Empowering the Next Generation of IP Champions: IPOPHL-IP Academy Partners with AIPO for the 7th IP Boost Camp 2026

On June 24-25, 30, and July 1-2, 2026, the IP Academy of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), in partnership with the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO), hosted the 7th IP Boost Camp 2026, held at the PLDT-CTC Bldg. Ateneo de Manila University. Sixty (60) undergraduate and law students from universities and colleges nationwide attended the five-day training program, participating in various lectures, group and individual activities, and assessments to learn the nuances of IP.

Image: IP Boost Camp organizers - the IP Academy Team and AIPO Team, together with Atty. Ginalyn Sacmar-Badiola, Supervising Director of IP Academy (center-left); Atty. Teodoro Pascua, Director General of IPOPHL (center); and Dr. Proceso Fernandez Jr., AIPO Director (center-right). Image grabbed from the official Facebook page of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

Student campers were introduced to the Philippine innovation ecosystem, which led to discussions on trademarks, patents, utility models, and industrial design, copyright and related rights, and other IP areas. Having been invited to talk about their respective disciplines, notable speakers included Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua, who delivered the initial remarks, Atty. Ginalyn M. Sacmar-Badiola, the lecturer on "Emerging Contemporary Issues on Trademark Protection: Counterfeiting and the Digital Economy," Engr. Kevin L. Ocampo, who held a workshop on prior art search, Atty. Jeremy John C. Bayaras, the speaker on "Protecting Creativity: The Role of Copyright in Philippine Creative Sectors" and "Understanding Related Rights in Intellectual Property," and Engr. Cristina P. De Guzman, a participant in a panel discussion on "Practicing your Profession: Career in Intellectual Property."

Image: Clockwise starting from top left—Atty. Jeremy John C. Bayaras, Engr. Kevin L. Ocampo, Atty. Teodoro C. Pascua, and Atty. Ginalyn M. Sacmar-Badiola provide insights on various aspects of intellectual property, allowing the IP Boost campers to learn more about copyright, patents, innovation, and trademarks. Images were grabbed from the official Facebook page of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

The event commenced with a presentation about the innovation ecosystem of the Philippines and the intellectual property framework of the country before participants were taken for a tour of the innovation and creative centers of Ateneo de Manila University, which include the Fabrication Laboratories of the School of Science and Engineering (SOSE) and the Ateneo Art Gallery of the Areté. In addition, participants were grouped for their collaborative research project topics. By the end of the boost camp, each group was expected to complete a research paper on their assigned topic and present their output on the final day.

Image: (Clockwise from upper left) The participants of the IP Boost summer program take a tour of the SOSE Fab Lab, the Ateneo Research Institute of Science and Engineering (ARISE), and the Ateneo Art Gallery at Areté, while taking rides on the Ateneo e-jeeps. Upper right and lower left images were grabbed from the official Facebook page of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

The second day featured talks on trademarks, in which participants were introduced to trademarks in national development, the distinctiveness of trademarks, and the registration of trademarks. Through the trademark search workshop, talks on counterfeiting in the digital economy, and the lecture on geographical indications (GIs), participants learned about brand protection and product origin protection.

Image: Atty. Joan Janneth M. Estremadura discusses "Protecting Your Mark: Trademark and Its Impact on National Development," highlighting the role of trademarks in fostering innovation, strengthening businesses, and supporting economic growth. Image grabbed from the official Facebook page of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

The third day was spent discussing patents, utility models, and industrial designs with lectures on the Philippines' patent system and a prior art search workshop. This day was rounded off with talks on trade secrets and plant variety protection.

Image: IP Boost campers present their inventive innovations as a way of demonstrating how intellectual property is used to turn ideas into solutions. Image grabbed from the official Facebook page of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

The fourth day focused on copyright and related rights as the means for developing the creative industry of the Philippines, along with the study of various concepts like fair use, idea-expression dichotomy, and rights of performers, producers, and broadcasters. A panel discussion with practitioners of visual arts, filmmaking, and literature offered campers insights into the relevance of intellectual property in the creative industry.

Image: Atty. Joseph Sedfrey Santiago (left), Dr. Alvin B. Yapan (center), and Dr. Chuckberry Pascual (right) receive their certificates for participating in the panel discussion "Creative Frontiers: IP and Insights From the Philippine Creative Industry." Image grabbed from the official Facebook page of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.

On the last day of the program, the focus was on intellectual property enforcement, commercialization, technology transfer, licensing, and career prospects in the field of IP. The participants presented their research output to a panel of experts and then attended the graduation rites and the awards-giving ceremony for the outstanding campers and teams.

Image: IP Boost Camp Group 5, Diwa at Dangal, was awarded the Best Group for their exceptional group work, research, and presentation at the 7th IP Boost Camp 2026. Image grabbed from a participant in the IP Boost Camp.

The 7th IP Boost campers were welcomed as Batch "Matatag," which embodies strength, resilience, and adaptability, reflecting the group's commitment to learning about intellectual property and advancing innovation and creativity despite an uncertain and ever-changing world. AIPO Director Dr. Proceso “Jon” Fernandez, Jr., who spoke on the first day of camp, notes that matatag "doesn’t mean rigid. It doesn’t mean stubborn. It doesn’t mean you already have it all figured out. To be matatag is to bend without breaking. To stay curious while the rules keep changing — and in this field, they change constantly."

The 7th IP Boost Camp 2026 provided Batch “Matatag” with the necessary knowledge about intellectual property that will guide them in facing the disruptive challenges ahead with wisdom, resilience, and perseverance. Using the specialized knowledge of the speakers as well as the hands-on sessions conducted during the program, the importance of intellectual property in promoting innovation, protecting ideas, and advancing the development of the country was further strengthened. With Batch “Matatag” now back in their respective schools and fields of expertise, it is up to them now to "contribute not only to the advancement of IP," as claimed by Atty. Pascua, "but also to the continued growth of the Philippines’ innovation landscape and economic development."

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If you are keen on participating in upcoming IP-related activities or have questions about IP in general, please don't hesitate to email us at aipo@ateneo.edu. To learn more about our office and our services, you may visit our website at https://aipo.ateneo.edu. You may also check out our Facebook and LinkedIn pages for the latest updates and announcements.

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