𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐈𝐂𝐨𝐧) 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

Cebu Institute of Technology – University (CIT-U) is hosting the Imaginators Convention (ICon) 2026, the first of its kind across Cebu and the Visayas dedicated to bringing together technology, gaming, animation, and the creative industries. Organized under Wildcats PlayLab, the two-day convention reflects CIT-U’s commitment to nurturing a stronger pipeline of emerging creatives, animators, game developers, and technology professionals by creating a space where students, industry practitioners, and creative communities can connect, learn, collaborate, and explore opportunities in these growing fields.

ICon 2026 runs on September 12 and 13, 2026 at the SM Seaside City Cebu, Cube Wing. The event brings together students, industry professionals, technology enthusiasts, and creative communities for two days of game showcases, a cosplay competition, interactive exhibits, and industry talks. It also features industry talks with speakers from gamigo, GDAP, and other professionals in the gaming, technology, and creative industries, sharing insights on the field and career opportunities.

For CIT-U, the convention strengthens the ecosystem supporting students from programs such as the Bachelor of Multimedia Arts, BS Computer Engineering, BS Computer Science, BS Information Technology, AB Communication, and other related disciplines, giving them greater exposure to the creative and technology industries and opportunities to develop their interests in animation, digital media, and game development.

How ICon Came Together

ICon 2026 began with a conversation on the evening of June 22 initiated by CIT-U President Engr. Bernard Nicholas E. Villamor, who called a meeting with Ryan A. Balbuena, Consultant for CIT-U Esports and Wildcats Playlab, and Ms. Larmie S. Feliscuzo, CIT-U Director for Management Information Systems and External Affairs.

 

During the meeting, President Villamor shared CIT-U’s plans to invite animators to the university. The idea sparked Balbuena to envision something larger: a convention that would bring together animators, gaming and technology professionals, students, and creatives under one roof.

From this idea, ICon 2026 was born, with its name coined by Ms. Rafaeliza P. Diano, CIT-U Marketing Director. A brainchild of Balbuena developed in close partnership with CIT-U, the convention brings together communities across gaming, technology, and the creative fields. It marks the first of its kind in the Visayas and Mindanao region.

 

The event is also made possible through the help of CIT-U students, who serve as the core workforce behind the convention’s operations, assisting with event management, exhibits, activities, and audience engagement throughout the two-day event.

 

A highlight of the convention is the student-developed games, featuring 11 CIT-U teams from NEXT LEVEL: Esports Game Dev Challenge, organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Central Visayas. Visitors can experience their games firsthand while meeting the emerging developers behind them.

List of Games and Developers

CIT-U STUDENT-DEVELOPED GAMES FROM NEXT LEVEL: Esports Game Dev Challenge

1. Takyan X by The Interns — Grand Champion
               Takyan X is a 3D local multiplayer game developed by Ruhmer Jairus R. Espina, Zendy Mariel L. Dy, Jarold Mikel Banogon, Aaron Rey Jacalan, and Jhon Ryan Ledon. A digital reimagining of the classic Filipino street game, players use only their feet and knees to keep a weighted, feathered takyan in the air. Fast reflexes, rising combos, and head-to-head rivalry bring the nostalgic energy of alley and schoolyard matches into a competitive digital showdown.
   
   
2. AeroSpire by BasangSisiw Studios — 2nd Runner-Up
               AeroSpire is a strategy and city-building game developed by James O. Samson, John Lawrence T. Rebusit, Jake C. Bejenting, John Arcel R. Sabagkit, and Rheyvene L. Balogbog. Players take on the role of Datu, tasked with outlasting their opponent through smart resource management and strategic decision-making. Keeping a city's population happy, hydrated, fed, and comfortable is only half the challenge. Players must also build resilience against calamities, maintain independence, and make hard calls to keep everything in balance.

 

3. Infinitus by Limitless — 3rd Runner-Up
               Infinitus is a fast-paced multiplayer battle royale developed by Glenshayne G. Belarmino, Kurt Justin J. Malubay, and Wilmark S. Racho. The game drops players into a shrinking arena where survival depends on more than just reflexes. Players scavenge for spells and draw them out to eliminate rivals, with every match demanding sharp positioning, resource management, and combat instincts against a full lobby of opponents. Built on server-authoritative multiplayer for tight, responsive action, Infinitus delivers a competitive experience rooted in skill and strategy.
   
   
4. Salamin at Bakal by The Monchadas — 4th Runner-Up
               Salamin at Bakal is a strategic, turn-based deckbuilder developed by Aissha Monceda, Angela Jazhiel B. Encabo, Sophia Gabrielle N. Logarta, Gerald Benedict Ares, and Zaki C. Almodiel. Set in the Iron City, players cast spells and combos rooted in the power of sign language to reclaim the voice of their people. Facing stronger opponents with every step, players uncover the truth behind a silenced community as they follow their destiny as the child of the silent blessing. Salamin at Bakal weaves accessibility, culture, and narrative into a deeply layered gameplay experience.
   
   
5. Kari-N-Deria by CITy-Prowlers — Finalist
               Kari-N-Deria: Bayanihan or Bankruptcy is a fast-paced 3v3 or 5v5 competitive cooking game developed by Kelvin Pehrson P. Kierulf, Ben Joseph V. Escolano, Gianna Katrin D. Carreon, Sigrid Allison S. Laputan, and Joseph Victor P. Novabos. Two rival Filipino carinderias go head-to-head during a barangay-wide food shortage, with players scrambling for limited ingredients, cooking authentic Filipino dishes, and earning enough money to keep their business open before rent comes due. Equal parts chaotic and strategic, it is a game about hustle, teamwork, and survival.
   
   
6. Pinoy Party by Clutch Five — Finalist
               Pinoy Party is a vibrant multiplayer digital board game developed by Darryll Eral, Lance Lemmor Chan, Iren Nathaleigh Guinita, Chloe Julia Geonzon, and Ricksmer Cabatingan. Reimagining classic Laro ng Lahi through the lens of community resilience, players take on the role of neighborhood kids racing to Lola's gate while navigating local hazards, trivia, and skill-based mini-games like Sack Race, Luksong Baka, and Langit Lupa. Reaching the gate first is only half the battle. The true winner is the one with the most diskarte and the preparation to handle whatever the barangay throws their way.
   
   
7. Balikaw by 8log Studios
               Balikaw is a Filipino horror game developed by Christian Luis C. Fernandez, Lovely Shane P. Ong, Aaron Rey A. Jacalan, Ruhmer Jairus R. Espina, and Zendy Mariel L. Dy. A young girl must survive the night in her grandmother's mysterious home by following traditional Filipino superstitions and completing chores before something supernatural finds her. Rooted in local folklore and cultural memory, Balikaw turns the familiar rituals of Filipino home life into a tense fight for survival.
   
   
8. Empire of Praxia by Jade Talism
               Empire of Praxia is a vast open-world MMORPG developed by Joseph Casas. Players can fight monsters, collect rare loot, trade with other players, and level up a range of skills including woodcutting, totem carving, mining, forging, and spelunking. Built for both solo adventurers and group play, Empire of Praxia offers a rich, expansive world to explore at any pace.

 

9. Encore by Aleph Dream
               Encore is a rhythm game developed by John Vincent B. Balazon, Ryan Cueshe B. Alforque, Joseph Xeno O. Banzon, Joel C. Coyoca Jr., and Mike Joseph V. Talledo. Players rotate in plus or cross directions to hit notes as they approach the core, keeping tempo and precision at the heart of every session. Simple to pick up but rewarding to master, Encore is a test of rhythm, timing, and focus.
   
   
10. Mire: Protocol Zero by GlenshGeekBar
                Mire: Protocol Zero is a fast-paced 2D multiplayer objective-based game developed by Joel Theo Gallarde, Daniel Mark Aguilar, Ethan Benedict Labajo, Helge Justin Dano, and Ralph Lawrence Santillan. Two teams compete to capture the enemy's Resource Core while defending their own, with victory hinting on teamwork, strategy, and coordination over pure elimination. Players choose from five unique character classes, each with specialized abilities and a powerful Ultimate that charges throughout the match, opening the door for dynamic plays and coordinated team strategies.
    
    
11. Se Cognos Chess by Team Moyve
                Se Cognos Chess is a psychological cyberpunk game developed by Christian Buzarang, Hanz Ivan Hermosada, Ericka Fatima Reign Ligaray, Kaye Akira Regulacion, and Rea Emerald Sabellita. After sixteen billion cycles of blind obedience, a Pawn trapped in a deterministic digital prison develops free will and takes one illegal step backward, shattering the system's logic entirely. Players guide this anomaly through collapsing timelines and corrupted data realms, confronting the Masked Pawn, a manifestation of the Pawn's own fear of freedom, in a journey about survivor's guilt, self-forgiveness, and breaking the rules of a reality that was never truly fixed.

GAME BOOTHS
Beyond the student showcases, ICon 2026 also features open game booths where attendees can jump in and play.

12. Tekken8
13. Streetfighter
14. Just Dance

 

 

The convention runs in partnership with the Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP), the country's recognized trade association for local and international digital game development, service, and technology studios. Through this partnership, attendees gain direct access to professionals and experts from the gaming, animation, and creative technology industries, with opportunities for mentorship, internships, employment, and future collaboration.

Industry Speakers and Topics

ICon 2026 features a lineup of industry professionals covering game development, animation, creative careers, and the future of interactive media.

 

Mr. Alvin Juban, Studio Head of Synergyy88 and Chairman of GDAP, opens the program with a look at the game industry and the career opportunities it holds in his talk, "Beyond Playing Games: Understanding the Game Industry and Career Opportunities." Mr. Janyl Lambee Tanoy, Studio Lead of Escape the Day Job, draws from his own career path in games in "GameDev Journey: Lessons from Building a Career in Games." Ms. Arielle Dalan, Studio Lead and Game Producer of Tropa Interactive, speaks on growing as a creative professional in "From Curiosity to Creation: Leveling Up, One Side Quest at a Time."

 

Ms. Hannah Faye Culaste, Head of Business Development and Partnerships for Philippines and Southeast Asia at gamigo Philippines, examines Cebu's potential as a game industry hub through a global lens in "Cebu as a Hub for the Philippine Game Industry: From the Lens of a Global Game Company." Ms. Sabrinah Yonell Yap, President of DEVCON Cebu, rallies the local developer community in "Game On, Cebu! Building the Future of Local Game Dev with DEVCON Cebu." Engr. Ephrem dela Cerna Jr., CEO of Seaversity Inc, expands the conversation beyond games and into the broader future of digital media in "Beyond Games: The Future of Interactive Media."

 

 

 

Ms. Claire Codilla, event host, radio DJ, and voice artist, shares practical advice on developing an authentic presence in the creative industry in "Finding Your Authentic Voice in the Industry: Tips from Your Local Voice Actor." Ms. Ria A. Lu, President of GDAP and CEO of Leveret, explores how Filipino culture and narrative shape game and animation storytelling in "Cultural Storytelling in Games and Animation." Mr. Charlo Nocete, Senior Artist for Concept Art at Pixel Mafia, walks through the visual side of game creation in "Creating Characters and Worlds: The Art Behind Games and Animation." Mr. Clint Cagang, Head of Game Art at gamigo Philippines, and Mr. Eli Monteroso, Game Software Engineer at gamigo Philippines, then breaks down the production process from start to finish in "From Concept to Implementation: The Full Game Art Pipeline."

 

Rounding out the speaker lineup, Mr. Kevin Bono, Community Manager for Gloria Victis and Fate at gamigo Philippines, and Ms. Ma. Giliane Bunda, Marketing Artist at gamigo Philippines, discusses how content and community sustain a game long after its release in "NOW WHAT? How Content and Community Keep a Game Alive After Launch."