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Cebus LAMBO 2026 AI Business Summit Opens June 27 to Showcase Practical AI for Local Enterprises
Cebu City became the first hub in the Visayas to host an AI‑focused business conference on Saturday, June 27, 2026, when the LAMBO 2026 AI Business Summit opened its doors at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino.
The one‑day event was co‑presented by Junior Chamber International (JCI) Cebu, the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), and global data‑analytics firm EXL. It gathered business owners, sector leaders, professionals, and students to examine how artificial intelligence can deliver measurable value to Filipino enterprises.
The day began at 8:00 a.m. with a keynote from Dr. Christopher Monterola, Aboitiz Chair in Data Science at AIM and an Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology. In “The AI Advantage in the Philippines: Competing in a World Where Intelligence Is Becoming Abundant,” Dr. Monterola charted the shift from capital to information and now to intelligence. He highlighted Philippine companies that have succeeded and failed in AI initiatives and stressed that the firms that blend human talent, data, and AI are the ones poised for growth.
Following the keynote, two Live Labs demonstrated AI tools in action for real Filipino businesses. Run by the AIM Master of AI and Data Analytics 2026 cohort (MAIDA), the labs showcased solutions that micro‑, small, and medium enterprises can adopt without large consulting teams or enterprise infrastructure.
The summit also featured two executive panels. “AI in the Daily Workflow” brought front‑line operators from various industries to discuss how AI is reshaping everyday work, while “AI in Sector Applications” convened leaders from government, education, agribusiness, and risk‑facing industries. Both panels included participants who are actively making AI decisions for organizations that employ thousands of Cebuanos.
LAMBO 2026 concluded with the AI‑Powered Business Case Competition Finals. Eighteen teams from six Cebu universities had completed three online training sessions delivered by the AIM MAIDA cohort. The top ten teams advanced to semifinals, and five teams presented AI‑driven solutions to a real corporate/MSME case before judges drawn from the Cebu business community.
The summit is a not‑for‑profit fundraising event. Net proceeds support Youth ACCESS, JCI Cebu’s AI literacy program for marginalized communities across the Visayas, and a committed donation to Everlasting Hope.
“LAMBO 2026 is built for the people running real businesses in this region,” said Joshua Toledo, Chair of LAMBO 2026 and JCI Cebu Inc. “This is not a tech conference. It is a working day designed to help Cebuano operators figure out where AI changes their work, where it does not yet, and what to do on Monday morning.”
Event logistics were straightforward. The summit ran from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and registration was available online. Partner registration was PHP 2,000, while regular registration was PHP 2,500. The fee included all summit segments and lunch.
The focus on practical, returns‑focused AI adoption aligns with EXL’s role as a corporate sponsor, which brings enterprise AI expertise to the local business community. By combining academic depth from AIM, community engagement from JCI Cebu, and industry experience from EXL, LAMBO 2026 aimed to provide actionable insights rather than theoretical discussion.
As Cebu continues to position itself as a regional hub for business process services, tourism, and manufacturing, the summit’s emphasis on AI reflects the province’s broader strategy to harness technology for economic growth. The event also highlights the growing importance of AI literacy programs, such as Youth ACCESS, in ensuring that the workforce can participate in the evolving digital economy.
In summary, LAMBO 2026 delivered a full day of keynote speeches, live demonstrations, sector panels, and a student competition, all focused on how AI can be leveraged by Cebu’s businesses. The summit’s outcomes include increased awareness of AI applications, networking opportunities for local enterprises, and a continued commitment to AI education for underserved communities.
The one‑day event was co‑presented by Junior Chamber International (JCI) Cebu, the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), and global data‑analytics firm EXL. It gathered business owners, sector leaders, professionals, and students to examine how artificial intelligence can deliver measurable value to Filipino enterprises.
The day began at 8:00 a.m. with a keynote from Dr. Christopher Monterola, Aboitiz Chair in Data Science at AIM and an Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology. In “The AI Advantage in the Philippines: Competing in a World Where Intelligence Is Becoming Abundant,” Dr. Monterola charted the shift from capital to information and now to intelligence. He highlighted Philippine companies that have succeeded and failed in AI initiatives and stressed that the firms that blend human talent, data, and AI are the ones poised for growth.
Following the keynote, two Live Labs demonstrated AI tools in action for real Filipino businesses. Run by the AIM Master of AI and Data Analytics 2026 cohort (MAIDA), the labs showcased solutions that micro‑, small, and medium enterprises can adopt without large consulting teams or enterprise infrastructure.
The summit also featured two executive panels. “AI in the Daily Workflow” brought front‑line operators from various industries to discuss how AI is reshaping everyday work, while “AI in Sector Applications” convened leaders from government, education, agribusiness, and risk‑facing industries. Both panels included participants who are actively making AI decisions for organizations that employ thousands of Cebuanos.
LAMBO 2026 concluded with the AI‑Powered Business Case Competition Finals. Eighteen teams from six Cebu universities had completed three online training sessions delivered by the AIM MAIDA cohort. The top ten teams advanced to semifinals, and five teams presented AI‑driven solutions to a real corporate/MSME case before judges drawn from the Cebu business community.
The summit is a not‑for‑profit fundraising event. Net proceeds support Youth ACCESS, JCI Cebu’s AI literacy program for marginalized communities across the Visayas, and a committed donation to Everlasting Hope.
“LAMBO 2026 is built for the people running real businesses in this region,” said Joshua Toledo, Chair of LAMBO 2026 and JCI Cebu Inc. “This is not a tech conference. It is a working day designed to help Cebuano operators figure out where AI changes their work, where it does not yet, and what to do on Monday morning.”
Event logistics were straightforward. The summit ran from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and registration was available online. Partner registration was PHP 2,000, while regular registration was PHP 2,500. The fee included all summit segments and lunch.
The focus on practical, returns‑focused AI adoption aligns with EXL’s role as a corporate sponsor, which brings enterprise AI expertise to the local business community. By combining academic depth from AIM, community engagement from JCI Cebu, and industry experience from EXL, LAMBO 2026 aimed to provide actionable insights rather than theoretical discussion.
As Cebu continues to position itself as a regional hub for business process services, tourism, and manufacturing, the summit’s emphasis on AI reflects the province’s broader strategy to harness technology for economic growth. The event also highlights the growing importance of AI literacy programs, such as Youth ACCESS, in ensuring that the workforce can participate in the evolving digital economy.
In summary, LAMBO 2026 delivered a full day of keynote speeches, live demonstrations, sector panels, and a student competition, all focused on how AI can be leveraged by Cebu’s businesses. The summit’s outcomes include increased awareness of AI applications, networking opportunities for local enterprises, and a continued commitment to AI education for underserved communities.
