Visionaries from across industries converged for two days of intense discussion at the Brother Andrew Gonzalez FSC Academia-Industry Conference (BAGCON) 2025, held at SPACE, One Ayala, from November 12th to 13th.
The conference, themed “New Imaginings: Designing Future Societies,” wasn’t simply a meeting of minds, but a focused effort to forge practical solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. It underscored a critical need: collaborative innovation to build communities rooted in strong values.
BAGCON 2025 was spearheaded by De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, drawing on the expertise of its School of New Media Arts, School of Arts, Culture, and Performance, and School of Environment and Design, with support from the School of Management and Information Technology’s Game Design and Development Program.
The event honored the legacy of Brother Andrew Gonzalez FSC, a transformative figure in education, celebrated for his dedication to academic excellence and impactful reforms.
The first day featured a diverse lineup of thought leaders, including Professor Mona Nasser, exploring the frontiers of health and care research, and filmmaker Liam Young, who envisions the future through architectural storytelling.
Attendees also heard from Julien Merceron, a leading expert in video game technology, and Ashok Mathur, a renowned writer and cultural theorist. Dr. Ching-Ju Cheng and award-winning journalist Horacio Severino rounded out the compelling first-day speakers.
Day two continued the momentum with Audrey Wong, a champion of arts and cultural leadership, sharing her insights.
A powerful plenary session followed, featuring Jos Ortega, a leader in the advertising industry, Rica Estrada Uson from the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Lilian Salonga from the Department of Trade and Industry, and Maria Rita Matute, head of the DTI-Design Center of the Philippines.
“In a world grappling with uncertainty, BAGCON is more than a conference – it’s a call to action,” declared Sharon Mapa Arriola, Dean of Benilde SNMA. “It’s a space for the academic community to challenge assumptions and envision a better future.”
The conference wasn’t intended to end with mere discussion. Participants committed to a tangible resolution, a collective pledge to actively contribute to building the societies they envisioned.
