Three HS Students to Represent PHL in 8th ASEAN Quiz Bee in Bali

Jericho Villarico, Wynkqui Anne Cruz, and Kim Eric Delicano will represent The Philippines in the 8th ASEAN Quiz Bee in Bali in the last quarter of the year.

The three competed against other high school students from various schools in the 8th ASEAN Quiz National Level Competition held in Quezon City.

Villarico of Baguio City National High School was declared champion, while Cruz of Rizal High School was first runner-up, followed by second runner-up Delicano of Davao del Sur School of Fisheries.

“I feel more pressured because we have to carry the flag of the Philippines in the regional competition in Indonesia, because the Philippines has been consistently winning,” Villarico said in an interview with Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Friday.

The entire competition was an overwhelming experience for both Cruz and Delicano as well. Although the topics they need to study are all in the ASEAN website, the students were only given a short time to review for the district, division, regional, and national levels of the quiz bee.

“I really needed to adjust because it is only two weeks of preparation. The original contestant backed out a few months after review started,” Cruz said.

According to the three students, reading with comprehension is the best strategy in recalling what they have studied and reviewed. Memorizing details specifically topics like social studies and general information is important as well.

Before studying together, Cruz’s coach, Alson Fernandez, said he also allots time for her to study on her own.

“I do that so I can check on how she understands what she studied. So, I can correct her mistakes,” Fernandez said.

Both Villarico and Delicano are self-motivated and interested in the ASEAN region according to coaches Eva Lagayan and Elsa Sasuma, which makes their job easier.

The three students will have a chance to review together for a week before they leave for Bali. They will be handled by a coach that will be chosen by the People’s Television Network. But before that, they will continue reviewing with their respective coaches.

via Philippine News Agency / Ma. Teresa Montemayor