After years of stepping back from the spotlight, the UP Ichthyophilic Society’s (UPIS) Young Wizards of Fisheries Science (YWOFS) Inter-regional Quiz Bowl has finally sparked once again as 16 schools from different places in Western Visayas competed to get the championship title at CFOS AV Hall, University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) on April 5.
This duly recognized activity of the organization was established in 1994 with the goal of encouraging young people, especially high school students, not only to appreciate, but also to learn and promote fisheries science to the people, and inspire them to take the BS in Fisheries program and be fisheries professionals.
For this year’s YWOFS, the duo from Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas Campus, composed of Eva Cerise Z. Lopez and Contessa Frances Marie C. Quiñon, with their coach Julnafe B. Libo-on, bested 15 other teams, securing the championship title and the YWOFS 2024’s Golden Bangus trophy.
Meanwhile, the St. Louise de Marillac School of Miagao, Iloilo, Inc. team composed of Meara Katreese S. Socuelan and Alexandra Pearl Figura, with their coach Fia D. Nadanza, bagged first runner-up, followed by Tigbauan National High School’s participants, Antares Ziggy T. Cajilig and Ethan Mathew A. Cain and their coach Jhon Ray T. Gargarita, grabbing the second runner-up title.
Participants from different parts of the region including Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo Province, and Iloilo City, battled in a four-round quiz bowl composed of the easy, average, and booster categories as elimination rounds, while only five teams namely, St. Louise de Marillac School of Miagao, Iloilo, Inc., Philippine Science High School-Western Visayas Campus, Tigbauan National High School, Negros Occidental National Science High School, and San Joaquin School of Fisheries entered the difficult round.
The event headed by UPIS Education and Research Committee Head Matt Kellie Tumines and with the guidance of the UPIS President Divine Amorsolo, achieved its success with the collaborative effort and generosity of YWOFS 2024 official partners and sponsors, including National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI), SANTEH Aquaculture Science and Technology Foundation, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Region 6, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC), Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) Philippines Corporation, HocPo Vannamei Fry, and the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 6.
YWOFS is the second to the last major event of UPIS for this academic year. Following it is the Medical-Dental Mission which will be held on April 20 at Oyungan Elementary School in Brgy. Oyungan, Miagao, Iloilo.
