Cordillera student to lead Philippine team competing in 8th ASEAN Regional Quiz in Indonesia

QUEZON CITY, April 18 -- A student from the Cordillera Administrative Region emerged as the grand winner in the national finals of the 8TH ASEAN QUIZ, and will lead the PH contingent that will represent the country in the 8th ASEAN Regional Quiz late this year.

Besting 14 of his counterparts who came to represent their respective regions, Jericho Villarico, a Grade 10 student of Baguio City High School, was declared the overall winner after three intense Q&A rounds on general information pertaining to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN.

Villarico walked away with a trophy and P20,000 in prize money.

Wynkqui Anne Cruz of Rizal High School Pasig, National Capital Region, bagged P15,000 and a trophy for her second place finish, while Region 11’s Kim Eric Delicano of Davao del Sur School of Fisheries, finished third and took home P10,000 and a trophy. The coaches and the schools of the top three winners also receive Plaques of Recognition.

The three students also won full college scholarships from Gardner College.

Villarico, Cruz and Delicano will suit up for the regional competition in November, where they shall represent the country in the 8th ASEAN Quiz in Bali, Indonesia.

The PTV, as the implementing agency, had worked with five government partner agencies in the implementation of the Project – Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Education (DepEd), Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the Philippine Broadcasting Service.

The national tilt was held at the PTV studios on April 5 before a live audience that included the officials of the five partner agencies, DepEd Regional Officers and the management officials of the PTV Network

Staged every two years and hosted by the different ASEAN countries on voluntary rotation, the ASEAN Quiz brings together teenagers from all over Southeast Asia in a friendly competition that deepens their understanding of ASEAN and engages their active participation as stakeholders in the ASEAN Community. ASEAN member-countries conduct national level competitions to select three students who will compete in the biennial regional quiz.

The Board of Judges was composed of Undersecretary Florita R. Villar, Department of Social Welfare and Development – Policy and Plans and the Philippine Senior Officials Committee for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council Leader, Director Aian A. Caringal, Department of Foreign Affairs and Dr. Joefe Santarita, Dean, Asian Center, University of the Philippines.

“As implementing agency of the ASEAN Quiz, we at PTV are thrilled to have hosted these students, clearly the brightest among their peers”, says PTV General Manager Dino Apolonio – chairman of the organizing committee for the event. “We hope to continue to partner with the ASEAN COCI (Committee on Culture and Information), the DFA, the DepEd and the PCOO for more stagings of the ASEAN Quiz in the future, and we shall join the rest of the country in cheering on our students when they compete in Indonesia”.

The 8th ASEAN Quiz National Competition will be aired on April 21, with a replay on April 22 over PTV4 and its affiliate stations nationwide. Check out ptv.ph for broadcast schedules and updates. (PTV4)