Flores bags iGeo silver in historic win for PH
Making history as the first Filipino to win in the International Geography Olympiad (iGeo), Grade 11 student Lorenzo Jaime Flores of Philippine Science High School — Main Campus (PSHS-MC) brought home a silver medal.
Along with batchmate Uriel Victor Escobido, Flores attended the 13th iGeo last August 16–22 under the supervision of coach and Grade 8 Social Science teacher Maria Donna Rebong.
“The iGeo was a great experience. It was my first time to go abroad for a competition, and I realized how much pressure it is when you’re there to compete and not to chill,” Flores said.
When asked what he felt about his historic win, Flores replied, “Honestly, I was thinking I’d come home with nothing, especially since the tests were really difficult. I’m extremely grateful that things turned out okay.”
PGO format to PH team’s disadvantage
Flores and Escobido qualified for the iGeo after bagging the championship in the 5th Philippine Geography Olympiad (PGO) organized by the Geographic Society of the University of the Philippines (GSUP) last February 2015.
Rebong thought there were things to improve about the national competition, however.
“Wala kasing fieldwork sa Philippine Geography Olympiad … sobrang malaking challenge for us ang fieldwork,” Rebong noted.
The iGeo was divided into three parts which accounted for a percentage of the contestants’ overall grade: 40% for the written test, 40% for the fieldwork, and 20% for a multimedia test. Flores mirrored his coach’s opinion.
“Compared to the other teams who had rigorous training with experienced teachers for months and updated books for the competition, our country still has a lot to improve when it comes to iGeo,” Flores reflected.
Rebong confirmed this, saying, “‘Nung kausap ko yung mga ibang team leaders from other countries, may fieldwork na sila sa national competition pa lang nila.”
Escobido believes the GSUP should have helped the PH team more, saying that there could have been more hands-on training from them.
“Kasi sila yung geography majors e. Puro local pa sa PH yung karamihan ng questions [sa PGO],” Escobido remarked.
Apart from the lack of preparations from the PGO, Rebong also believes that the lack of a geography subject in the country’s basic secondary education curriculum was a disadvantage.
“[Ang] tindi ng training nila sa geography kasi isang subject talaga ang geography sa bansa nila so sanay ang mga bata sa pag-develop ng geographic skills nila,” Rebong remarked.
Because of this, Rebong expressed pride in Flores and Escobido.
“LJ and Esco did really well in the competition considering the circumstances na we, Filipinos are not really trained in geography exercises. Sabi nga ng mga iGeo organizers, they feel really happy na nakapag-uwi tayo ng medal at silver pa considering our case na walang geography subject sa basic education natin unlike other countries. I’m really proud of them because I know they gave their best in the competition,” Rebong said.
Gov’t, school support has room for improvement
The school paid for employee Rebong’s airfare but did not finance students’ travel.
Flores expressed his disappointment at this, saying “I honestly think the government was lacking in many ways, from providing training and resources for the competition, to helping finance the trip.”
Escobido wished to settle accounts with the school administration.
“Try pa naming ma-refund,” Escobido said.
Rebong, on the other hand, wanted to consider the administration’s perspective.
“To be fair, ayaw nila mag-set ng precedent na kapag kaya naman i-afford ng student ay susuportahan ng school kasi kailangang i-budget ‘yung pera ng school. Also, sinagot ng school ang registration fee,” Rebong explained.
“[Still], I personally disagree with that policy. For me, ‘can afford’ man o hindi, dapat suportahan ng government kasi competition ‘yun abroad and opportunity ‘yun to represent the country abroad,” Rebong commented.
“Kasi yung mga teams ng mga nakausap kong team leaders, all expenses sagot ng Ministry of Education nila. Sa atin, sina LJ at Esco sumagot ng airfare at ibang gastusin nila. Ako sinagot lahat ng school kasi employee ako nito,” Rebong continued.
Post-competition realizations, hopes
Flores affirmed the importance of geography.
“The competition and the preparation for it made me realize how relevant geography is. It’s not just about countries and capitals, it talks about the distribution of wealth and poverty, wind and tide circulation patterns, and how urbanization and city planning is shaping our future,” Flores reflected.
Escobido also thought that way, saying, “I realized it [geography] shouldn’t just be taken for granted na topic lang sa loob ng isang subject.”
Escobido went on to say how there’s more to geography than its physical aspect.
“Kasi nga there’s urban geography, population, economic, cultural and by studying these, sobrang laki ng magiging understanding ng people about many things in small scale at large scale,” Escobido said.
Rebong, on the other hand, looks forward to preparing for the next PGO.
“Kasi kailangan ipanalo ‘yun para makasama ulit sa iGeo. I also look forward to talking to the organizers of the PGO to improve the format of the national competition para nakakahabol tayo sa preparations ng ibang bansa,” Rebong remarked.
