NEWS UPDATE | DICT-led talent search delivers Cyber SEA Game title for Philippines
The Philippine team’s victory followed a talent search conducted through regional competitions organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which identified participants from different parts of the country.
Four young Filipino c specialists from schools in Luzon and Mindanao won the 2026 Cyber SEA Game, defeating teams from other Southeast Asian countries in a regional competition whose results were announced in Bangkok on Oct. 27.
Singapore finished as first runner-up, followed by Malaysia in second place. The competition challenges students and young engineers to solve technical problems through a Capture the Flag format covering different cybersecurity disciplines.
The Philippine team’s victory followed a talent search conducted through regional competitions organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which identified participants from different parts of the country.
The winning team consists of Audre D. Montero of the University of the Cordilleras in Baguio City, Justin Clark H. Ong of Asia Pacific College in Makati City, Jiandale Ambal of Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology and Glenn Castillejo of the University of Perpetual Help in Cauayan, Isabela. They were accompanied by Rhean Joy B. Acupido, assistant school director of the University of Perpetual Help System in Cauayan.
From election monitoring to cybersecurity competition
Ong’s experience in civic technology provided one example of how students can gain practical exposure before entering the cybersecurity profession. As a recent graduate of Asia Pacific College, he was among the students who developed data analytics tools and dashboards for the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) during the 2025 national and local elections.
Angel S. Averia Jr., NAMFREL national chairperson and president of the Philippine Computer Emergency Response Team (PhCERT), said the win showed that cybersecurity talent could be found beyond Metro Manila.
“This victory proves that our country has young, rising talent in cybersecurity, and not only in Metro Manila but in Baguio, Isabela, and Mindanao,” Averia said.
He said protecting critical systems and personal information requires more than laws and technology, pointing to the importance of skilled people who can defend digital infrastructure and maintain public trust.
PhCERT, the National Association of Data Protection Officers of the Philippines and NAMFREL partner with academic institutions to give students practical problems to solve, Averia said.
He also urged government agencies to support state universities and colleges, as well as private schools, in building the country’s cybersecurity workforce.
ASEAN competition builds regional capacity
The Cyber SEA Game is organized by the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre with support from the Japanese government. Beyond identifying a winning team, the event aims to develop cybersecurity capabilities and encourage cooperation among young professionals across ASEAN.
The results were announced during a reception for the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Policy Meeting at the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park.
The event also preceded a series of meetings organized by the ASEAN Japan Cybersecurity Community Alliance, a regional network bringing together cybersecurity communities from ASEAN member states and Japan. The alliance scheduled its board meeting and annual general meeting for Oct. 28, followed by its third conference on Oct. 29.
The result highlights the value of developing technical talent through regional competitions, university partnerships and opportunities to work on real-world problems. Sustained support for these pathways will be important as cybersecurity demands grow across public services, businesses and democratic institutions.
Full disclosure: All news articles published on the TechSabado website are written by human journalists, unless otherwise specified. Final text editing is also performed by human editors, with artificial intelligence (AI) used only to assist with additional grammar and style guide corrections..
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