Ateneans bag 61 golds, 52 silvers from Yale’s Tournament of Champions 2018

Representing the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University, 18 debaters from Ateneo Junior High School (AJHS) and Ateneo Senior High School (ASHS) competed in the 2018 World Scholar’s Cup Tournament of Champions (WSC TOC) organized and hosted by Yale University. The WSC TOC was held in Yale's New Haven, Connecticut campus from November 16 to 21, 2018. The Ateneans harvested a total of 113 medals- 61 golds and 52 silvers- in the prestigious competition that pitted them against approximately 2200 students from over 50 countries.

From AJHS were eventual medalists Anton Abiera (two golds, one silver), David Bejarin (seven golds, three silvers), Rapa Bengzon (four golds, three silvers), Johann Bernardo (three golds, one silver), Jaime Castro (three golds, six silvers), Gareth De Leon (six golds, three silvers), James Escaño (one silver), Joaquin Guevara (one gold), Matthew Garcia (five silvers), Oliver Ledonio (one gold, three silvers), James Manzano (two silvers), Joaquin Reyes (four silvers), AC Saulong (two golds, five silvers), and Christian Tiamzon (one gold, one silver). From ASHS were Simon Angoluan (seven golds, four silvers), Marie Francesca Firmalo (nine golds, three silvers), Ram Orfanel (nine golds, two silvers), and Erica Justine Uy (six golds, three silvers).     

Also noteworthy about the awards/medals harvested by the ASHS boys and girls are the following:
 
The team of Bejarin, Bengzon, and Firmalo is ranked 40^th in the Team Bowl, 45^th in Team Writing and 50^th overall in the Senior Division.
The team of Castro, Tiamzon and Uy is ranked 42^nd in the Team Bowl.  They are also in the Top 15% of the Team Challenge. 
The team of Angoluan, De Leon, and Orfanel is ranked 28^th overall in the Team Countdown and 75^th in Team Debate.

Ram Orfanel is among the Top 5% in the Individual Challenge. He is ranked 23^rd in Literature, 59^th in Science, 60^th in History, 68^th in Social Studies, and 74^th in Arts out of approximately 1,100 scholars in the senior division.   
Simon Angoluan is ranked 15^th in Social Studies, 65^th in Arts, 84^th in Science, and 93^rd among the Writing Champions out of approximately 1,100 scholars. He is also among the Top 10% in Individual Challenge and among the Top 15% Champion Scholars.
Cheska Firmalo is ranked 10^th in Special Area, 12^th in Literature, 36^th in History, 44^th in Science, 85^th in Arts, and 99^th in Writing out of approximately 1,100 scholars. She is among the Top 5% in Individual Challenge.    
Erica Uy is among the Top 5% in Individual Challenge, and among the Top 15% of Champion Scholars. She is ranked 16^th in History, 39^th in Social Studies, 64^th in Arts, and 71^st in Special Area in a field of approximately 1,100 scholars.    

Here is a more detailed description of each Atenean’s medal haul:
 
Ateneo Junior High School

Anton Alfonso A Abiera (La Storta/9-Fenwick): two golds (Debate, Team Debate) + one silver (Social Studies)
David Benjamin W Bejarin (La Storta/9-Fausti): seven golds (Arts, Social Studies, Literature, Special Area, Team Writing, Team Scholar’s Bowl, 50^th team overall) + three silvers (Science, Writing, Team Challenge)   
Rafael Leandro V Bengzon (Montserrat/9-Kisai): four golds (Writing, Team Writing, Team Scholar’s Bowl, 50^th overall) + three silvers (Social Studies, Literature, Special Area)
Johann Ricci B Bernardo (La Storta/9-Fernandes): three golds (Social Studies, Debate, Team Debate) + one silver (History)
Jaime Miguel L Castro (Pamplona/10-Whitbread): three golds (Arts, History, Team Scholar’s Bowl) + six silvers (Social Studies, Literature, Science, Special Area, Debate, Team Debate)  
Rhian Gareth B De Leon (Cardoner/10-Chabanel): six golds (Arts, Social Studies, History, Team Debate, Scholar’s Bowl Team, 28th Overall Team) + three silvers (Literature, Debate, Team Challenge)
Henry James B Escaño (La Storta/9-Fernandes): one silver (Team Debate)
Alexander Matthew Garcia (Pamplona/10-Zuraire): five silvers (Science, Special Area, Debate, Team Debate, Team Scholar’s Bowl)
Joaquin Enrique P Guevara (La Storta/9-Fenwick): one gold (Team Debate)
Gerard Oliver Joaquin C Ledonio (La Storta/9-Fernandes): one gold (Literature) + three silvers (Social Studies, Debate, Team Debate)
James Raupert A Manzano (L9-Fernandes): two silvers (Debate, Team Debate)
Joaquin Manuel G Reyes (C10-Canisius):  four silvers (Arts, Special Area, Team Debate, Team Scholar’s Bowl)  
Arnold Christopher L Saulong (Pamplona/10-Whitbread): two golds (Literature, Special Area) + five silvers (Social Studies, Debate, Writing, Team Debate, Team Scholar’s Bowl)
Christian Nicholas C Tiamzon (C9-Baldinucci): one gold (Team Scholar’s Bowl) + one silver (Team Debate)

Ateneo Senior High School 

Simon Charlemagne C Angoluan (ABM/11-Brebeuf): seven golds (Arts, Social Studies, Science, Writing, Team Debate, Team Scholar’s Bowl, 28^th Overall Team) + four silvers (History, Literature, Special Area, Team Challenge)

 
Marie Francesca P Firmalo (HUMSS/11-Hoyos): nine golds (Arts, History, Literature, Science, Special Area, Writing, Team Writing, Team Scholar’s Bowl, 50^th Overall Team) + three silvers (Social Studies, Team Challenge, 87^th Team Overall) 

  
Antonio Ramon A Orfanel (HUMSS/11-Hoyos): nine golds (Arts, Social Studies, History, Literature, Science, Debate, Team Scholar’s Bowl, Team Debate, 28^th Overall Team) + two silvers (86^th Team Overall, Team Challenge)  

Erica Justine P Uy (STEM/11-Tsuji): six golds (Arts, Social Studies, History, Literature, Special Area, Team Scholar’s Bowl) + three silvers (Science, Debate, Team Debate)

The World Scholar’s Cup Tournament of Champions consisted of the Scholar's Challenge (a written exam on the subject areas of Science, Literature, History, Social Studies, Arts & Music, and Special Area/Modern Mythologies), the Scholar's Bowl (a quiz bee on all six subjects), an on-the-spot Collaborative Essay Writing challenge, and three rounds of Team Debates. There were also social & cultural events like the Scholars' Scavenger Hunt, the Scholar’s Talent Show, the Scholar's Ball and the Cultural Fair, which gave scholars the opportunity to interact with students, coaches, and teachers from the 50+ countries which participated in the WSC TOC.  Another events was the College Panel where students currently enrolled at Yale spoke about their experiences on campus and replied to questions asked by the WSC TOC participants.    

All students participating in WSC are called “scholars” and are categorized into the Junior (below 15 years old) and Senior (15 years old and above) divisions. Since some AJHS teams’ compositions included students who were 15 or older, these teams were entered in the Senior division. As such, some of the younger AJHS Debaters had the additional challenge of facing students much older than them. Nevertheless, the Ateneans excelled and still brought honor to both the Ateneo and the Philippines on the international stage.

The students trained with Joel Falgui and Czari Oliveros and were supported by the JHS and SHS administrations, the Computer subject area, and Educational Media Center. The AJHS and ASHS debaters wish to extend their thanks and gratitude to Mrs. Gen Sanvictores, Mrs. Jennifer Concepcion, Mr. Ron Capinding, Mr. Noel Miranda, Mr. BA Coballes, Mrs. Elsa Frago, Mr. Melvin Apo, and most especially to Mr. Jonny Salvador and Mrs. Bitchik Dimalanta for supporting the students in this enriching experience.  

Gratitude is also extended to Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions, Joseph Benjamin Ilagan of Seer Technologies Inc., Thema Tutorial Center, the Tourism Promotions Board, and Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO). The Ateneo delegation also thanks Atty. Arthur Abiera Jr. and Mrs. Anna Bengzon for serving as adjudicators in the WSC TOC 2018.