International Christian Academy (ICA) has made history as the 1st team from the Philippines to win in the International History Bowl Asian Championships which was held at Hwa Chong International School in Singapore on June 16-18, 2017. It is a laudable record that out of 52 school teams from countries all over Asia, the team came off victorious.
“It is our first ever 
Asian Championships held in Singapore. Over 200 students have come from the countries throughout Asia, including the first teams from the Philippines and the Maldives to come to the Asian Championships. The field for the History Bowl, at 52 teams, is also a record – thanks for your support!” The IHBB executive director, David Madden wrote in the IHBB official website.
The history bowl tournament was a hard-fought victory for Aji Espino, Harriet Bazarte and Angelo Espino, who despite so much mental pressure and physical exhaustion, still managed to be resilient and steadfast all throughout the seven-round competitions. The team was able to garner two grand trophies and four gold medals under IHBB Middle School Division. ICA Team is now going to represent the Philippines in the International History Olympiad and International Geography Bee World Championships 2018 – to be held in Berlin, Germany next year.
Mr. Froilan Rivera, who served as ICA official coach, felt so overwhelmed by the achievements of the Team Philippines at the awards ceremony, “I’ve never felt more patriotic than ever before, when I, together with the team, was asked to come up the stage holding the Philippine Flag…I couldn’t hold back the tears while singing the Lupang Hinirang right before a huge crowd of different nationalities at the auditorium…also standing and paying homage to our beloved country.”
Aside from being the grand champions in the IHBB Asian Championships 2017, which is the main event in the three-day quiz bee competitions, the team has also earned other valuable awards: 1st runner-up in the International Academic Bowl (which includes all subjects like Science, Math, Arts, Literature etc.), 1st runner-up in Sports and Entertainment Quiz Bee, and 2nd runner-up in the International History Bee and an outright qualifier for the International Geography Bee and International History Olympiad 2018, Berlin Germany.
It is also worth mentioning that ICA Team came off victorious during the History Bee and Bowl Championships in the Philippines, under Junior Varsity and Middle School Divisions, held at De La Salle Greenhills last March 17, 2017. The team’s victory in this competition catapulted its members to the IHBB Asian Championships at Hwa Chong International School, Singapore. The team members who won in this Philippine History Bee and Bowl tournaments were: Kyle Guzman, Jane Harriet Bazarte, Rainel Faminialagao, Jose Joaquin, Franco Nicomedes, and Justin Uy.
The students were motivated to join in this competition owing to the fact that they could serve as our country’s flag bearers – that young Filipinos like them can also compete academically in the global arena. Secondly, it was also their earnest desire that through this competition they could bring glory to God.
“Lord, help us win …and not just win in this competition, but more importantly, win for your glory.” This was the fervent prayer of the team captain, Kyle Guzman, the team captain, at the outset of the long series of the international quiz tournament.
Soli Deo Gloria !!!
Mr. Froilan S. Rivera
IHBB Asian Championships Coach/ICA Social Studies Teacher