Joy Anne Dela Cruz, who is also editor-in-chief of PSD’s campus publication, The Link, went against other students of PSD and Philippine International School Qatar (PISQ) during the event, which was a continuation of the PICE Math Whiz Series.
The PICE Math Whiz Series first runner-up award went to Timothy Del Rosario, a Grade 11 student from PISQ, while PSD’s Ivanna Judea Madriaga was awarded second runner-up. Dela Cruz’s victory broke PISQ’s third streak in the math quiz bee series. During the awarding ceremony, the head coaches of both schools, Mike Edison B Pioquinto of PISQ and Roberto C Jacob of PSD, were also recognised with certificates of participation.
The first half of the competition, comprising 25 senior high school student challengers from each school, was held online via Zoom. This determined the top 10 students from each school who advanced to compete in the final round, which took place at the PSD Gymnasium.
It must be noted that the final round was the first in-person inter-school event to be held again in the PSD gymnasium since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
PISQ school principal Jason A Iyas said: “Knowledge is just potential; wisdom, being able to apply that knowledge, is true power.” The vice principal of PSD’s Research Development, Accreditation, and Publication Office (RDAPO), Dr Lorina S Villanueva, also reminded the students that “above competition, the event’s aim was socialisation.”
PICE is a Philippine-based organisation that aims to unite Filipino Civil Engineers from all over the world. Through the inter-school quiz bee, its Qatar Chapter sought not only to promote the Civil Engineering degree to Filipino schools with the academic track of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), but also to widen their capacities in mathematics and science and to further encourage sportsmanship and camaraderie with one another.