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On January 16, 2026, Holy Angel University hosted the Cisco Regional Student Congress at the PGN Auditorium, bringing together students, educators, and industry professionals for a full day of discussions on networking, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence under the theme “Future-Proofing Networking Skills in the Philippines in the Age of AI.”

The program opened with welcome remarks from Mr. Leopoldo Jaime N. Valdes, President of Holy Angel University, followed by keynote addresses from Mr. Macky Macaspac, Business Development Manager of Cisco Networking Academy, and Ms. Marcella O’Shea, Cisco APJ Regional Manager for Corporate Affairs. Their talks emphasized the growing influence of artificial intelligence on networking education and industry skill development.

A series of technical sessions followed, led by industry practitioners and experts. Mr. Dennis Paul Nino S. Sanchez, CEO of Dauntless Strategies and Solutions, discussed the impact of AI-powered network security and the increasing prevalence of AI-driven cyberattacks. Ms. Princess Ann P. Jimeno, Business Development Manager of Nokia Solutions and Networks, presented on prompt engineering for automation and its role in improving operational efficiency. Mr. Carlo Vazquez, Cisco Partner Systems Engineer from Ardent Networks Inc., shared insights on unmanned aerial systems and their integration with modern network infrastructures.

Afternoon sessions continued with Mr. Kim Bryan Pesca, Cisco Solutions Engineer, who presented on router reasoning and smart infrastructure, demonstrating the potential of AI-assisted networking systems. Mr. Mark Yumul, IT Infrastructure Project Engineer of Reboot Inc., highlighted the importance of adaptability and continuous upskilling for an AI-driven workforce, while Mr. Kirby Lyle D. Salonga, Cisco Solutions Engineer, concluded the technical discussions with a session on ethical and sustainable AI networks, emphasizing responsible AI use in the Philippine context.

One of the highlights of the congress was the Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions, which provided participants with a hands-on and gamified learning experience. In the CCNA CTF, First City Providential College – FCPC Cipher Crew emerged as champion, followed by Wesleyan University Philippines – NetForce as first runner-up and Bulacan State University – Main Campus – f0xbyte as second runner-up. The Ethical Hacking CTF was won by City College of Angeles – Exploit Unit, with Bulacan State University – Main Campus – f0xbyte placing first runner-up and Mabalacat City College – Crimson ByteBusters securing second runner-up.

The event was organized through the coordinated efforts of the School of Computing under Dr. Marlon I. Tayag, with support from SOC faculty members and laboratory technicians who facilitated the technical sessions and competitions. Student organizations including Cyberfoxes and the Cybersecurity Intelligence Alliance (CSIA) assisted in event coordination and on-ground support. Access Point, the official student press organization, provided comprehensive media coverage and documentation of the congress throughout the day. The event was conducted in partnership with the Cisco Networking Academy, with participation from multiple Cisco Networking Academy institutions, including Holy Angel University’s School of Computing and School of Engineering and Architecture, represented as separate academies.

The Cisco Regional Student Congress concluded as a platform for collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange, reinforcing the importance of preparing future-ready networking and cybersecurity professionals in the age of artificial intelligence.

by Calvin Ochoco