“In cyber security, there is no such thing as ‘one approach fits all.’ Think outside the box.” Cybersecurity professional Peter Joshua Brion posted this message on October 4, 2026 at the Day 1 kickoff of Packet Capture: Under the network. It is billed as the first international Networking x Cybersecurity Capture-the-Flag (CTF) challenge, bringing together network systems and security operations in one game.
The gamified event was made possible by Cisco NetConnect PUP, CyberPH, MQ CyberSec (Australia), WorkFlow PH, and ICPEP.SE PUP. It was a joint effort of student communities, industry professionals, and an international organization, held with the Huawei Cloud Developer Group Philippines at the Huawei Showroom, Milestone 4th Avenue.
INFRASTRUCTURE OF KNOWLEDGE
Packet Capture: Under the network aims to give aspiring cybersecurity and networking professionals a space to learn from industry practitioners, test their skills and connect with a community that grows with them. Mastering the basics of cybersecurity and networking is important because every advanced defense, and every attack, is built on how networks and protocols actually work. The skills we build today are the foundation for the future.
Alfie Ordona, Senior Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) at Standard Chartered, shared how these capabilities are being tested by modern cyber security threats in real industry situations.
AI AS VULNERABILITY
The fundamentals now extend to a new frontier. AI overlaps many industries, and since AI agents can help build systems and applications in minutes, it has also become a new attack surface. This speed makes AI-powered applications vulnerable, as attackers can target the AI workflows they depend on, and the same technology can be used to produce false and misleading information that is difficult to identify.
Raphael Louie Miguel, a Tutorials Dojo representative, reminded participants that resilience goes beyond code: it also means learning to identify fake and misleading information, because the tools we rely on can be turned against us.
COMMUNITY AS DEFENSE
No one defends alone, and the strongest defense is the community you build, as the organizations behind this event show. dr. She has shown that securing a system is not a one-way street, with roles such as chief information security officer, ethical hacker, risk analyst and security architect.
Clarisse Jem Salazar, community leader of WorkFlow PH, carried this spirit forward in “Breaking Barriers: Empowering Women in Cybersecurity.” For students, the road to the field can follow a clear sequence:
- Curiosity
- communities
- projects
- leading
- Internships
- Cyber security
Her session highlighted opportunities for women across the technical workforce and encouraged attendees to pursue cybersecurity careers through mentorship and community support.
SECURITY FOR SOCIETY
These lessons matter far beyond the place. For the Filipino people, and especially for students and professionals who are passionate about working in cybersecurity and networking, Day 1 showed what the field requires: strong foundations, sound judgment and a community to lean on. The talks connected classroom learning with real industry situations, so the participants left with a clearer picture of where their skills could take them. The learning doesn’t stop here: this is just the beginning of something bigger, and as the event progresses to its next stage, the learning continues through the experience.
THE challenge upon us
The real challenge of this project is not just building skills. It is authentic, consistent learning, a passionate career, and the courage to build systems and a society that remains tough against adversity and threats. The next step is yours, so join the challenge on Day 2 and put what you learned on Day 1 into practice. Follow CyberPH for the latest details and updates.