Blockchain Meets the Beat: Chain Stars Ignites Philippine Blockchain Week 2025

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Philippine Blockchain Week (PBW) 2025 transcended a typical tech conference this year, transforming Hall 2 of the SMX Convention Center Manila into a vibrant hub of talent, music, and innovation with the debut of "Chain Stars". Sponsored by Maya, a leading digital financial platform embracing Web3, Chain Stars showcased emerging Filipino performers and creators, fusing music, dance, and Web3 technology for two electrifying days.

The event wasn't merely a talent competition; it was a high-energy cultural showcase powered by creative powerhouses like the Center for Pop Music Philippines and the World Supremacy Battlegrounds (WSB). Attendees were treated to a vocal showdown featuring young singers mentored by the country's premier music training institution, performing everything from original songs to powerful pop covers. Sharing the stage was a dynamic dance battle, a PBW-exclusive edition of WSB's CHAMPIONS TOUR, which celebrated street dance with performances by soloists and hip-hop crews. The dance crews were judged by renowned figures in the hip-hop scene, including Kenjhons "Mr. Mainit" Serrano, Dize Akira, and Jancent Milante.

Photo of winners of Chain Stars’ Pocket Rocket Division, Monster Division, and Solo Division

John Paul Trelles emerged as the winner in the Solo division, impressing judges and audiences alike with his standout performance. In the Pocket Rocket division, The Comrades claimed the

top spot with their powerful and coordinated act. Rounding out the event, Ruthless Comrades dominated the Monster division, delivering an electrifying performance worthy of the title.

Group photo of Chain Stars’ Open Division Champion, OBS Fuego Eterno

OBS Fuego Eterno conquered the Open division with a commanding performance that stood out among fierce competition.

Group photo of Chain Stars’ Varsity Division Champion, The Chippettes

The Chippettes took home the victory in the Varsity division, bringing energy and flair that captivated the audience.

Photo of Indie Rising performer, CUCAY Pagdilao

Held inside PBW’s Hall 2, Chain Stars was just one part of a multi-sensory ecosystem. Hall 2 visitors also explored:

● Indie Rising: Super Tech Week Edition – a discovery platform for emerging musicians.

● Close Friends Only Creator Meet-Up & Sale – a fan-favorite hangout for content

creators and celebrities, packed with limited-edition merch and surprise appearances.

In a week packed with global keynotes and cutting-edge tech reveals, Chain Stars reminded everyone that innovation is also emotional, expressive, and rooted in community.

From pop ballads to breaking beats, Chain Stars captured the essence of what PBW 2025 stood for: creativity meets connectivity, and the future is powered by people and platforms like

Maya.

From left to right: Grand Winner John Yhel Gabonada, Second Place Winner Shedric Basilio, Third Place

Winner Aubrey Tato

Grand Winner John Yhel Gabonada wowed the crowd, securing the top spot. For his outstanding win, he received ₱10,000 in cash, a recording deal with MAS Music Group

From left to right: Photo of Chain Stars Judges: Jancent Milante, Dize Akira, Kenjhons “Mr. Mainit” Serrano, Mr. Julian Singson, Ms. Rowena Lauron

Sharing the stage with the singing competition, the Dance Battle, a PBW-exclusive edition of WSB’s CHAMPIONS TOUR, celebrated street dance with soloists and hip-hop crews and brought fire to the floor. These dance groups were judged Kenjhons “Mr. Mainit” Serrano, Dize Akira, and Jancent Milante, who are renowned in the hip-hop dance scene.

Chain Stars also seamlessly integrated technology into the performances. Selected dance crews, particularly those who represent the Philippines on a global scale, were "minted" into exclusive WSB COLLECTIBLES, giving fans a unique opportunity to own a piece of the performance through NFTs. The event also featured a Blockchain Introduction Talk, providing a beginner-friendly entry point into concepts like decentralization and tokenized economies, highlighting the event's mission to make Web3 accessible and inspiring.

The singing competition was a major highlight, shining a spotlight on exceptional homegrown talent. The top three standouts earned not only the crowd's admiration but also life-changing prizes to support their artistic journeys. Grand Winner John Yhel Gabonada impressed the audience and took home a P10,000 cash prize, a recording deal with MAS Music Group, and a 12-session scholarship in Voice & Stage Performance. Shedric Basilio, the Second Place Winner, was awarded P5,000 and a 6-session online Voice Training scholarship, while Third Place Winner Aubrey Tato received P3,000 and a 3-session online Voice Training scholarship.

The CHAMPIONS TOUR dance competition also drew large crowds with five divisions: Solo, Pocket Rocket, Varsity, Open, and Monster. The Chippettes were crowned champions in the Varsity division , while OBS Fuego Eterno conquered the Open division with a commanding performance. The Solo division winner was John Paul Trelles , The Comrades took the top spot in the Pocket Rocket division , and Ruthless Comrades dominated the Monster division.

Chain Stars was just one part of the multi-sensory ecosystem in Hall 2. Visitors could also experience "Indie Rising: Super Tech Week Edition," a platform for discovering emerging musicians, and the "Close Friends Only Creator Meet-Up & Sale," a fan-favorite hangout for content creators and celebrities featuring limited-edition merchandise and surprise appearances. Amidst a week of global keynotes and cutting-edge tech, Chain Stars served as a powerful reminder that innovation is also emotional, expressive, and deeply rooted in community. The event truly captured the essence of PBW 2025: where creativity meets connectivity, and the future is powered by people and platforms like Maya.

Cover photo: Chain Stars contestants from both dance and singing divisions come together for an epic photo op with the competition's judges.

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