By Willa Obial
Cebu Institute of Technology – University, the home of topnotchers and first placers, topped again as Team Shane-nanigans brought home the championship title with their project LUWAS, competing against 240 teams across 9 ASEAN countries, representing CIT-U and the Philippines. This feat goes down in history as the first ASEAN AI Hackathon Champion. For them, Vietnam was not a choice, nor was it for fate — it was through willpower, collective effort, support, and true mettle that brought them there.
Team Shane-nanigans is composed of four Computer Science students: Lovely Shane P. Ong, Jervin Ryle I. Milleza, Sydney B. Galorio, and James O. Ewican; and one Business Administration student: Jireh C. Cañedo, with ma’am Catherine Arellano as their coach. With four in STEM and one in business, disproportion is expected, but according to Jireh, the shyness dissipated over time as everything was just smooth with them.
He recalled the day Jevin, his childhood friend and the team’s development lead, messaged him out of the blue, saying, “…Do you want to go to Vietnam?”
He did not ask if he wanted to be in the team, nor if he was interested in joining a competition — it was Vietnam — immediately, no introduction and segues; that was the mindset.
With that etched in mind and the team’s undeniable chemistry that built up after four months of development time, Lovely believed it was one of the factors that defined this win.
She then told the wheel-of-fortune story that decided her fate as a leader, “…It just so happens that my name was the one picked by the wheel [and] I accepted that challenge… So yes, let’s go to Vietnam!” Facing the challenge head on, bringing her charm to the team, and humoring: “Cooperative sila, wala nagpabuyag,” when asked about how the rest were like as members.
Their project, LUWAS, is a humanitarian aid software that allows tracking of the NGOs and LGUs to help through the secluded or affected communities during a natural disaster. This idea sprung from the team’s lived experiences as relief operation volunteers during one of Cebu’s devastating times during 2025, where the province experienced three calamities all in a span of five weeks. With their expertise in computer science and business, this tiny seed of an idea planted several months ago has come to fruition, potentially helping thousands of Filipinos during calamities.
“We’ve been expecting talks with NGOs and the LGU, most especially the mayor of Cebu City. It is possible that with [him], we can implement this system so NGOs and other volunteers will be able to coordinate their efforts during disasters…” James stated in the interview.
They expressed that experience being the differentiator on how their project was able to reach Vietnam.
If the airplane ride had been smooth flying all the way to Vietnam, it was surely not the same before that. Being a student is already hard, but being a student and juggling all other responsibilities whilst preparing for a competition on an international stage is a hundredfold harder. They knew they had to keep pushing, and no one else understood the pressure they were carrying but themselves; “Kaya ra lagi ni nato,” they said, motivating each other. Jervin also talked about the pressure they carried coming into Vietnam, “CIT-U paid for all expenses, and there is this thought that if we bring home holding nothing? Would they be wasting their money on us?” Doubt, worry, and fear rest on their shoulders throughout the journey, but with their family, friends, the Teknoy community, and loved ones by their sides, this feat was made possible.
They may not have helped in identifying code errors, settling team conflicts, resolving system bugs, or making hefty decisions — they helped in uplifting them during the times where they did not think they would make it.
Through external factors, motivation and inspiration is obtained. But in the end, it is within one’s volition to take action and incite change.
“… Take that leap of faith. Do it scared.” — Sydney’s advice to students in their endeavors.
James added, “Do something you are passionate about because even when you are tired, you will still [have the courage] to do it.”
In life, doing it scared is just as brave, and that every lesson is a win, whether it may be from losing.
Team Shane-nanigans’ win substantiates how taking the first step is the catalyst of a domino effect in life. Who knows? A formal classroom project discussion or a casual brainstorming session at a cafe with friends can bring you to a whole new country, compete on an international stage, and stand amongst top universities across the globe.
Winning does not come easy — it comes with discipline, hardwork, consistency, and a mindset that you can win.
As more teams with innovations like Team Shane-nanigans get recognized, we might just be a few steps away from a society where AI does not only take away, but also gives and creates solutions that will reconstruct what the past has broken, build the world today, and solidify the foundations of the future.
