MCIA launches CEB-i Hacks, calls college students to join the challenge

LAPULAPU CITY – The Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) launched CEB-i Hacks, a six-week idea challenge tailored for college and university students across Cebu, in collaboration with Google Cloud and Globe Business, the program leverages cutting-edge technology—including Google Gemini, Google’s generative AI platform—as a real-world tool for ideation and prototyping.

The challenge is for student teams to develop AI-powered solutions aimed at enhancing: Tourism experiences; Airport operations and Destination marketing. Participants will receive capacity-building support through expert-led workshops, mentoring sessions, and hands-on exposure to AI tools.

“Through CEB-i Hacks, we are opening the runway for young innovators to co-create solutions that will redefine travel and tourism in Cebu. This program reflects our commitment to making MCIA not just a gateway to Cebu, but a gateway to innovation. We believe in the creativity of Cebuano youth to reimagine the future of tourism using the power of AI,” said Christine Villanueva, Head of Strategy and Communications of Aboitiz Infracapital Cebu Airport Corporation (ACAC), operator of MCIA.

The program encourages multidisciplinary participation, welcoming students from diverse fields such as technology, tourism, business, and design.  CEB-i Hacks highlights how AI can be a powerful driver for inclusive and sustainable tourism growth.

The program positions Cebu as a regional leader in tourism innovation, with the potential to influence development strategies not only in the Visayas but across the country. The challenge will culminate in a Demo Day, where top teams will pitch their solutions to a panel of industry leaders and the public.

Designed to inspire the next generation of Cebuano innovators, CEB-i Hacks fosters strong collaboration between academe and industry, offering students a platform to contribute directly to Cebu’s digital and tourism transformation.

By nurturing a pipeline of tech-savvy youth, MCIA hopes to develop future startup founders, industry leaders, and changemakers who will shape the digital future of the tourism and travel sectors. 

CEB-I Hacks started calling for students to join on August 8 and applications will be accepted until August 29, 2025. CEB-i Hacks gives students three tracks to choose from — all grounded in real issues faced by travelers, airport operators, and tourism stakeholders in Cebu.

Solutions must be AI-powered, and the goal is to make a real difference. Refer to Program Manual: https://bit.ly/CEBiHacksManual and Application Form: https://bit.ly/CEBiHacksApps.

Aside from the free tech sessions, participants get free swags from partners Google and Globe. Grand Prize winners will get a free trip to Manila to visit the Google office.

CEB-i Hacks is organized by The Sandbox Foundation, with support from the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), to further strengthen the ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurship in the province. (Photos: MCIA/Edilyth Maribujoc)