CFO conducts Rizal Quiz Bee among PSO junior high school students, PS Bahrain and IPSJ lauded back-to-back victors

Pasay City — The Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) wrapped up its annual literary contest for Philippine Schools Overseas (PSOs) to showcase history, culture, arts, and heritage, through its junior high school category quiz bee; with the 2025 theme on the life, works, and writings of Dr. Jose Rizal.

Twelve (12) participant schools vied for the junior high school category of the said quiz bee, namely: the International Philippine School in Italy (Italian Republic); the Philippine International of Phnom Penh (Kingdom of Cambodia); Philippine School Bahrain (Kingdom of Bahrain); Philippine School Oman (Sultanate of Oman); Philippine School Doha (State of Qatar); The New Filipino Private School (United Arab Emirates); Al Danah International School, Al Taj International School, Elite International School, International Philippine School in Al-Khobar, International Philippine School in Jeddah, and Palm Crest International School (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).

Also in attendance were the quiz bee’s corps of judges, composed of notable experts from the University of the Philippines – Diliman, namely: Dr. Jimmuel Naval, Dean of the UPD College of Arts and Letters; Dr. Rhodalyn Wani-Obias, and Dr. Janet Reguindin-Estella from the UPD Department of History. The aforementioned being the body whose expertise and knowledge on Rizal contributed to the formulation of the quiz bee’s roster of questions, in both the elementary and junior high school categories.

In his opening remarks, CFO Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II encouraged participants to “follow in his [Rizal’s] footsteps” to attain a brighter future for themselves, and the nation, and extended his gratitude to the efforts of PSO teachers in “keeping the spark of Filipino identity alive” among overseas Filipino youth.

Earning back-to-back triumph with the elementary category held last 10 December 2025, Philippine School Bahrain, represented by Ms. Isabella A. Alan and Mr. Rojan Raine J. Pinto, and the International Philippine School in Jeddah, represented by Mr. Nizam A. Amerol and Ms. Chloe A. Abude, secured the first and second places respectively. The aforementioned schools were followed by Philippine School Oman, represented by Mr. Chriven Dale Baylosis and Ms. Charlize Rhauane P. Tecson, securing third place.

The named victors bagged exclusive Rizal portraits painted by renowned overseas Filipino artist, Mr. Virgilio Cuizon. The quiz bee concluded with a message from Ms. Marita Del Rosario-Apattad, CFO Project Management Division Chief, who lauded participants’ efforts in devoting themselves to the study of the life, works, and writings of Dr. Rizal, and expressed her hope that the latter would serve as an inspiration to be good Filipino citizens.