Filipino students from Kindergarten through Grade 12 can now register for a free national artificial intelligence competition that could send them to international olympiads in 2027, with no programming experience or personal computer required for the opening round, according to a press release issued by the Ateneo de Manila University Research Communications Section on October 17, 2026.
Registration for the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence Philippines (IOAI PH) national selection is open until November 11, 2026, at ioaiph.org. The program is hosted by the Ateneo de Manila University Business Insights Laboratory for Development (Ateneo BUILD), under the John Gokongwei School of Management.
Who Can Join the IOAI PH National Selection
Ateneo BUILD expanded eligibility this year from the previous Grades 7–12 bracket to all Kindergarten–Grade 12 students born on or after July 1, 2007. Filipino citizens enrolled in schools in the Philippines or abroad are eligible to participate. Long-term foreign residents may also qualify, subject to residency and schooling requirements.
As of the press release date, students from more than 80 public, private, science, and international schools had already registered for the competition.
First Round Requires Only a Mobile Phone
The first round will run from November 16 to 22, 2026, and can be taken at any time during that window. According to Ateneo BUILD, no computer is needed for this stage — participants can complete the assessment using a mobile phone.
The opening round combines the IOAI EduSpace Round 1 format with a national multiple-choice assessment. Coding tasks are introduced only in later stages of the competition. Overseas Filipino students may participate online through the semifinals.
Competition Stages Leading to the National Final
The top 300 participants from the first round will advance to the qualifiers, followed by quarterfinals and semifinals. A two-day national final is scheduled at Ateneo BUILD on February 20–21, 2027.
The top four finalists will represent the Philippines at IOAI 2027 in Singapore, set for July 4–10 and jointly hosted by Nanyang Technological University and AI Singapore. Separately, the top four non-graduating students will compete at the Asia-Pacific Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (APOAI) 2027 in Russia, scheduled for April 26–30.
Philippines' Medal Haul at IOAI 2026 in Kazakhstan
The national selection follows the Philippines' debut appearance at IOAI in 2026, where all four Philippine delegates won medals. The team brought home one silver and three bronze medals at the competition held in Astana, Kazakhstan, competing among 466 students representing 108 countries and territories.
Earlier in 2026, an eight-member Philippine delegation competed at the inaugural Asia-Pacific Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence, winning one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals. The team tied for sixth place among 18 countries and territories.
IOAI PH Team Leader on Filipino Students' Global Standing
"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.
International University Admissions May Recognize IOAI Achievements
According to Ateneo BUILD, achievements in AI olympiads may support students' applications to universities abroad. Nanyang Technological University and the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence are among the institutions that consider IOAI results in their undergraduate admissions processes, subject to each university's respective requirements.
Students and families can access registration details, eligibility requirements, and the full competition schedule at ioaiph.org. The registration deadline is November 11, 2026.
PHOTO: IOAI