Filipino researcher Hammil Rainard D. Distor was hailed the champion of the 2024 ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR) Cybersecurity Essay Writing Competition in a ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, on 26 February 2025.

His essay, entitled “Psybersecurity, Empowering Youth to Defend Data in a Digital World” was selected among hundreds of entries from all over ASEAN and Timor Leste. Another essay from the Philippines, “Beyond the Hashtags and Superficialities: A Call to Action for Gender Inclusive Safe Spaces in Cyberspace” by Aphaia Katherine D. Fajardo, was recognized among the top entries in the competition.

The contest was part of the ASEAN-IPR Regional Conference on Cybersecurity and the Role of Information Technology in Fostering a Culture of Peace in ASEAN, an event organized by ASEAN-IPR with support from the Republic of Korea. The conference was held on 24-26 February 2025 and gathered experts on and advocates for peace through cybersecurity from the region and beyond.

Photos courtesy of ASEAN-IPR and Niramit Creations.