CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A mobile app developed in Mindanao to help non-verbal children communicate is gaining international attention after representing the island at a major technology expo in Hong Kong.
Iligan City-based startup Pic-A-Talk was the only Mindanao representative among six Philippine innovations showcased at the inaugural LEAP East Hong Kong 2026, where local startups pitched their technologies to global investors, technology firms and innovation leaders.
For families of children with speech and language disorders, the recognition signals growing global interest in homegrown solutions designed to improve everyday communication.
Supported by the Department of Science and Technology-Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) through its SPICE Program, Pic-A-Talk showcased its Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) mobile application, which helps non-verbal children express their needs with just a tap on a screen.
The app is designed for children with conditions such as autism, speech apraxia, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.
Using a simple, child-friendly interface, users tap pictures that instantly play corresponding words through audio. The app includes categories for daily routines, clothing, numbers and personal care, making it easier for children to communicate with parents, teachers and caregivers.
To encourage more meaningful conversations, the app now includes a sentence-building feature that allows children to combine words and express more complex thoughts.
Parents can also personalize the experience by uploading family photos, custom words or cartoon icons that reflect their child's daily environment.
Pic-A-Talk's participation in the international expo placed Mindanao's growing innovation sector before potential investors and research partners, opening opportunities to expand the technology beyond the Philippines.
The Philippine delegation also featured startups from Luzon and the Visayas, including KoolGear, PasaJob, CirPro Innovations, Fullmight Corp., and I-COUNT, recipient of the DOST-TAPI NICE 2026 Sibol Award.
Philippine Consul General to Hong Kong Romulo Victor Israel Jr. said international events like LEAP East help connect Filipino innovators with global companies and investors.
"This is a platform where we can interact with international companies and explore opportunities for our country to develop the innovation industry in the Philippines and to invite more investors," Israel said.
For Pic-A-Talk, the expo was more than a business opportunity. It demonstrated that a digital solution developed in Mindanao can compete on the global stage while addressing a real need for children and families who rely on assistive communication every day. (Dave Achondo, Editorial Assistant)
