October 27-28, 2009 – After the intense battle between the best Elementary students in Pampanga the day prior, it was the turn of the brightest high school students to showcase their intellectual talent in the High School Division of Pautakan 2009. With the theme Sican: Gearing towards Kapampangan Ingenuity and Excellence, Pautakan 2009 was headed by UP Aguman Educational Committee Chairperson Ruth Elaine Henson (Langgotsi 2006B).

A total of 13 schools registered in the High School Division of the Pautakan 2009: Chevalier School (CS), Don Bosco Academy (DBA), Don Teodoro V. Santos Institute (DTVSI), Holy Angel University (HAU), Holy Family Academy (HFA), Jocson College, Inc (JCI), Jose C. Feliciano College (JCFC), Mary Help of Christians School (MHCS), New Era University (NEU), Pampanga High School (PHS), Philippine Science High School – Clark (PSHS), St Scholastica’s Academy (SSA) and the University of the Assumption (UA).

The team pairings for the Elimination Encounters were determined by a drawing of lots by the team captains. As per Pautakan contest rules and mechanics, the Elimination Encounter winners were grouped into the Winners’ Pool with a +10 advantage points while the losing teams in the Losers’ Pool. Since there was an odd number of teams, the unpaired team, MHCS, automatically qualified for the Winners’ Pool but without the +10 advantage points.

PHS, HFA and DBA, which were all Top 5 placers in last year’s Pautakan, beat their Elimination Encounter opponents. SSA, another Top 5 placer the year prior, was able to edge out the defending champion HAU with a score of 30-20.

After the last Elimination Encounter between DBA and PSHS, the Losers’ Pool Eliminations immediately followed.

Defending champion HAU easily lead the pack with 150 points after the 25-question Losers’ Pool Elimination round. CS and PSHS also finished in the Top 3 while the rest of the schools were eliminated from the competition.

HAU, CS and PSHS joined the rest of the teams in the Winners’ Pool for the last round of elimination before the Championships. After the Easy and Average rounds in the Winners’ Pool Eliminations, HFA (95pts), UA (85), DBA (85), CS (70) and HAU (70) were poised to take the 5 spots in the Championship Rounds. SSA and MHCS were not far behind with 60 points each. But the Difficult Round turned out to be SSA’s round as it scored additional 40 points to surge into the Top 5. HFA lead the round with 115 points followed by UA with 105 points. Also earning Championship berths were DBA and HAU.

The Championship Round continued the morning after during Day 3 of the Pautakan 2009. The 5 remaining teams competed with each other in one-on-one Encounters. Each win earned them additional 10 points that was added to the advantage points they earned based on their ranking in the Winners’ Pool Eliminations. The order of the 10 Championship Encounters was determined through drawing of lots with the team captains.

After the first 4 Championship Encounters, HFA, SSA and DBA already competed in 2 Encounters each while UA and HAU have competed in only one. With two wins against HFA and SSA, DBA rose to #2. With a win over UA, HFA was still the leader of the scoreboard.

DBA wasn’t able to continue their winning momentum and lost their 2 remaining Encounters against UA and HAU. Defending champion HAU, on the other hand, continued their winning streak by beating DBA and HFA, thus taking the lead of the overall tally with 40 points. HFA was not far behind with 35 points.

The 8^th Encounter between UA and HAU was the dramatic climax of the competition. It was HAU’s last Encounter and winning it will complete their sweep of the Championship Round and give them the Pautakan Championship trophy for the second consecutive year. UA, for its part, must beat HAU to prevent the sweep and remain in contention for the Final Encounter.

Halfway through the Encounter, UA was leading 10-0. Then HAU was able to tie the score by answering the 8^th question, which was about Chemistry. UA snatched back the lead by answering the next question, which was about Biology. Finally, HAU forced a tie for the second time by nailing the 10^th question. The first Muslim caliph after Muhammad was asked and HAU correctly answered “Abu Bakr”. The stalemate was finally settled after the 2^nd knockout question. It was in the category of General Information & Trivia and the contestants were asked to name 2 of the 4 NBA teams that do not end with an ‘s’. HAU, which was then an all-girl trio, buzzed in first and answered “Orlando Magic and Miami Heat”. The HAU team erupted in cheers after the acknowledgment of their correct answer because they were officially still the Pautakan High School champions. This was the first back-to-back High School Championship since HFA won in 2001 and 2002.

Even if HAU was already declared the Pautakan Champion, the last 2 remaining Championship Encounters, which were between UA and SSA and between SSA and HFA, were still important to the said schools for the 2^nd Place honor was still in contention. To finish 2^nd, HFA only needed to beat SSA while SSA needed to beat both HFA and UA. Meanwhile, to finish second, UA needed to beat SSA and SSA must beat HFA. In the end, HFA and UA both trounced SSA during the respective Encounters.

PAUTAKAN 2009 – HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION

CHAMPION: HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY

Members: Camille Patricia Y. Calma, Royette Abby D. Mamangun, Ruth Ann Marie M. Dimalanta, Linette Marielle V. Medina and Jessica Rae M. Turla, Coaches: Ms. Adelfa Mercado and Mrs. Lolita Manlapig

2nd PLACE: HOLY FAMILY ACADEMY

Members: Anne Kristine Rivera, Faula Anne Bordon, Dana Katrina S. Maglanque,  Jan Kiel S. Abuel and Jasper Mark de Luna, Coaches: Tricia Superio and Jennifer Penilla

3rd PLACE: UNIVERSITY OF THE ASSUMPTION

Members: Viviane Cen Apostol, Carlo Robert Mercado, Edward Anthony Domingo, Danver Vicent Mallari and Kent Jordan Nunag, Coach: Ms. Richel Duay

4th PLACE: DON BOSCO ACADEMY

Members: Paolo Sampang, Gio Earnest Dela Cruz, Bon Lustestica, Zjan Turla and Jun Jung, Coach: Ms. Rosario M. Zapata

5th PLACE: ST. SCHOLASTICA’S ACADEMY

Members: Loren Amor Gozum, Patria Hena Lagason, Louise Angela de Vivar, Grace Kelly Ang and Kim Michelle Ang, Coaches: Mr. Lloyd Estrada and Ms. Juliet Tayag

Mr. Gilbert Joseph Abueg and Ms. Adelle Sotto once again served as judges for the High School Pautakan. Additional members of the panel of judges were Mr. Dan Aldrin De Castro and Mr. Jely Galang. Mr. De Castro is from the Institute of Mathematics (UP Diliman) while Mr. Galang is from the Department of History (UP Diliman).

A number of Aguman alumni graced the event to show their support for the event: Joeven Rex Dizon and Andre Galang (Salagpi 2001A), Pie Pamintuan and Jean Dimabuyu (Kaputul 2004A) and Frida Chia Galban (Bucayo 2005B).

The Awarding Ceremonies was covered by CLTV 36, the official media partner of Pautakan 2009.

LEFT: The purple-themed medals and trophies for Pautakan 2009 winners, RIGHT: The Pautakan 2009 judges with UP Aguman officers

LEFT: The HAU Champs will relish the possession of the Oblation trophy for another year, RIGHT: The intense 8th Championship Encounter between HAU and UA

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