by: Rydelle Apostol and Yanina Baltazar, The Herald Tribune

The school banner rises once again as representatives of STEFTI achieve four awards in this year’s Pakaritay with two winning 1st place in their respective contests, namely Wilben Sebastian Ong of Gr 10-Thessalonians and Anya Mari Lopera of Gr 12-Prudence, as announced last February 11 during the Closing Ceremony of Pakaritay 2022, on its first ever virtual competition.

Ong was declared Champion for Extemporaneous Speaking in the Junior High School category and Lopera also romped away with the gold medal for Essay Writing in the Senior High School category.

For the Junior High Quiz Show, Jerianne Ashley Tan, Debbie Jenn Atienza, and Ethan James Sia, all Grade 10 students, achieved 3rd place as finalists.  Dorothy Din Fronteras, on the other hand, also emerged as 3rd place in the Essay Writing for the Junior High School category. They competed against eight other schools during the elimination round and qualified to the final round with four other top scorers.

Other participants of STEFTI include Vianes Baylon for Di Handang Talumpati (Junior High School), Mary Lyle Radam for Pagsulat ng Sanaysay (Junior High School), and Shiza Joy Operario for Pagsulat ng Sanaysay (Senior High School). 

Pakaritay is an annual academic event among the most brilliant students (or makarit in the Waray Waray dialect) in Elementary, Junior High School, and Senior High Schools  of Region VIII.  This is the flagship event of the UP Sidlangan, a regional organization of students from Leyte, Samar and Biliran provinces who are studying at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. This year’s event spanned from February 9-11, with the theme “Public Leaders as Movers for National Recovery.

The students are trained by Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe, Ms. Melanie S. Garcia, Ms Lourdelen B. Muchamiel, Mrs. Nadia Regina M. Mamita, Ms. Honey Grace B. Domingo, Mr. Jan Pablo T. Pellejera and Mrs. Maria Ninfa E. Josol, JHS Teachers.

Please see the link for the Pakaritay 2022 Academic Competitions
Opening Ceremony Photos:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=423182759601258&set=pcb.423193466266854
Quiz Show High School (Finals):
https://www.facebook.com/Pakaritay/videos/343436844333498
Quiz Show High School (Elementary): https://www.facebook.com/Pakaritay/videos/1001824320742092
Awarding:
https://www.facebook.com/Pakaritay/videos/471099047978720