung system para magiging beneficial for us or magiging valuable for us, (and we really want to put confidence in the people that the system will be beneficial or valuable when used.)," said Aviñante. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/BAP, GMA Integrated News