USAL CONGRESS ACADEMIC QUIZ SHOW 2018

By: Jesnah Malaluan

January 30 was the day that witnessed great intellect and capabilities. Marked
with overflowing potentials and outpouring confidence, the students from the Unified
Schools of the Archdiocese of Lipa, who packed their bags with determination and
strong will along with a handful of hard work to be able to replace their effort with
recognition, gathered altogether at Our Lady of Casaysay’s Academy and competed as
the pride of their respective institutions for the USAL Academic Quiz Show for this
year’s celebration of USAL Week.

The annual competition was guided with the theme: “Ex Pluribus Unum” which
means “Out of Many, One”, representing and promoting the unity of the different
schools amidst the undeniable divergence. With the cooperation of the schools that are
members of USAL as enough proof, it is certain that the theme was appropriately
decided.

The event was started with words of welcome and appreciation at OLCA’S
gymnasium which served as the participants’ starting point, and each contest, namely
Essay Writing Contest, Extemporaneous Speech, and Clustered Quiz Bee, started all at
once around 9 in the morning and were done in assigned rooms promulgated and
administered by the advisers and the judges respectively.

The Essay Writing Contest was done at OLCA’s Computer Laboratory, whereas
the 9 participants had to use the assigned computers to compose their essays at the
allotted time. The contest was guided with a theme related to that of USAL Week’s with
a requirement of 300 words. On the other hand, the contest for Extemporaneous
Speech was done with contestants from different schools. Each participant has to
deliver an informative speech with the given topic. Meanwhile, Clustered Quiz Bee was
held at the school’s library with the students from different school randomly chosen to
form a group of three. There were three rounds to gain scores and the winning team
would be recognized according to the amount of points gained.

After what seemed like hours of competing along with the power of intelligence,
the competitions ended with the announcement of winners and awarding of medals and
certificates.

Amidst the short time of preparation, St. Mary’s Educational Institute once again
proved the ability of their prides with Jesnah Malaluan as the 3 rd placer in Essay Writing
Contest (with coach, John April Datinguinoo), and Rullyssa Mae Collado bringing the
title as the Champion of the Clustered Quiz Bee together with her teammates (with
coach, Louigie Mendoza).

These, therefore, proves that SMEI doesn’t just build its name on the Sports
Categories. It can also build its own reputation with the contest related to Academics,
highlighting the intellect and the capabilities of each Marian and giving them the time to
test their cognitive skills.