BukSU IT student takes part in Hack4Gov 2025 National Finals

A Bukidnon State University (BukSU) student completed time-sensitive cybersecurity challenges in web exploitation, forensics, and reverse engineering during the Hack4Gov 2025 National Finals on December 9.

Aubie Bryne Hallazgo, a BukSU Information Technology student, took part in the national competition organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Hallazgo competed as a member of Team DotStar, a mixed wildcard team composed of individual performers from different institutions.

The National Finals were held at the Sequoia Hotel Manila Bay and brought together 20 cybersecurity teams from colleges and state universities nationwide. All finalists advanced after completing regional qualifying rounds.

Team DotStar placed 10th in the national rankings following the final round of competition.

“Hallazgo’s participation highlighted BukSU’s growing presence in national cybersecurity competitions, showing that its students can stand alongside top performers from larger institutions,” the BukSU IT Department shared online following the event.

Hack4Gov 2025 used a Capture-the-Flag (CTF) format designed to simulate cyber threats faced by government agencies. Participants addressed complex scenarios under strict time limits and worked on tasks requiring secure and practical solutions.

Students were evaluated on technical execution, analytical thinking, and their ability to complete time-critical tasks across multiple cybersecurity domains.

The BukSU IT Department added, “The event reinforced the importance of cybersecurity readiness and showcased how young talents can contribute to future digital defense efforts. For BukSU, the result serves as motivation to continue developing students’ skills in cybersecurity, ethical hacking, and emerging technologies.”

“The DICT’s Hack4Gov program continues to be a crucial platform for discovering and nurturing the next generation of ethical hackers and cybersecurity experts, ensuring a robust and secure digital future for the Philippine government and its citizens,” DICT posted online. (Joseph L. Abella/ IT Faculty member)