10/03/2026
Congratulations ๐๐ป๐
๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐จ๐ฆ ๐ก๐๐ช๐ฆ | UPHSC Programming Team Delivers First Runner-Up Finish in the Inter-High Programming Competition 2026
Student programmers from the University of the Philippines High School Cebu delivered a strong performance in the Inter-High Programming Competition 2026, held at the AS Hall last March 4, 2026, finishing as first runner-up after nearly capturing the top prize.
Three-member teams from various high schools, with participants ranging from Grades 7 to 12, contended in the event, including the UPHSC Team, represented by Jyle Vincent Luna (12-Jimenez), Winsor Jeremiah Alpuerto (12-Concepcion), and Xykien Cruz (10-Gonzalez), under the guidance of their coach, Sir Nand Gomez Bernardez.
Teams competed on-site using HackerRank, tackling a series of coding problems within a two-hour timeframe, ranging from easy, medium, and hard rounds.
According to Luna, the team prepared with the help from first-year college student, June Anthonie Abadia, while also focusing on improving their individual skills in C++. He shared that he focused on developing complex algorithms to cater efficiency and accuracy, while Alpuerto, the main coder, honed his typing and reasoning skills, and Cruz focused on mastering C++ syntax and brute-force algorithms.
Recalling the competition, Luna said the team almost clinched the top spot before another team caught up: "We had a perfect start during the competition, the first 1 hour and 30 mins, we were the one leading, our algorithms were 90% accurate with an 85 % efficiency. Unfortunately, out of nowhere, a school caught up in the last 30 mins."
In the final tally, Maria Montessori International School - Talamban Campus secured the championship title followed by University of the Philippines High School Cebu as 1st runner up and Cebu City National Science High School as 2nd runner up.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ | Jasmine Garganera
๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ | Princess Doblado
๐๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐๐ | Maria Rosendale Guelos
