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OPTICS / FLEDGLINGS Omila to battle in THE QUANTUM ACADEMY Diwa Pasiklaban Nationals by: Keziah Acharon Ma. Jayna Koleen F. Omila, a consistent honor student of the Quantum Academy’s grade 9 class is on her way to take home the Pasiklaban crown. Omila, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jay and Kathy Omila, also a cousin of the previous Pasiklaban C h a m p i o n Aeron Sanidad, is setting her eyes on the top spot of the national competition that will be held at the Mind Museum in Taguig, March 14-16. Omila managed to stride her road to the national level after knocking out 8 other contestants from other schools in the division held at the Notre Dame of Dadiangas University - IBED (NDDU-IBED). As a division winner, she proceeded to the cluster semi-finals which included the winners from Davao City, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro City, Koronadal City, and Kidapawan City. Luckily, she topped the online exam, bringing her to the nationals. The DIWA Pasiklaban sa Paaralan is a nationwide mobile interschool quiz competition on Science, Math, Languages, Literature, and General Information. It travels around the country on board on a custom-built van equipped with laptops, which are used as playing consoles; a server that is the “brain” of the competition; a mobile sound system; and LCD projectors. Pasiklaban tours to approximately 65 destinations yearly, with each event capable of attracting thousands of students, teachers, administrators, and even parents. LUC merits Lo for excellent academic performance by: Keziah Acharon Jonathan Lo, a Q-kid during his elementary years, was recognized by his current university, Loyola University Chicago (LUC), for his outstanding scholastic performance during the first semester of 2013-2014 academic year. The university’s dean, Reinhard Andress, sent Lo a letter commending him for his excellent dedication in undergraduate education on the 10th of February. Lo was a superb Quantum student excelling in all academic and non-academic areas as described by Teacher Kozet Licas, the school principal and former teacher of Lo. Licas said that even as a young student, Lo was already expected to reach greater heights. She said Lo’s being in the Dean’s List of LUC College of Arts and Sciences shows a real example of the school’s motto: Per Ardua Ad Alta. Lo’s perseverance, dedication, and character brought him to where he is now. When asked to describe Lo when he was in elementary, the school principal described him to be more of a homebody than a person who goes out. He would rather read books and references than waste time going around malls and shops. He would be seen on the floor or corners of bookshops and read. She said Lo can spend one whole day just staying in the bookstore. Licas then further said that Lo was passionate about research and analytical studies but he surely was able to balance social and academic life. LUC is a private Jesuit university in Ilinois and is known to be the largest Jesuit university in the United States. It was established by the Roman Catholic Society of Jesus and was then named St. Ignatius College. The said university has also expanded overseas - instituting campuses in Rome, Beijing, and in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City. Ranked 1 in Ethics throughout the United States, LUC was also named a best value school by U.S. News & World Report. OPTICS / FLEDGLINGS 2014 I 3