Filipino learners from Kindergarten to Grade 12 — even those without any programming background — are now eligible to join a free national AI competition that could advance them to international olympiads as early as 2027, according to a press release issued by the Ateneo de Manila University Research Communications Section on October 17, 2026.
Registration Now Open Until November 11
The International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence Philippines (IOAI PH) national selection is currently accepting registrations at ioaiph.org until November 11, 2026. The competition is organized by the Ateneo de Manila University Business Insights Laboratory for Development (Ateneo BUILD), operating under the university's John Gokongwei School of Management.
Wider Eligibility This Year
Ateneo BUILD broadened the eligibility criteria for this cycle, extending participation from the previous Grades 7–12 range to all Kindergarten through Grade 12 students born on or after July 1, 2007. Filipino citizens enrolled in schools either in the Philippines or overseas may join, and long-term foreign residents may also qualify depending on residency and schooling requirements. As of the press release date, students from over 80 public, private, science, and international schools had already completed their registration.
Opening Round Accessible via Mobile Phone
According to Ateneo BUILD, the first round — running from November 16 to 22, 2026 — requires no personal computer; a mobile phone is sufficient to complete the assessment. Participants may take the round at any point within that one-week window. The opening stage uses the IOAI EduSpace Round 1 format combined with a national multiple-choice assessment. Coding tasks only appear in later rounds. Overseas Filipino students are permitted to participate online through the semifinals stage.
Path to the National Final
The top 300 scorers from the first round will move on to the qualifiers, followed by quarterfinals and semifinals. The national final is a two-day event scheduled at Ateneo BUILD on February 20–21, 2027.
The four top-placing finalists will represent the Philippines at IOAI 2027 in Singapore, slated for July 4–10 and co-hosted by Nanyang Technological University and AI Singapore. In a separate international event, the top four non-graduating students will compete at the Asia-Pacific Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (APOAI) 2027 in Russia, scheduled April 26–30.
Philippines' Strong Showing at IOAI 2026
The new selection cycle comes on the heels of the Philippines' debut at IOAI 2026 in Astana, Kazakhstan, where all four Philippine delegates returned with medals — one silver and three bronze — competing against 466 students from 108 countries and territories, according to the press release.
Earlier that year, an eight-member Philippine team competed in the inaugural Asia-Pacific Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence, capturing one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals and finishing tied for sixth among 18 countries and territories.
Team Leader Remarks on Filipino Students' Global Competitiveness
"Last season showed that Filipino students can stand with the best in the world in AI," said Martin Gomez, Executive Director and Team Leader of IOAI PH.
Potential Benefits for University Applications
Ateneo BUILD noted that IOAI achievements may strengthen students' applications to universities abroad. Nanyang Technological University and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence are among the institutions that factor IOAI results into their undergraduate admissions processes, subject to each school's individual requirements.
Complete registration details, eligibility guidelines, and the full competition schedule are available at ioaiph.org. The deadline to register remains November 11, 2026.
Source: Ateneo de Manila University Research Communications Section