The Catalunan Pequeno National High School (NHS) team was the Champion in the “Saribuhay Davao Region Wildlife Quiz Bowl” co-organized by the UP Mindanao Biological Society (BioS) student organization and the Philippine Eagle Foundation and held on May 27, 2023, at the Mapua MCM Auditorium in Davao City. The team will represent the Davao Region in the National Wildlife Quiz Bowl to be held in Ormoc City in November 2023. Digos City Senior High School and Bato NHS of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, came in second and third place in the field of twenty-one Davao Region high schools.  

On the same day, UP Mindanao students gave talks on 20 unique and threatened Philippine wildlife. The Biology 151 Wildlife Studies students introduced and described the Tamaraw, the Rufous Hornbill, the Philippine Flying Lemur, Guttman’s Stream Frog, the Warty Pig, the Philippine Eagle-Owl, the Mindoro Bleeding Heart (bird), the Visayan Spotted Deer, the Philippine Bulbul (bird), the Palawan Peacock Pheasant (bird), the Philippine Slow Loris (primate), the Philippine Crocodile, the Giant Softshell Turtle, the Philippine Pangolin, the Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat, the Philippine Flying Fox, the Mindanao Flying Dragon, the English Orchid, the Golden Crowned Flying Fox, and the Winghead Shark.       

Finally, professionals from the academe, government, and non-government organizations gave educational and inspirational talks on aspects of the biological profession. Davao Oriental State University Professor Ann Cabras spoke on "The Importance and Joy of Studying Beetles." UPMin alumna and San Pedro College Professor Elsa Mae Delima-Baron spoke on "Why Frogs Matter and How We Can Conserve Them." Dept. of the Environment & Natural Resources-Region XI Development Management Officer Jeon Carlo Bendijo gave the "State of Wildlife Conservation in the Davao Region." Entrepreneur and Thinnk Farm founder and CEO Ariestelo Asilo narrated "From Disability to Possibility: The Power of Dreams and Service." Finally, Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Executive Director Lisa Paguntalan discussed "The Power of the Youth in Conservation: The PhilBio Experience."

Event sponsors Cantilan Bank President Gen. William Hotchkiss (Ret.) and Energy Development Corporation Watershed Mgt. Officer Ms. Marisol Pedregosa extended invitations for the students to visit their establishments in their closing messages.

 

The awarding ceremonies of the “Saribuhay Davao Region Wildlife Quiz Bowl” show (front row, left-right) champions Mariam Bajo, Andrea Olar, and teacher Kamsha Pempina of Catalunan Pequeno National High School, 2nd placers Chaerish Say-a, Alexa Cualquera, and teacher Miraluz Laranjo of Digos City Senior High School, and 3rd placers Paul Felisilda, Aleah Salihudin, and teacher Ronavie Gonzales of Bato (Sta. Cruz) National High School. The event sponsors are (Back row, left-right) Phil. Biodiversity Conservation Foundation Executive Director Lisa Paguntalan, Cantilan Bank President Gen. William Hotchkiss (Ret.), Phil. Eagle Foundation Exec. Dir. Dennis Salvador, Energy Development Corporation Wildlife Biologist & Watershed Mgt. Officer Marisol Pedregosa, UPMin Biological Society President Peter Miles Royeca, and UPMin Instructor Dr. Jayson Ibañez.