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The Pampanga Interactive and Creative Conference (PICCON) 2026 officially commenced at the SFJ Theatre of Holy Angel University on February 20, where students from different campuses across Pampanga are invited to learn from industry experts. 

With the theme “Flavorful Blends: Incorporating Creativity in Careers and Beyond,” this year’s PICCON was led by the students from the Bachelor of Science in Entertainment and Multimedia Computing (BS EMC) and organized by the School of Computing EMC Faculty in collaboration with Multimedia Afficionados for Interested Artists (MAFIA). 

The conference featured a series of talks from industry professionals, including Daniel Enriquez, Executive Director of the Animation Council of the Philippines Inc.; Arnold Capili, Animation Director at Top Draw Animation Studios, known for his work on projects such as My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie, and Carmen Sandiego; and Francine Martinez, a 2D game artist, project manager of RLUX Studio, and an EMC alumna.

The speakers shared valuable insights on real industry experiences with topics such as “Future Career Pathways for Animation Thru Education and Training” by Daniel Enriquez. The second speaker, Arnold Capili, talked about staying relevant in the evolving animation industry, where they even showcased Filipino-made animated films, local and international. While Francine Martinez, the last speaker, discussed navigating life after graduation and building sustainable careers in the creative industry. The talks would later have a question and answer portion.

Besides the talks, students were given the opportunity to present their works. Third-year EMC students had their artwork exhibition at the SFJ lobby that they prepared themselves, and there was also art present from the invited campuses.

Among the participating schools present at the conference were Angeles City Senior High School, Angeles City National Trade School-Senior High School, Don Jesus Gonzales High School, Gordon College, Claro M. Recto ICT High School, Mabalacat City College, La Verdad Christian College, Diosdado Macapagal Memorial High School, and Information Communication Technology High School.

There were also booths from some of the event’s sponsors present, such as the North and Central Luzon ESports’ (NCLE) interactive game and trivia booth, Lofty Lens’ Photobooth, and Wacom’s free testing of their tablets, as well as a raffle draw where participants could win items ranging from mouses to Wacom tablets.

This year’s PICCON was particularly significant as it serves as their milestone event following the 20th year of the School of Computing, marking two decades of innovation, growth, and contributions to the creative and technological landscape in Pampanga. 

By Angelica Sabay