Bicol Student Tops 9th ASEAN Quiz Nat’l Competition
A student from the Bicol Region tops the ninth ASEAN Quiz National Competition on 22 January 2020. (PTV photo)
QUEZON CITY 29 January 2020 –– A teenager from the Bicol Region topped the ninth ASEAN Quiz National Competition held on 22 January 2020 at the People’s Television (PTV) Studios in Quezon City.
Javier Ignacio Fernandez of Tabaco National High School, bested 15 other participants from different regions to emerge as the overall winner after three question and answer rounds on ASEAN general information.
Fernandez will lead the team who will represent the country at the ninth ASEAN Regional Quiz in Singapore later this year. He will be joined by Marcus Blaze Pilapil of Pinagbuhatan High School who represented the National Capital Region (NCR) and Lorrhane Bantin of Digos City National High School from Region XI.
Aside from winning medals, plaques of appreciation, and trophies for their respective coaches and schools, the three students also took home a total of P45,000.00 in cash prizes and scholarships from Gardner College.
“The ASEAN Quiz is very much in keeping with the ASEAN Way,” says PTV Network General Manager Julieta Lacza. “It instills in our youth the qualities of sportsmanship, teamwork and collaboration, and encourages critical thinking and creativity,” she added.
Held every two years and hosted by the different ASEAN countries on voluntary rotation, the ASEAN Quiz brings together youth from all over the Region in a friendly competition to deepen their understanding and awareness of ASEAN issues. Member-countries conduct national level competitions to select three students who will compete in the biennial regional quiz.
PTV hosted the national tilt, under the auspices of the ASEAN Committee on Culture and Information (ASEAN COCI), and in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Department of Education (DepEd), the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS).
DepEd Undersecretary Diosdado M. San Antonio, DFA-ASEAN Assistant Secretary Junever M. Mahilum-West, and UP Asian Center Dean Joefe B. Santarita composed this year’s Board of Judges.
PCOO Undersecretary and ASEAN COCI Sub-Committee on Information (SCI) Philippine Chairperson George Apacible also extolled the Filipino’s competitive spirit and encouraged the youngsters to be inspired to represent the country, the way our athletes did at the recently concluded ASEAN Games. “Never stop dreaming. Perseverance, focus, diligence and humility will always be our crowning glory”, he said.
“We congratulate all of our participants and wish the best for our top three students when they compete in Singapore at the Regional Competition this year”, PTV Director of the Board Ben-Hur Baniqued added.
The ninth ASEAN Quiz National Competition will be aired on February 08 at 7:00 PM, with a replay on February 09 at 2:00 PM over PTV4 and its affiliate stations nationwide. END
A student from the Bicol Region topped the ninth ASEAN Quiz National Competition held on 22 January 2020. (PTV photo)