Lucban, Quezon – In support to the Proclamation no. 1030, declaring November as Organic Agriculture (OA) month, the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) CaLaBarZon held its 2nd Search for Kabataang OA 2017 (formerly Search for Batang OA) in Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) – Lucban on November 8, 2017. The activity was also in line with the celebration of 3rd National Organic Agriculture month.
The Search for Kabataang OA 2017 is an agricultural quiz bee actively participated by 60, 3rd to 4th year college students of Batangas State University (BatSU) – Lobo, Cavite State University (CavSU) – Main Campus, Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU) – Siniloan, University of the Philippines – Los Banos, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) – Mulanay and SLSU. The quiz bee was divided into three rounds – elimination, semifinal and final round. During the elimination round, participants were provided with questionnaire. Out of 60 participating students, only top 35 moved onto the next round. On the semifinal round, the top 35 competitors were simultaneously asked by the quiz master. First 10 who answered correctly (written in a meta card) advanced to the first half of the final round. The remaining top 10 students competed in the easy (5pts.), average (10pts.) and difficult (15pts.) round. Top five contestants with the highest scores up for the second half of the final round. Individually, the top five battled through hands-on demonstration on procedure in preparing one kilogram of fermented fruit juice (FFJ). At the very end of the competition, only one was crowned as Kabataang OA 2017:
Champion: Alyzza Pontesor (SLSU)
1st runner-up: Camille Tumambing (SLSU)
2nd runner-up: Ana Verdadero (SLSU)
3rd runner-up: Jonnel Albania (BatSU)
4th runner-up: John Arrogante (UPLB)
The top five students received cash prize, medal, trophy and certificate of recognition from ATI CaLaBaRZon.
“Sana itong Kabataang OA ay maging hamon sa inyong lahat para ipagpatuloy yung aming nasimulan. Maging motivation ito para mas galingan nyo pa at lagpasan yung aming nagagawa sa larangan ng pagsasaka at pangisdaan. At higit sa lahat maging ilaw sa inyong daan tungo sa inyong tagumpay sa buhay,” shared by Ms. Marites P. Cosico, Center Director of ATI CaLaBaRZon. Guests from SLSU including Dr. Amalia E. Almazol, Dean of College of Agriculture and Dr. Marissa C. Esperal, Vice President for Academic Affairs graced the opening program.
Generally, the activity aims to create awareness on organic agriculture as well as boost enrolment in agriculture and agriculture-related courses in CaLaBaRZon Region. This will be an annual activity of ATI CALABARZON. The 1st Search for Batang OA was held at LSPU – Sta. Cruz on November 18, 2016.