November 30, 2020 — In celebration of the 4th National Climate Change Conference (NCCC), the Department of Education – Disaster Risk Reduction Management Service (DepEd-DRRMS), Save Philippine Seas (SPS), and the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc. (PRRCFI) held the 2nd Battle of the Brain Corals (BOBC) virtually last Nov. 21.

For its second iteration, the BOBC online quiz show featured questions on climate change, where participants answered questions on the Earth’s subsystems, climate science, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and the interconnectedness of climate change and wildlife.

Ynarenza Pauline Bulatao and her off-cam teammate Chito Arceo Jr. from the Angeles City Science High School bested 16 other students from different schools across the nation.

In an interview after announcing the winners, Bulatao said that she did not expect to win the online quiz show. When asked if she is fond of talking about climate change, she said yes because for her, it is very relevant nowadays. She is also a part of an organization called (YACAP) Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines which she regards as her inspiration.

Learners Jude Lourence Segovia and Erl Lozada of La Consolacion College-Bacolod placed second with 42 points followed by the learners from Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod, Eric Las, and Edessa Coralde, who ended the bout at 39 points.

Other participating schools are Samar National School, Muntindilaw National High School, Dipolog City National High School, Ramon Magsaysay National High School, Kidapawan City National High School, and Santiago City National High School.

Livestreamed on DepEd Philippine’s official Facebook page, the BOBC was divided into three rounds: the Shore, Intertidal, and the Abyss.

Meanwhile, the “Tide Breaker” round was prepared in case of a tie. These terms used were inspired by the concepts of the sea. Serving as the judges were DepEd climate change focals Lara Jean L. Salaysay and Justine Beatrice Apolinario from DRRMS and Joseph V. Gutierrez from the Bureau of Curriculum Development (BCD).

This education entertainment show is also part of the engagement activities of the SPS and PRRCFI’s online campaign “Change the Current,” which aims to raise awareness and inspire meaningful science-based actions that could resolve climate change.

“We need community and support of friends towards a better climate for our planet,” host Dave Albao of the PRRCFI mentioned, who was also one of the mentors in the recently concluded Green Beat Initiative: An Online Environmental Journalism Training for Campus Journalists.

Anna Oposa from SPS also remarked about how grateful she is of the DepEd-DRRMS’ trust in the organization’s campaign.

“They have been such a big help in putting this event together, especially the DRRMS who have been so supportive and so active in climate change activities and helping us organize the Battle of the Brains Corals.”

The BOBC is part of an array of activities lined up for the Department’s 4th NCCC which was in celebration of the Philippine Climate Change Consciousness Week.

To learn more about the conference, please visit: https://bit.ly/4thNCCC. (Read DepEd’s 4th National Climate Change Conference goes online)

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This article was written and prepared by Luis Miguel Nazareno (Student-Journalist) and Maria Ria Calub (School Paper Adviser) from Biñan Integrated National High School, Division of Biñan City who are graduates of DepEd-DRRMS and AYEJ.org’s Green Beat Initiative: An Online Environmental Journalism Training.