USM BPEd Students to Represent USM at International Conference in Seoul, Korea
December 1, 2025
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science students from the University of Southern Mindanao brought home awards from the HackforGov Regional Competition 2025. The event was hosted by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Region XII through its Cybersecurity Team and was held on November 25–26, 2025, at Dreamweavers Hotel in Koronadal City, South Cotabato.
The students took on difficult challenges that tested their patience, creativity, and technical skills. It was an intense contest where they had to think fast, solve problems, and show what they knew about cybersecurity.
The following are the winning teams from USM:
Team Pwndec0c0 (1st Runner Up)
Louel John Ines
Neil Humprey Licatan
Tommie Tabol
Russel Jhon Buisan
Team C0OK!3M0N$T3R$ (2nd Runner Up)
Don Ricardo Peralta
Rachel Joy Pacot
Anjuvh Baldwin Yguinto
Lloyd Rainier Vitudio
Excellence Awardees
1st – Louel John Ines
3rd – Anjuvh Baldwin Yguinto
4th – Rachel Joy Pacot
Joining these students during the competition were their coach, Prof. Eugene G. Ranjo, Prof. Ralph Butch Garidan, and Prof. Ryan Gonzaga. The students were also recognized during the USM Monday Convocation on December 1, 2025.
The competition was organized to help strengthen students’ awareness and skills in cybersecurity. It also aimed to prepare them for future job opportunities and encourage more students to become cybersecurity professionals after they graduate.
