A historic feat of technological innovation and academic excellence unveiled a group of students from Naga College Foundation, Inc. (NCF) who were hailed as the National Winner (Luzon) during the Tourism Startup Challenge (TSC) 2025 awarding ceremony held on May 12, 2026, in Quezon City.
College of Business Management (CBM) students—namely, Daniella L. Francisco, Deniela B. Anacin, Jenalyn D. Madrid, Kween Karissh O. Casimero, Marlon M. Lanuza, and Jim O. Olivar—were conferred by the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) a total grant of Php 5 million for the implementation of NCF’s pioneering project, ‘GoDare.’
According to the developers, ‘GoDare’ is an innovative, “gamified travel application” engineered to transform the landscape of sustainable tourism by utilizing an “integrated multi-platform approach,“ which incentivizes travelers to engage with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Local Government Units (LGUs).
The prototype underwent a rigorous national vetting process judged by a panel of distinguished experts from the academe, government, and the tourism industry, with the aim to harmonize a digital transformation that is both intuitive and community-centered while reinforcing unique and engaging experiences aligned with the stipulations of the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023–2028.
CHED emphasized that “by bridging the gap between academic research and industry application, we are fostering a new generation of ‘tourism-preneurs’ ready to lead the nation’s growth,” ultimately positioning the youth as the “primary architects of a more inclusive and innovative tourism landscape.”
Also recognizing the startup’s triumph, CHED Bicol accentuated that “this remarkable success is a testament to the students’ hard work and creativity, as well as the strong foundation provided by their institution,” as stated in a Facebook post on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
Furthermore, crucial to the project’s technical realization was the synergy with the College of Computer Studies (CCS), through the consultancy of Mr. John Roy V. Galvez, a CCS Instructor, and the prototype development support of Mr. Daniel Bonito, a CCS student, with the guidance of Mr. Harvin G. Ong, Director of TIGRE TBI and the cohort’s adviser.
As the winning startup moves forward with the full-scale realization of ‘GoDare,’ it reinforces NCF’s commitment to advancing knowledge and steering meaningful global touchstones—proving once again that NCF remains at the center of its #NCFEducationxInnovation philosophy.