27 November 2025
Benilde’s non‑teaching associates gathered last November 20 at the Fifth Floor Theater at Design+Arts Campus for IGNITE: Lighting the Path to Digital Transformation. The launch marked the official start of the Digital Transformation Office (DXO). The morning was filled with stories, frameworks, and roadmaps that showed how digital change is not just about technology, but about people, culture, and mission. The program was warmly hosted by Angeli Villamor, CIP Planning Officer, who guided the flow of the sessions and kept the energy high throughout the event.
The program opened with Vice President for Administration and Innovation Butch Tecson, who reminded everyone that transformation is a shared responsibility. “This is not merely adapting to new technology. It is about reimagining how we work, how we learn, how we collaborate, and how we serve our students, and most importantly, how we serve one another,” he said. His message set the tone: digital change is people‑centered, empowering individuals, streamlining processes, and enabling informed decisions.
Keynote speaker Rey Lugtu, founder and CEO of Hungry Workhorse and consultant to DXO, then asked the questions that framed the day. “Why do we need to change? Why now? And what’s in it for me?” He pointed out how expectations have shifted dramatically. Gen Z and Gen Alpha students, he explained, are digital natives who expect seamless, mobile, 24/7 access. He contrasted the long paper‑based queues of his own generation with today’s demand for frictionless online services. “Digital transformation is now mission critical. It is no longer an option,” he stressed, citing case studies from Mapúa, Bulacan State University, and Vietnam where online enrollment boosted efficiency and growth. He also warned that schools that failed to adapt during the pandemic faced closures.
After setting the urgency, the spotlight turned to DXO Director Randy Tandoc, who introduced the office and explained its role. Formed in April 2025, DXO stands on four pillars: analytics, digitization, workflow, and awareness. He explained that Benilde’s data is currently fragmented across spreadsheets, drives, and systems, making it hard to consolidate and analyze. The goal is to build a single source of truth and eventually enable self‑service analytics for both management and stakeholders. He also shared that only half of student touchpoints and 40 percent of associate touchpoints are digital. DXO aims to fully digitize these journeys. His analogy of Lego bricks made the idea clear: systems should be modular, replaceable, and integrated without breaking the whole design. He introduced the DXO team: data analysts Shara, Lyrica, and Mara; program leads Jeorge and Rodel; and data architect Jonathan, and called for community support. “Change is not the sole responsibility of DXO. Our hope is that transformation becomes natural for everyone,” he said.
Program lead Jeorge Gonzales then unveiled the AI Roadmap, a three‑year plan to integrate artificial intelligence into Benilde’s processes. He reassured the audience: “AI cannot replace us. It is a powerful strategic enabler.” Year one focuses on quick wins like an AI chatbot for admissions inquiries and automated document tracking. Year two expands to academic advising tools and student success analytics. Year three scales up with advanced projects such as AI‑powered timetabling and personalized learning companions. The roadmap ties directly to three key outcomes: operational efficiency, better customer experience, and insight‑driven decisions. Gonzales emphasized that AI will help associates focus on meaningful work while improving student success and graduation rates.
Later in the program, Rey Lugtu returned to talk about how to make change stick. He introduced the ADKAR model, Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement, and paired it with the Kaizen philosophy of continuous improvement. He explained that transformation is not a one‑time memo but a journey of small, incremental changes. He cited survey results showing strong awareness and desire among Benilde staff, but also gaps in communication, recognition, and consistency across departments. His call to action was simple: start with one improvement, adopt one new tool, re‑imagine one process, and support one colleague. “DX is everyone’s job,” he reminded the audience.
Finally, Chancellor Benhur Ong closed the event with gratitude and a challenge. He thanked the DXO team for their careful planning, the speakers for their insights, and the faculty and staff for their openness. He reminded everyone that “software alone will not solve our problems. It takes all of us.” He urged participants to be DX Champions in their own spaces and to share what they learned with their offices. He acknowledged the survey feedback calling for more training and promised that DXO will respond with learning series, awareness campaigns, and co‑creation sessions. His closing words carried the spirit of the day: “Let this be the start of a brighter, more connected, and future‑ready Benilde. Animo La Salle, Animo Benilde!”
IGNITE kicked off Benilde’s journey into digital transformation. The event showed how data can guide decisions, how digital tools can make everyday work easier, and how associates play a central role in shaping the student experience. With the DXO leading the way and the Benildean Community ready to take part, the College is stepping into an AI‑driven future that is practical, people‑focused, and built to last. Every associate has a part to play in building the school of the future.
BENILDE MANILA
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De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
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