Winners of ‘Brainsbee’ in
Victorias announced

Grade 6 pupil Kenneth Berja, 12, of Victorias Elementary School, who represented Barangay 13, was named top winner of the spelling contest in the Brainsbee ni Albee sa District 3 Victorias City finals, held at the Don Alejandro Acuna Yap Quina Sports and Cultural Center in Victorias September 28, a press release from Brainsbee organizers said.

Lindsay Joseph Martinez, 15, of Barangay 7 and a senior high school student of the Negros Occidental National Science High School, was first place winner in the math and science quiz.

Both city champions won a total of P19,000 in cash prize from the Betty Bantug Benitez Foundation, and the office of Rep. Alfredo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District), Brainsbee program proponents, with contribution from Victorias Mayor Francis Frederick Palanca and Vice Mayor Jerry Jover, the press release also said.

Their coaches, Edna Villanueva and Bernard Belleza, received cash gifts of P5,000, each the winners’ barangays won a mini-public address system, while their schools received a portable amplifier.

The two winners are now preparing to represent Victorias City in the grand district finals of the Brainsbee on October 12, that will see the face off of the best and the brightest in spelling, math and science of the province’s third district, the press release also said.

Other winners in the Victorias City finals were, for spelling: 2nd - Juan Emilio Cuesta of Barangay 1 and Victorias Elementary School; and 3rd - Kate Constantino of Barangay 19-A , also of Victorias Elementary School, the press release said.

For the high school level math and science contest: 2nd - Kerr John Porras, Barangay 6A of NONSHS, and 3rd - Shane Padonio, Barangay 18A, of Victorias National High School.

Palanca, Jover, the Sangguniang Panlungsod members, and BBBF executive director Mary Ann Dino welcomed the residents, led by officials of Victorias’ 26 barangays as well as principals, teachers, classmates and neighbors.

Brainsbee, the province’s first community-based academic competition, is a brainchild of Benitez way back in 2009 when he was head of the BBBF, and is now on its fourth run. Ongoing for the last three months, Brainsbee reached a total of 3,213 elementary and high school students in all the 115 barangays of Murcia, Talisay, Silay, EB Magalona and Victorias, the press release said.

The last of the semi-finals in Talisay City will be held 1-5 p.m. October 5 at the gymnasium of the Carlos Hilado Memorial State College Talisay campus. The district championship and final round of Brainsbee will be held on October 12 at the Victorias City Coliseum, the press release added.*

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