MANILA, Philippines—Team Philippines made history after capturing one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals to finish tied for sixth overall in the inaugural Asia-Pacific Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (APOAI 2026), showcasing the country’s growing pool of young talent in one of the world’s fastest-evolving fields.

Competing against more than 100 of the region’s brightest secondary school students from 18 countries and territories, the eight-member Philippine delegation delivered one of the country’s strongest performances in an international artificial intelligence competition.

The six-hour Olympiad was held on June 27 under strict international standards and hosted at the Ateneo Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD) of the John Gokongwei School of Management at Ateneo de Manila University. Contestants tackled complex problems in machine learning, mathematical modeling, and algorithmic problem-solving.

To ensure fairness, all participating countries competed simultaneously under live online monitoring coordinated by the IOAI China Organizing Committee. Every contestant also used the same cloud-based high-performance AI computing environment, guaranteeing equal access to computing resources regardless of location.

Leading the Philippine contingent was Noe Nathan Y. Arreza of Philippine Science High School–CALABARZON Campus, who finished eighth overall and earned the country’s lone gold medal.

Troy Dylan T. Serapio of Philippine Science High School–Main Campus captured the silver medal after placing 23rd overall.

The country’s two bronze medals went to Daphne Eunice U. Acena of De La Salle University Dasmariñas High School, who ranked 42nd, and Jhareign S. Solidum of the University of Mindanao Ilang High School, who placed 52nd.

Meanwhile, Ryan James L. Alfaro of Philippine Science High School–CALABARZON Campus and Sean Marcus N. Castillo of Philippine Science High School–Central Luzon Campus both received Honourable Mentions, finishing 88th and 95th, respectively.

Completing Team Philippines were Ellison Matthew S. Ang of Philippine Science High School–Main Campus, who placed 101st, and Aretha Cai Faustine M. Sy of **St. Scholastica’s Academy of Marikina, who finished 114th.

The national delegation was assembled through a rigorous merit-based selection process conducted by the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence Philippines (IOAI PH). Organizers emphasized that participation in the national program is offered free of charge, ensuring that selection is based solely on talent, preparation, and performance rather than financial capacity.

“This historic performance establishes a powerful baseline for the country,” said Martin Gomez, Executive Director of IOAI PH.

“This result belongs to far more than the students who sat the exam. It is a testament to the coaches who trained this team, the local staff who maintained competition integrity, and the families, schools, and communities who championed these students every step of the way.”

The achievement marks a significant milestone for the Philippines as artificial intelligence increasingly transforms industries, scientific research, education, and everyday life. Education leaders said the strong showing demonstrates that Filipino students can compete with the region’s best in advanced technologies when given access to quality training and opportunities.

The Philippine participation in APOAI 2026 received local support from Joy-Nostalg, Times Paint Corporation, and the Tiu Family, while testing operations were hosted by Ateneo BUILD. The international Olympiad was backed globally by Taobao of Alibaba Group, Jane Street, and DP Technology.

With a gold medal, four overall podium finishes, and a top-six regional ranking, Team Philippines has laid a strong foundation for future international competitions, underscoring the country’s rising potential in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.