Beyond the code: A three-day deep dive into collaboration, creativity, and community-driven innovation.
March 6–8, 2026 – The Astbury – Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines – The global tech community is turning its eyes toward Makati as Developer Camp Manila 2026 makes its historic Philippine debut. For nearly two decades, this event has been a cornerstone of Silicon Valley innovation, helping spark the beginnings of giants like Twitter and Square. Unlike high-pressure competitive hackathons, Developer Camp Manila prioritizes the spirit of ‘cooperation over competition,’ inviting developers, designers, and founders to build together in a supportive environment.
The three-day event is designed to be inclusive, welcoming everyone from seasoned software engineers to students and artists. Participants don’t even need a pre-formed team or a polished idea to join. The weekend kicks off with organic team formation, followed by intensive building sessions supported by industry mentors, and culminates in pitches to a high-caliber panel of investors and tech veterans.
The Manila edition followed the event’s typical format: participants formed teams, developed ideas over the course of the weekend, and presented their prototypes during a final demonstration session. The schedule opened with a welcome program led by Developer Camp founder Dom Sagolla, followed by matchmaking sessions where participants pitched ideas and formed teams before beginning the first night of hacking.
The 2026 tracks reflect the most pressing challenges in the local and global tech landscape: the Future of Work, Climate & Regeneration, Health & Human Potential, and Collective Prosperity. These themes push builders to look beyond simple apps and instead create systems that offer more equitable ownership and sustainable environmental impact, specifically tailored to the nuances of the Philippine economy.
The judging panel brings together the best of the Philippine startup ecosystem were Jay Fajardo of Proudcloud and Launchgarage; Franco Varona, managing partner at Foxmont Capital Partners; Tallulah Le Merle of Fifth Era; Carlo Chen-Delantar of Gobi Partners; illustrator and art director Kasia Bojanowska; and Trish Rosal of Yield Guild Games. Even global cultural icons like Apl.de.Ap joined the fray, highlighting the event’s unique blend of technology, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship. It’s a clear signal that the Philippine tech scene is ready to move from being a service hub to a global center for original product creation.
Beyond the core hackathon, the Manila event also featured discussions on technology, creativity, and leadership in the evolving tech ecosystem. One session explored AI ethics and the future of creative work, bringing together Quark Henares, Nic Reyes Indiego, Terence Ver S. Angsioco, Desiree Llanos Dee, and Nityalila Saylo in a conversation moderated by Giselle Tomimbang-Mercado. The panel examined how artificial intelligence is reshaping creative industries, highlighting both the possibilities of new tools and the continuing importance of human creativity and context.
Another discussion focused on women’s leadership in technology and entrepreneurship, with mentors Nana Luz, Giselle Tomimbang-Mercado, Victoria Herrera, Dona Esteban, and Elyse Lefebvre in conversation with moderator Paula Rosales. Speakers shared personal career journeys across technology, wellness, events, and entrepreneurship, emphasizing communication, adaptability, and community-building as essential skills for leaders navigating the AI-driven era.
Developer Camp Manila 2026 brought together engineers, creatives, founders, and students in a collaborative environment focused on experimentation, learning, and building new ideas. Over the course of the weekend, participants explored emerging technologies, developed early prototypes, and connected with peers across the local and international tech community.
