RIYADH: The Philippine International School in Alkhobar (IPSA) has won the Perpetual Cup Trophy during the 7th Regional Inter-School Academic, Talent and Skills Competition in Manama, Bahrain. It beat 10 other Filipino schools in the GCC, the Middle East and Africa.
“Becoming the champion was, of course, our aim. But more than that we enjoyed the fun of meeting counterparts from other schools in the region and Africa.
The competition actually paved the way toward more goodwill and camaraderie among us,” said Alfonso B. Reyes, IPSA board of management chairman, adding that he hopes that the different schools will again meet for the same competition toward the end of 2010.
Elite International School in Riyadh (EIS) participated only in the “On the Sport Painting Contest” where it emerged as the champion and in the “Battle of the Brains” where it placed fourth.
Veronica C. Punzalan, IPSA principal, said, “Our students’ physical and mental preparation and their desire to be among the best Filipino students studying in Filipino schools in the Gulf and other Middle East and African countries were instrumental in IPSA’s victory.”
The competition is held annually by the Order of the Knights of Rizal of the Middle East and Africa Region (OKOR-MEAR) in honor of the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal. IPSA’s Nicoli John M. Baluyot was crowned Young Jose Rizal 2009 and awarded the Best Suit and Best in Talent titles while senior student Carmina E. Panotes was crowned 1st Runner-Up in Young Maria Clara 2009 and awarded the Best in Costume title. Karyl Daye B. Gascon and Katrina A. Porciuncula were runners-up in the painting contest.
The IPSA contestants’ trainers were Mary Jane Soriano, Maleorone M. Darping, Dr. Nestor M. Valenciano, Olivia T. Araya, Michael Adducul (high school academic coordinator), Arnold Villasis, Rowell O. Arevalo Nancy Barrot, Rebecca Magallona, among others.
The schools that participated in the competition were:
• Gems International School, Jeddah
• Al-Jazeera International School, Dammam
• PISCO, Abu Dhabi
• Philippine International English School, Kuwait
• Philippine School in Doha, Qatar
• New Kuwait Philippine International School
• Fawaq International Science School of the Philippines, Riyadh
• Elite International School, Riyadh
• Palm Crest International School, Riyadh
• Millennium International School, Riyadh
