BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA — Saint Mary’s University (SMU) competed at the national stage as part of Team Region II – Cagayan Valley in the Cybersecurity Area of WorldSkills Philippines Clark 2026, held at the Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. The three-day competition took place from September 8 to 10, bringing together competitors from various regions of the country to demonstrate their technical skills.

               Marian competitors were BSIT-4 students Mr. Zarmin Joshua C. Espinosa and Mr. John Paul C. Dres, with Mrs. Essel T. Cañaberal serving as their expert. The competitors demonstrated their skills through a series of industry-relevant cybersecurity challenges.

               The competition featured three major challenges: Vulnerability Assessment, which focused on identifying weaknesses in virtual machines; Blue Teaming, which involved strengthening network and system security through proper configurations, Group Policies, and Secure Shell (SSH) hardening for secure remote access; and a Mini Capture the Flag (CTF) challenge that tested digital network forensics and network traffic analysis.

               The SMU representatives competed against participants from CAR, NCR, NIR, Region III, Region IV-A, Region VI, and Region VIII.

               The event officially opened on September 7, 2026, at the SMX Convention Center, Clark, Mabalacat City, Pampanga. During the opening ceremony, TESDA Secretary Jose Francisco “Kiko” B. Benitez encouraged competitors to believe in their abilities and showcase the excellence of Filipino technical-vocational skills. He reminded them, “When we compete, we blur the line between the possible and the impossible!” and urged them to “go for gold.”

               The SMU delegation’s participation was supported by the TESDA National , Regional, Provincial offices through Equivalency and Technical-Vocational Assessment Office (ETVAO), headed by Mrs. Gayle R. Mercado, MPA, MBA which facilitated the necessary coordination and institutional assistance for the students’ participation in the national competition.

               TESDA Provincial Office of Nueva Vizcaya, under the leadership of Provincial Director Ben-Hur B. Baniqued, facilitates its continued assistance to the SMU competitors, expert, and Team Region II delegation.

               The WorldSkills experience demonstrated SMU students’ readiness to apply their technical skills in real-world settings. Through practical challenges, they showcased competence, excellence, and a commitment to meaningful service, putting SMU’s mission into action and reflecting the University’s commitment to developing skilled, capable, and service-oriented graduates.

#galingSMU

#InspiredbyMissionDrivenbyExcellence

#SaTESDAKayangKaya

#WorldSkillsPHClark2026