October 26, 2009 – The brightest students of Pampanga converged at the Holy Angel University Gymnasium to participate in the UP Aguman’s Pautakan 2009. With the theme Sican: Gearing towards Kapampangan Ingenuity and Excellence, this 36^th edition of the annual academic quiz show continues the legacy of celebrating the intellectual talent of the Kapampangan youth. Pautakan 2009 was headed by UP Aguman Educational Committee Chairperson Ruth Elaine Henson (Langgotsi 2006B).

After the registration and opening ceremonies, the contestants and coaches participated in a group dynamics activity. Such similar activity is always held in the Pautakan in order to acquaint the contestants with each other and to help foster a spirit of friendly competition. This year, the prepared activity was a “Jologs Quiz Show” courtesy of Felipe Pablo IV (Langgotsi 2006B). Participants were grouped into 10 teams and answered a series of trivia questions about the local showbiz and local entertainment scene.

In the afternoon, the programme resumed with the start of the Elementary Division competition. A total of 8 schools registered in the Elementary Division of the Pautakan 2009: Achiever’s Special Education Center (ASEC), Angeles City SPED Center (ACSC), Chevalier School (CS), Don Bosco Academy (DBA), Holy Family Academy (HFA), Mary Help of Christians School (MHCS), St Scholastica’s Academy (SSA) and Sto Rosario Elementary School (SRES).

For the Elimination Round, the teams answered 25 questions revolving around Mathematics, General Science, Arts & Literature, Philippine History & Current Events and General Information & Trivia.

The Top 3 schools, HFA, ACSC and ASEC, qualified for the Championship Round with corresponding advantage points. The teams competed with each other in one-on-one Encounters where each win was worth +15 pts.

The first Championship Encounter was between #2 ACSC and #3 ASEC, which ASEC won. The following Encounter between #1 HFA and #3 ASEC proved to be an exciting one, especially with what was at stake. Given HFA’s advantage points from the Elimination Rounds and ASEC’s win over ACSC in the previous Encounter, whoever would win the match-up will be the eventual Pautakan 2009 Elementary Champion.

Neither team gave the other an easy way to the top prize. Halfway through the Encounter, ASEC had a 20-0 lead over HFA. But HFA correctly answered the 8^th and 10^th question which led to a tie. After three Clincher questions, the tie was still not broken with HFA answering the 1^st Clincher question while ASEC answering the 3^rd one. After a series of knockout questions, ASEC finally nailed the Encounter by nailing a General Information & Trivia question about the Disney movie, Princess Diaries. The fictional country in the movie was asked and ASEC buzzed in to give the correct answer – Genovia. It is ASEC’s first time to join the Pautakan.

The 3^rd and final Encounter was also not without pressure. It was effectively a battle for 2^nd Place between HFA and ACSC which HFA overwhelmingly won, 50-10.

PAUTAKAN 2009 — ELEMENTARY DIVISION

CHAMPION: ACHIEVERS’ SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTER

Members: Aldrich Arceo, Sam Louis Bautista, Joshua Miguel Pineda, Andrei Lorenzo Salta and Nicolo Francis Gomez, Coaches: Mrs. Maricar C. Serrano and Mr. Alvin Butsayo

2nd PLACE: HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY

Members: Karl Angelo G. Cunanan, Krysch Chalia V. Atienza, Christian Edwin C. Baluyut, Jasmin F. Inaldo and Ken Carlo S. Angeles, Coaches: Mr. Allan S. Galang and Mr. Wilfred O. Arcoles

3rd PLACE: ANGELES CITY SPED CENTER

Members: Jamika Ann E. Roque, Celine Calma, Christian John Cordero, Alyanna Nicole Carlos and Jasmine P. Bathan, Coaches: Ms. Lucia D. Sarmiento

A new and improved buzzer-timer system was utilized this year, courtesy of Lester Nacu, a junior Computer Science student at UP Diliman and a former applicant of the organization. The buzzer sound has been integrated into the system and the graphical interface was improved.

Mr. Gilbert Joseph Abueg, Ms. Adelle Sotto and UP Aguman President Kevin Peñalba composed the panel of judges for the Elementary Division. Mr. Abueg is from the Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) while Ms. Sotto is from the Department of Mechanical Engineering (UP Diliman). Both have helpfully served as Pautakan judges in the previous years and have been lecturers in past CEERs (College Entrance Exam Review, another UP Aguman annual project).

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