NBSC AND CAMPUS DEVCON: TRANSFORMING THE DIGITAL DARK ARTS INTO TRAINING TOMORROW’S DIGITAL DEFENDERS
Northern Bukidnon State College (NBSC) hosted the much-awaited Campus DEVCON: Transforming the Digital Dark Arts on October 16–17, 2025, at the Student Welfare and Development Center (SWDC). The two-day event brought together students, faculty members, and cybersecurity professionals eager to explore emerging challenges and innovations in digital security.
The conference opened early on October 16 with participant registration at 7:00 a.m., followed by a welcome address from Dr. Christie Jean Villanueva-Ganiera, CESE, SUC President I, whose inspiring message set an optimistic tone for the sessions ahead. Dr. Jovelyn G. Delosa, Vice President for Academic Affairs, also delivered her welcome remarks, emphasizing NBSC’s continued commitment to digital competency and responsible technology use.
The keynote presentation, “Tech for Good: Strengthening Communities the DEVCON Bukidnon Way,” was delivered by Ms. Glyrhiz Marhiel A. Tabamo, MSIT, President of DEVCON Bukidnon and a faculty member of the College of Information Sciences and Computing at Central Mindanao University (CMU). She highlighted several community-based initiatives that have harnessed technology to create positive social impact across Bukidnon.
The first speaker, Engr. Mark Ian Mendrez, Project Development Officer II and Manager of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Digital Transformation Center in Bukidnon, presented “Transforming the Digital Dark Arts: From Threats to Defense,” exploring the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape and the corresponding defense mechanisms. After a midday break, the afternoon sessions continued with Ms. Najidah E. Aliasgar, Planning Assistant at DICT, who discussed the “Evolution of Cyber Threats and Attack Vectors (Malware, Phishing, AI-based Attacks).”
The final lecture of the day was delivered by Mr. John D. Tajones, Assistant Vice-President for Internal Affairs at DEVCON Bukidnon and Dean of the College of Information Sciences and Computing at CMU. His talk, “The Future of Cybersecurity: Skills and Ethics for the Next Generation,” emphasized the critical need to balance technical expertise with ethical responsibility as the cybersecurity field evolves.
An open forum concluded the day’s activities, providing a platform for participants to interact directly with all speakers, exchange ideas, and clarify concepts.
On October 17, a concise recap of the previous day’s discussions was presented, succeeded by an energizing icebreaker activity designed to encourage interaction. Mr. Aivan John Canadilla, a teacher from the Division of Valencia City and a DEVCON Bukidnon Member, then delivered a compelling presentation titled “Major Security Breaches (Lessons Learned for Academia & Industry).”
The program transitioned smoothly into a two-part workshop on Cyber Hygiene for Individuals and Families, expertly led by Ms. Keren Happuch Lacadin, Vice-President for External Affairs at DEVCON Bukidnon and APAC Cybersecurity Fund (The Asia Foundation) Facilitator. This workshop is spearheaded by the APAC Cybersecurity Fund—The Asia Foundation and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Human Resources Development Foundation (PCCI HRDF) in partnership with the Cyberspace Institute, Global Cyber Alliance, with support from Google.org. The workshop represents the pilot run in Bukidnon through the collaboration between NBSC and DEVCON Bukidnon.
Supporting the two-day Campus DEVCON activity were other key DEVCON Bukidnon members: Mr. James Paulite, Ms. Demie More Terig, Mr. Raymund Santosidad, and Ms. Dessa Mae Maglangit who worked alongside the team to ensure a successful event.
Following the workshop, the event concluded with closing remarks from Ms. Shiela Mae M. Orozco, MIT, Head of the Institute of Computer Studies (ICS), who expressed gratitude for the support that helped bring the event to fruition.
NBSC is dedicated to equipping its community with the knowledge and skills necessary to address emerging cybersecurity challenges. By hosting initiatives like Campus DEVCON, NBSC reinforces its role in preparing students to responsibly manage the complexities of digital security in both academic and professional settings.
