PH Delegates Conquer at Global Trend Micro Hackathon 2023

163 Filipino delegates from Trend Micro Philippines represented the country recently at the global Trend Micro AI Hackathon that took place in Fukuoka, Japan. With a contingent that outnumbered participants from the US, Australia, Brazil, and 16 other countries, these Filipino engineers were set to dominate the competition. From over 1,348 finalists, 2 teams from the Philippine delegation came out in the Top 5, placing 4th & 5th, showcasing the talents and skills of the local cybersecurity industry.

Threat and Data Science Research Manager and PH Lead for AI Contest, Manuel Gatbunton shares, “Even with their individual projects and tasks at work, we are very proud of these engineers that still took on the challenge and represented the Philippines on an international stage. They truly embody Trend Micro’s motto of being ‘Engineered To Do Good,’ utilizing their skills and expertise to not only establish the Philippines as a key player in AI-powered cybersecurity but to also lend their knowledge and expertise to continuously improve our security solutions and better fight against cybercrime.”

The Filipino delegation was composed of engineers from various backgrounds from all over the country, and members of the winning teams included graduates from private and state-funded universities like PUP Manila, Saint Louis University, and Divine World College of Legazpi. Apart from the support of Trend Micro Philippines, it was through the initiative and drive of these engineers that they were able to excel and ultimately conquer the other teams at the hackathon.

The global AI Hackathon is an initiative of Trend Micro born out of the need to further enhance understanding and expertise in AI technology. As a pioneer in the use of AI and machine learning for cybersecurity, the company aims to further challenge its employees by allowing Trenders to showcase their creativity in a fun and engaging competition, while also inspiring innovation in the use of AI technology.

Poi Jimenez, Trend Micro Philippines’ Digital Technology Marketing Manager shares, “Trend Micro will continue to explore AI and work on skills-building initiatives for Trenders and the public alike. The AI Hackathon is only the beginning of many more initiatives for Trend Micro Philippines to further claim the lead on the integration of AI technology in cybersecurity.” The AI Hackathon is only one of the many exciting initiatives Trend Micro holds to continuously engage and upskill its workforce among others that are also centered on honing and developing the skills, talents, and interests of its employees.