06/12/2025
๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐: ๐ง๐ต๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ท๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐
Looking back on my three-year journey through the 2023, 2024, and 2025 Sukit Kinaiyahan Regional Wildlife Quiz Bowls and the 7th, 8th, and 9th National Wildlife Quiz Bowls, I realize how deeply these experiences have shaped meโnot only as a student, but as an advocate for the environment. Each year brought new lessons, new teammates, new victories, and new disappointments, all of which carved into me a stronger sense of discipline, humility, and passion for wildlife conservation.
It all began in 2023, when I joined my first Sukit Kinaiyahan alongside kuya Airus Esquita, guided by our coach, Maโam Czarina Borja. Held at the Amoroso Building in Pagadian City, this was my first taste of the intensity and excitement of a wildlife quiz bowl. We tied for third place, and for a moment it felt like we werenโt going to qualify for nationals due to a technical issue. But when DENR decided to allow four teams to advance instead of three, a new door opened for usโa stroke of luck that taught me early on that persistence and fairness still find their way through obstacles.
At the 7th National Wildlife Quiz Bowl in Ormoc, Leyte, I stepped into a world much bigger than what I knew. It was my first national-level environmental science competition, and I barely contributed to most answers. We were far behind, but I was too amazed to feel defeated. The ecosystems tour in Mahagnao Volcano and Lake Danao opened my eyes to the beauty we study so often in books. I may not have brought home a medal, but I brought home something betterโa spark.
By 2024, now in 11th grade, I returned to the regional Sukit with more knowledge and experienceโthis time with kuya Timothy Monreal. I finally felt confident. We performed better and placed 2nd, but even now I still think about that buzzer moment I missed. One second late, one press short. It stung, but it also strengthened me. As painful as it is to remember, I learned to accept that sometimes things unfold the way they do for a reason. Our trip to Pasonanca Natural Park afterward helped remind me of why I started doing this in the first placeโnot just to win, but to learn.
A month later, we went to Butuan for the 8th National Quiz Bowl. I was more prepared this time, more sure of myself, but still we missed the podium. Even then, Bega Falls was waiting for us the next dayโa reminder that even after setbacks, water still falls, and life still moves.
Then came 2025โmy final year, my last chance, my closure. Together with kuya Jade Marley Lamatan and Maโam Borja, I entered the Sukit Kinaiyahan for the last time. We dominated the qualifiers, placing first, and for a moment I felt unstoppable. But when the buzzer round began, anxiety crept in, ruining the momentum that felt so solid minutes before. Every hesitation felt like a stone tied to my chest, but still, we fought. We finished 2nd again, and even if we fell short of 1st place, I was proud. Because this time, I was no longer driven by fearโI was driven by experience.
A few weeks later, we went to Negros Oriental for the 9th Nationals. We studied harder than ever, chasing the dream of a top 10 finish. And for a moment, we were leadingโwe tasted what winning might have felt like. But slowly, our steps slipped, and we fell short by 8 points. It was painful to swallow, especially knowing it was my last. But Balinsasayao Twin Lakes soothed something inside me. Surrounded by rich biodiversity, hearing the forest breathe, watching the calm lake reflect the skyโI felt peace. I felt grateful.
These three years taught me more than any textbook ever could. I learned about endemic species, conservation laws, ecosystem dynamicsโbut I also learned about myself. I learned how to accept losses with grace, how to turn frustration into motivation, and how every failure is just fuel for growth. I met friends, mentors, and teammates who shaped me. I saw places I never imagined seeing. I learned to represent my school with pride, not because of what I won, but because of what I learned and who I became through every question asked and every answer earned.
I will forever miss the late-night reviews, the thrill of competition, the feeling of carrying my schoolโs name, and the quiet joy of learning about the earth we fight to protect.
Because in the end, this chapter is more than just a journeyโit is a memory that will stay with me whenever I hear birdsong, see a species name, or remember the sound of applause under bright gymnasium lights.
โ๐ต๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
.โ
by: Paul Emmanuel V. Dosdos
