Pangasinense student wins nat’l Bible quiz

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- A high school student from Pangasinan, who won the first ever national Bible quiz finals, would use her cash prize mainly for the children’s ministry in Bayambang town.

Jireh Ceralde of Turac National High School in San Carlos City, Pangasinan (Northern Luzon), first-placer in the high school category of the Bible quiz national finals held here on Tuesday, January 15, said the ministry was started by her grandmother in 1992, which her family continues to support until today.

“The prize will be used in service to the Lord... It (cash prize) will also be shared with the people (Turac National High School both Junior and Senior High and my family) who helped me to get through,” Ceralde said in an interview via Facebook on Thursday.

“I just feel super blessed for being part of this. I believe God brought me here not just to win in His name but for something much bigger,” she added.

Ceralde noted how she prepared for the national finals with the help of her friends and the administrators in her school.

“As preparation for the national finals, I spent the whole week at the school library and during breaks and my friends help me review through question and answer, and of course, through praying,” she said.

Mikaella Ramirez of Olongapo Wesley School (Central Luzon) won the second place in high school category, followed by Christian Francisco of Urdaneta City National High School in Urdaneta, Pangasinan (Northern Luzon) and Victor Angelo David of Dr. Yanga's Colleges Inc. in Bulacan (Metro Provinces).

In the elementary category, Andrea Allen Alegre of Biga Achievers' Learning Institute in Cavite (Metro Provinces) won the first place, followed by Hanz Efren Abantao of Pasig Christian Academy in Pasig City (National Capital Region), Lei Judiel M. Lucas of St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Bulacan (Metro Provinces) and Nathaniel Desierto of Baguio Pines Learning Center (Northern Luzon).

The winners received trophies and cash prizes amounting to PHP20,000 for the first placer, PHP15,000 for the second placer, and PHP10,000 for the third placer.

Lady Pastor Myra Jalique, national bible quiz coordinator of the Philippine Bible Society (PBS), in an interview Thursday, said 48 elementary and high school students from the different parts of the country participated in the Bible quiz.

The participants are from Mandaluyong City, Pasig, Malabon, Cavite, Bulacan, Pampanga, Olongapo, Baguio, Quezon Province, Iloilo, Bohol, Samar, Cagayan de Oro, at Davao City.

“The activity aims to impart in the minds and heart of the young people the importance of reading the Bible to deepen ones faith in God,” Jalique said.

In recent interviews, she said the country has been celebrating the National Bible Week and the National Bible Sunday, as decreed by past Presidents of the country.

President Rodrigo Duterte last year also issued Presidential Proclamation 124 declaring the month of January as the National Bible Month.

“The celebration attests to the Bible which will make its profound impact on the life of the nations, and how it has moved and inspired many people to include statesmen and social reformers to work for the betterment of other fellow human beings,” she added.

Jalique said the provincial board has also approved Provincial Ordinance 195-2015, declaring and celebrating the National Bible Week in Pangasinan.

Duterte also declared the last Monday of January every year as special working holiday in observance of the National Bible Day through Republic Act 11631, otherwise known as National Bible Day Act, which he signed December last year. (PNA)