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MANILA, Philippines— Marlon John Danlay, Aaron James Jalalon, and Kelly Marie Conlon, together with their coach Professor John Bengan, from the University of the Philippines in Mindanao won the EU Whiz 2009 inter-collegiate quiz held last week.
The UP Mindanao team (Davao) bested Justin Herrera, James Ryan Artiaga, and Dawn One Ilagan, with their coach Elmer Soriano, from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (Manila), as well as Frecy Catadman, Rechelle Ann Sow, and Jennierose Serad, with their coach Prof Jomar Rubio, from the University of the Visayas ( Cebu).
As the grand winners, the UP Mindanao team will fly to Czech Republic, France and Spain in September, courtesy of the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the Knights of Rizal and the European Community in Manila. All the participating teams received trophies, certificates and other gift items from the organizers and supporters of the EU Whiz.
The UP Mindanao team will be joined by the essay writing contest grand prize winner, Joaquin Carlos de Jesus from Ateneo de Manila University.
European Union diplomats led by Ambassadors Jaroslav Ludva of the Embassy of the Czech Republic and Alistair MacDonald of the Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines congratulated the winners.
“I hope that you enjoyed the experience, and that in researching on Europe and on Rizal, you had a lot of fun as well as reflecting on the values that helped shape the Philippines, and can help to build it into what it can become," Ambassador MacDonald said.
Other winners in the essay contest were: second place-Dave Arjie Manandeg-Pangasinan State University; third place-Emmeline Carrillo-Rizal Technological University Mandaluyong City; fourth place-Manuel Buensuceso Jr.-San Beda Colleges, Manila; fifth place- Joseph Mirro Macatangay-University of Batangas, Batangas City.
Other finalists were: Charmy June Almoquer-West Visayas State University, Main University; Ron Richard Ramirez-Baliuag University; Corene Joi Geroso-Centro Escolar University; Lester Hao-Chiang Kai Shek College; Aguia Barbara Luneta-University of the Philippines, Diliman.
The EU Whiz and the essay contest were organized by the European Union in Manila, led by the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the Delegation of the European Commission to the Philippines, with support from the Order of the Knights of Rizal, the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France, SM Mall of Asia, Manila Bulletin and Channel 7, the EU Member States' embassies and EU cultural institutes. The events were also supported by JobsDB.com, Jam 88.3, Magic 89.9, Hershey's, and Max and were coordinated by 3Vents.
The EU Whiz is an inter-collegiate quiz about the European Union and its policies and institutions. It started in 2006 in Manila, was brought to Cebu in 2007 and was held last year in Davao. Previous winners from Manila, Cebu, and Davao vied for this year's ultimate EU Whiz championship, wherein the winners together with the grand prize winner of the essay contest will travel to some European Union countries (Czech Republic, France, and Spain) like Jose Rizal did.
This year's special focus on Jose Rizal is in line with Europe Month's "Rizal Na, Europa Pa" theme. Jose Rizal, the country's national hero, was the unanimous choice of the European community in Manila when it has decided to adapt "Rizal Na, Europa Pa" as a special theme for the Europe Month's celebrations this year in line with the 2009 European Year of Creativity and Innovation.
