By: Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – The duo from Southland College Kabankalan (SCK) who bagged the championship in the 2019 Battle of the Brains Negros came prepared for the competition with two months and a half of review prior to the finals Thursday afternoon at the Foundation University in Dumaguete City.
BOTB- Negros organized by the Energy Development Corporation is now on its fourth year and this is the second time Southland College won the championship. The first was in 2017.
“We want to give back something to the school which is celebrating its 10th year anniversary,” said Jandale Samillano, who clinched the championship for the team in the Question and Answer round.
Samillano teamed up with Paul Peralta. Both are Senior High students of SCK.
Samillano, who lives in an upland barangay 10 kilometers from the city, said he moved to Peralta’s in preparation for the competition.
He said “it is important that we have communication, we have teamwork and I am happy that we both understand each other and worked hard with each other.”
The Q and A was first introduced in this year’s BOTB. For Samillano, it was a welcome development saying “it is my forte.”
The Southland duo perfected the difficult round and won the championship after Samillano answered the question on strengthening partnership to effectively promote renewable energy spontaneously.
They were awarded medals, certificates and P30,000 cash.
The 1st runner up was Balugo National High School, which was last year’s champion and 2nd runner up was Guihulngan National High School.
“I feel complete and relieved,” Samillano said.
When asked what they will do with the cash prize, Samillano said he will use his share to buy a new cellphone and set aside money for his transportation to Bacolod to take the UP Entrance Examination
TV personality Robi Domingo, who is an advocate for sustainable development and who was also at the press conference, pledged to take care of the transportation of Samillano.
Organized by the country’s premier renewable energy company, Energy Development Corp (EDC), in partnership with Drink Sustainability Communications, the regional science quiz bee for junior and senior high schools aims to continue spreading awareness on the importance of renewable energy as one of the solutions to fighting climate change.
Negros became its ideal setting considering its efforts to be at the forefront of environmental preservation in our country to maintain its stature as a green island.
Ten schools competed for the finals after a series of elimination rounds.
