Program Archive
Archived · Jan 23, 2026
Program 01

CEB-i Hacks

6 weeks
of program
3
challenge tracks
Mactan-Cebu International Airport
as problem owner
Powered by
Google Cloud
and
Globe Business

The Sandbox Foundation's inaugural hackathon. Cebu-based college students had six weeks to build AI-powered solutions for MCIA across three challenge tracks — with airport operators as their real-world clients.

Building AI solutions for a real airport.

CEB-i Hacks was a 6-week innovation challenge led by Mactan-Cebu International Airport, co-organized by The Sandbox Foundation in partnership with Google Cloud and Globe Business. Cebu-based college students were challenged to build AI-powered solutions with real airport operators as their problem owners.

Teams received expert-led training on Google Gemini AI tools, design thinking, and pitching. Each team had at least one guaranteed mentoring session with AI and industry practitioners. The top 10 finalist teams presented live at Demo Day on January 23, 2026.

What the name means
CEB
The airport code for Mactan-Cebu International Airport — the problem owner and lead organizer of the challenge.
i
Innovation. The brief was to build something that hadn't existed before.
Hacks
Hackathon. Six weeks, a real client brief, working prototypes by the end.
CEB-i Hacks participants at Mactan-Cebu International Airport

Three challenge tracks.

Teams chose one track at application. Their solution had to address a real challenge facing MCIA passengers, operations, or international visitor numbers.

✈️
Track A

Tourism Experience

Improve how travelers discover, enjoy, and share their time in Cebu. AI solutions targeting every stage of the visitor journey — from pre-arrival planning to post-trip engagement.

🏗️
Track B

Airport Operations

Make MCIA processes smarter and more seamless. Check-in, gate management, baggage, wayfinding, staffing — any operational friction that AI could reduce or eliminate.

📣
Track C

Destination Marketing

Promote Cebu as a smart, creative, and tech-enabled destination. AI-driven content strategies, campaign tools, and platforms that shift how Cebu is positioned internationally.

How the program ran.

✓
August 2025
Applications Open
Teams formed, tracks chosen, intro videos submitted. Open to all Cebu-based college students.
✓
September 2025 · Week 1
Learning Sprint
Expert-led sessions on design thinking, MCIA's operational context, Google Gemini AI tools, prototyping techniques, and pitch mechanics.
✓
September–October 2025 · Weeks 2–5
Development and Mentoring
Teams built mockups and prototypes. Each team received at least one guaranteed session with AI and industry mentors before submission.
✓
October 2025 · Week 6
Final Deliberation
Judges evaluated all submissions. Top 10 finalist teams selected for Demo Day.
★
January 23, 2026
Demo Day and Awarding
Top 10 teams presented live at an in-person event. Awards presented by MCIA, Google Cloud, and Globe Business.

Who made it happen.

Lead organizer
Mactan-Cebu International Airport
The problem owner. MCIA defined the three challenge tracks and provided real operational context for student teams. Airport staff participated in briefings and deliberations.
Technology partner
Google Cloud
Provided access to Google Gemini AI tools for the Learning Sprint and prototyping phases. Google Cloud practitioners delivered technical sessions and mentoring to participant teams.
Connectivity partner
Globe Business
Enterprise partner providing connectivity support and infrastructure during the program. Globe Business representatives participated in the Demo Day panel.

Demo Day.

January 23, 2026
CEB-i Hacks Demo Day award ceremony — winning team SkipLines on stage, January 23, 2026
Winning teams

Track winners and top finalists

The three track winners and overall Grand Champion from the January 23 Demo Day.

Placeholder — insert winning team names, schools, project descriptions, and awards from Demo Day results. Contact Fatima for final data.
Finalist projects

Top 10 solutions

Brief summaries of the finalist prototypes — what each team built, which track they entered, and their school.

Placeholder — add project summaries from the Demo Day program booklet or Fatima/Natasha's notes.
Participant voices

What teams said about it

Two or three direct quotes from CEB-i Hacks participants or mentors about what the program gave them.

Placeholder — pull from post-event survey or social media captures.

CEB-i Hacks proved the model: give students a real brief, a real deadline, and real partners — and Cebu produces.

CEB-i Hacks is the blueprint for all future Sandbox hackathon programs. If you're a student, school, or organization interested in the next edition, get in touch.

Register interest