On July 30, 2024, Assumption College of Davao participated in the HackForGov 2024 Capture-the-Flag Competition at the Pinnacle Hotel and Suites, Sta. Ana St., Davao City. The competition served as the regional qualifying round for the 10 teams from different colleges and universities in the Davao Region. The winner will represent the region in the national competition.
The college was represented by team K4smala, which is comprised of four 4th-year Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) students: Russel Paul Tepino, Jancil Joy Amores, Alexis Joseph Yoj Bacaltos, and Mojahed Ali.
After 8 hours of challenges to catch as many flags as possible, Ateneo de Davao University defended its title as champions, with the University of Southeastern Philippines and the University of Mindanao-Matina Campus bagging the first runner-up and second runner-up titles, respectively.
On the other hand, it is worth noting that Assumption College of Davao, despite being a first-time participant in the said competition, placed 6th among all the teams. This is a great achievement for the school and the team, as they faced many hindrances and limitations in terms of experience and resources.
“At first, we were like deer in headlights—no clue what to do and worried we’d end up with a big fat zero on the scoreboard… And guess what? Our score wasn’t just 10 points; it was a whopping 1120 points! It just goes to show that with a positive attitude, teamwork, and a willingness to learn on the fly, you can surprise yourself,” shared Tepino, the team’s leader, as he reflected on their experience in the competition. “Sometimes, all you need is determination, a dash of creativity, and a sprinkle of luck to achieve the unexpected,” he added.
The team hoped that their experience and story would inspire fellow BSIT students to confidently take the challenge, catch the flag, and wave the school’s name.
