ABOUT CATALIST
OUR JOURNEY
REALTECH TALK
Before CATALIST was formed,
J3 IT Solutions spearheaded RealTech Talk Over Coffee, a collaborative platform that brought together leaders and innovators from the private sector, MSMEs, startups, government, academe, and industry.
What Began as Conversations over Coffee
grew into a shared movement—one vision, one heart, one mind, one soul towards building a unified digital ecosystem for Cotabato Province and Kidapawan City.
Multi-Sector Engagements
laid the foundation for the creation of the Cotabato Province & Kidapawan City ICT Council, from which CATALIST was born—serving as a catalyst for collaboration, innovation, and inclusive digital growth.
On September 5, 2025 a collaborative meeting took place at J3IT solutions office, uniting the academe, private sector, and ICT leaders to push digital transformation in Cotabato. Rooted in RA 10844, it was formed to build a unified tech-driven ecosystem through partnerships and innovation.
Moving forward, CATALIST aims to establish the ICT Councils of Cotabato Province and Kidapawan City, empowering the region to thrive in the digital age.
The Birth of CATALIST – A New Era of Collaboration for Cotabato’s Digital Future!
Our Journey towards a brighter, tech-driven future for Cotabato continues!
We kicked off an insightful and inspiring conversation with the University of Southern Mindanao (USM-Kabacan) UICTO team, marking a major step forward for CATALIST – the Cotabato Academe – Private Sector Technology Alliance for Learning, Innovation, Science and Technopreneurship.
Through these valuable engagements, we’re not only learning from the academic learders but also gaining a deeper understanding of the unique needs and aspirations of every institution. The feedback and colloboration we receive will help us shape the digital landscape for Cotabato’s schools and beyond.
Engaging with the Incredible Team at NDKC
The dialogue was rich, insightful, and full of potential as we discussed the unique needs and opportunities within the academe sector for advancing ICT in the region. This visit is another step forward in our mission to build CATALIST. By Partnering with our academic institutions, we are not only creating synergies but also ensuring the schools are empowered wit the right resources to thrive in the digital age.
Together,
we are building the foundation for a future where innovation, digital transformation, and inclusive progress are within reach for every community.
The pitching competition
REGIONAL PITCHING COMPETITION HELD A THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MINDANAO (USM) – THE DAY 2 HIGHLIGHT OF THE TWO-DAY EVENT THEMED “INNOVATE, COLLABORATE & ELEVATE: BUILDING THE FUTURE OF AANR THROUGH REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT”
The program gathered student and faculty innovators from several universities to showcase creative, practical ideas for strengthening the Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources sector. Their pitches reflected passion, ingenuity, and a strong commitment to community impact. The event was further elevated by the presence of distinguished leaders and judges, including DOST-PCAARD and SOXAAARDEC/RAISE representatives, along with CATALIST President Ms. Jeanette “Pam” Lemana-Toledo, who was invited as a judge for the pitching competition.
We’re grateful to witness these emerging talents and the strong spirit of innovation across the region. Events like these highlight the importance of collaboration between academe, industry, and government as we work together to build a more resilient and progressive future for Mindanao. Looking forward to more opportunity where ideas can grow, partnerships can strengthen, and innovation can thrive.
Visit to CFCST in Arakan
We continued our mission to shape a more innovative and digitally empowered Cotabato with a meaningful visit to the Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology (CFCST) in Arakan. Our discussion with their leadership and ICT team was both insightful and promising. By listening to their needs and exploring potential opportunities, we strengthened our shared commitment to advancing ICT development within the academe. Together, we identified ways we can support each other in building solutions that will uplift not just the institution, but the wider community it servers.
This Engagement marks another step forward for CATALIST as we build a collaborative ecosystem where schools help shape Cotabato’s digital future. We’ll continue expanding partnerships to ensure every institution benefits from the region’s growing digital momentum. Together, we’re creating a more connected, inclusive, and future-ready Cotabato.Â
As we aim to finish 2025 strong, we are building the momentum that will carry us confidently into the future.
Our sincere appreciation to DTI Provincial Director (South Cotabato) Ferdinand Cabiles for generously sharing his time, wisdom, and valuable insights with us.
“Progress is not achieved alone – it is built through shared knowledge, collaboration, and the courage to learn from one another.”
Cotabato Academe – Private Sector Alliance for learning, Innovation, Science, and Technopreneurship (CATALIST) continues its pursuit of insightful guidance and best ICT practices, aligning with learnings from neighboring provinces across SOCCSKSARGEN.
CATALIST attended the Regional Re-orientation with Professional Organizations for the IT Education Discipline Group, bringing together various academic institutions across the region, including CMC, NDKC, USM, and other partner schools.
The session was led by Region 12 PSITE President, Mr. Donald Salminao, who shared valuable insights on the vision and mission, goals, strategic plans, and priority directions of PSITE. He also clearly outlined the important roles of officers and members in strengthening IT education and professional collaboration within the region.
During the program, we had the opportunity to introduce CATALIST. Sir Josh Lorilla, our VP for Internal, also shared meaningful insights on how CATALIST aims to support academic institutions through collaboration, innovation, and digital empowerment.
We’re grateful for platforms like this that foster alignment, shared purpose, and stronger partnerships among educators, professionals, and industry players. Together, we continue working toward a future-ready IT education ecosystem in Region 12.
