Two students of Kalinga State University notched places in the 3rd AUAP Student Academic Olympiad International Virtual Quiz Bee Competition hosted by San Pedro College, Philippines on April 18-19, 2023.
Joy Christine Candelario, a BS Education student and Jhun Miguel Bas-ilen from the BS Accountancy program bested other competitors from Asia and the Pacific as they landed in the 2nd and 4th places, respectively.
The KSU team also included Justine Capito, a Forensic Science student.
According to the team’s official coach, Ms. Melanie Santos Manuel, the Chair of the Department of Natural Sciences, right after the selection in January, they started preparing for the event.
The participants shared that the competition focused on universal health coverage, public health and epidemiology concerns, and occupational health concerns.
The first round was a 30-item multiple-choice type test in google form from which Candelario gained 27 points and Bas-ilen, 20 points, making them the Top 1 and 2 qualifiers for the final round.
During the final round, the Top 5 qualifiers were assigned to five different breakout rooms with one facilitator in each room.
The first elimination for the final round consisted of 10 identification questions and the qualifiers answered orally. From this, one was eliminated.
Five identification questions with answers written on a whiteboard were given as a tie breaker and this left 3 qualifiers—placing Bas-ilen on the 4th rank. Further questions were asked to determine the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd placers and Richard Christian Gunawan of the University of Surabaya, Indonesia bagged the first place while Candelario came out as a 2nd placer.
“This is one of the most memorable experiences I have as a quizzer. This taught me to be confident and not to doubt my capabilities. Aside from trusting yourself, leave all your worries to God, He will not betray you. I also congratulate my fellow KSU participants, we made a great team!” Candelario remarked.
"We thank our coach, Ma’am Melanie S. Manuel, and also Dr. Pinky Larcelle L. Gas-ib for mentoring us” she added.
Bas-ilen also shared, "in order for you to have great success in any competition, you need to strive, focus, and prepare properly because a good preparation is a great weapon. Qualifying for the final round of an international competition and reaping 4th place is a great achievement already.”
Although he was not qualified for the final round, Capito said it was an honor and a privilege to participate in the international stage carrying the name of KSU and considered it a good experience.
Manuel expressed her gratitude to the support extended by the Office of the Distance Education, Transnational Education, and International Linkages (ODETEIL) and the administration in this victorious international engagement.
Dr. Pinky Larcelle L. Gas-ib, the Director of KSU-ODETEIL, asserted that this feat is an additional merit to the University’s Internationalization–Student Mobility program.
This activity was organized by the Association of Universities in Asia in the Pacific (AUAP) in collaboration with the San Pedro College, Philippines and was first scheduled on January 25-27, 2023 but was rescheduled on April 18-19, 2023. As stated by the AUAP Secretariat, the AUAP Student Academic Olympiad (SAO) primarily aimed to provide students a platform to test their knowledge in specific fields.
The top three winners were rewarded cash prizes: 1st placer–USD 500, 2nd placer–USD 200, and 3rd placer–USD 100.
This year’s theme was “SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being”.#GSB
