We demonstrated that RTP can be activated so long as the host and guest can engage in a hydrogen bonded network. By embedding 4,4',4''-nitrilotribenzoic acid (TPA-CO2H) into host matrices that could hydrogen bond with it, high-efficiency blue RTP is achieved. The phosphorescence quantum yield and lifetime (FPh and tPh) are 52% and 275 ms, respectively, in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). RTP was enabled using boric acid as a matrix, where the RTP was enhanced following heat treatment evidenced by the 14-fold and 2-fold enhancement of the FPh and tPh, respectively. This suggests that most of the RTP enhancement after annealing results from suppressing non-radiative decay. RTP was triggered also in using commercial granulated sugar, edible gelatine, and printer paper as matrices, where tin each case the same high-efficiency blue RTP was recorded. Besides, we demonstrated its use in a number of applications, including after-glowing origami, soundless information communication, photo-printing, information encryption, and path tracking. We further demonstrated that other color afterglow could be achieved as a result of energy transfer between TPA-CO2H and Rhodamine 6G as a co-guest. This work elucidates that hydrogen bonding can serve as a general tool for activating efficient blue RTP without red-shifting the monomolecular phosphorescence compared to conventional host-guest phosphorescent systems where the RTP originates from some sort of exciplex or aggregate.