Building trust through code

At 23, Gelo Wong is using blockchain technology to help make government systems more transparent and accountable

- JESSICA PAG-IWAYAN

VISIONARIES (from left) Gelo Wong, Senator Bam Aquino, Andrea Guevarra, Raph Sevilla, and Alfred Quiambao of BayaniChain Tech Inc.

Technology continues to reshape everyday life, from how people communicate to how businesses operate. For young entrepreneur Gelo Wong, however, technology holds a deeper purpose. He believes it can help rebuild public trust in government at a time when issues of corruption and inefficiency continue to challenge public institutions.

At just 23, Gelo is the chief growth officer of BayaniChain Tech Inc., a Filipino blockchain company that builds digital infrastructure for government agencies and private organizations. A graduate of the University of Asia and the Pacific with a degree in Entrepreneurial Management, he has already worked with GCash and several government offices early in his career. One of BayaniChain’s most notable projects, the DBM Blockchain System, was cited in the Senate’s “Blockchain the Budget” Bill (SBN 1330) filed by Senator Bam Aquino. The project also led to Gelo being invited as a resource speaker at the Senate’s first-ever hearing on blockchain technology.

Behind the technical achievements is a story shaped by discipline, adaptability, and a strong sense of purpose.

Gelo grew up in a family of traditional entrepreneurs. His parents ran businesses in food and beverage and trading, ventures that depended on physical stores, suppliers, and long working hours. From an early age, he learned that money was earned, not handed out.