Asia Pacific College (APC) celebrates a monumental triumph as its student team, “Akira: Requiem,” emerged as the undisputed champions of the Hack4Gov National Competition. The intense showdown took place on December 9, 2025, at the Sequoia Hotel Manila Bay in Parañaque City—the same battleground where history was made the previous year.
The Nationals represented the pinnacle of collegiate cybersecurity talent in the Philippines, featuring a formidable roster of champions from all 16 regions of the archipelago, alongside four elite “Wild Card” teams composed of top performers from across the country.
The path to victory was anything but guaranteed. In a grueling test of skill and resilience, the competition saw dramatic shifts in momentum. Akira: Requiem initially secured a foothold in 3rd place at the start of the event. Displaying early dominance, they surged to 1st place within the first hour, only to face a severe setback after the midday break, plummeting to 5th place.
Undeterred, the team composed of Justin Clark Ong (Team Leader), Edwin Gumba, Angelo John Benedict Laus, and Jhon Lloyd Nicolas rallied in the afternoon. With fierce determination, they climbed back to 2nd place, trailing the leaders by a daunting 200 points. In a nail-biting finish that tested their technical mastery to the limit, Akira: Requiem overtook their rivals in the final moments, clinching the championship title by a decisive 75-point margin.
This hard-fought victory earns the team the prestigious opportunity to compete at next year’s Rootcon, the largest and most revered hacker conference in the Philippines.
Adding to the team’s glory, Team Leader Justin Clark Ong was once again hailed as the competition’s top performer. His exceptional prowess earned him the coveted Rootcon badge—one of the highest honors in the local cybersecurity community, solidifying his status as an elite talent in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions.
This national championship underscores APC’s commitment to producing world-class professionals capable of thriving under the most intense pressures. The resilience and brilliance displayed by Akira: Requiem serve as a powerful inspiration to the entire APC community and a bold statement of the institution’s excellence in the field of cybersecurity.
The Nationals represented the pinnacle of collegiate cybersecurity talent in the Philippines, featuring a formidable roster of champions from all 16 regions of the archipelago, alongside four elite “Wild Card” teams composed of top performers from across the country.
The path to victory was anything but guaranteed. In a grueling test of skill and resilience, the competition saw dramatic shifts in momentum. Akira: Requiem initially secured a foothold in 3rd place at the start of the event. Displaying early dominance, they surged to 1st place within the first hour, only to face a severe setback after the midday break, plummeting to 5th place.
Undeterred, the team composed of Justin Clark Ong (Team Leader), Edwin Gumba, Angelo John Benedict Laus, and Jhon Lloyd Nicolas rallied in the afternoon. With fierce determination, they climbed back to 2nd place, trailing the leaders by a daunting 200 points. In a nail-biting finish that tested their technical mastery to the limit, Akira: Requiem overtook their rivals in the final moments, clinching the championship title by a decisive 75-point margin.
This hard-fought victory earns the team the prestigious opportunity to compete at next year’s Rootcon, the largest and most revered hacker conference in the Philippines.
Adding to the team’s glory, Team Leader Justin Clark Ong was once again hailed as the competition’s top performer. His exceptional prowess earned him the coveted Rootcon badge—one of the highest honors in the local cybersecurity community, solidifying his status as an elite talent in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions.
This national championship underscores APC’s commitment to producing world-class professionals capable of thriving under the most intense pressures. The resilience and brilliance displayed by Akira: Requiem serve as a powerful inspiration to the entire APC community and a bold statement of the institution’s excellence in the field of cybersecurity.
