WHEN ASKED to spell words such as “meringue” and “fuchsia,” teachers can also be put on the spot.
This happened in Spellympics, a spelling contest and fundraising event that aims to spread social awareness to the Ateneo community. The contest, sponsored by Tugon, was held August 8 at Escaler Hall.
Three representatives each from the four Loyola Schools, and some representatives from the administration, participated in Spellympics. Proceeds from the event will benefit Tugon’s partner institutions.
Comedy
Spellympics was designed to be a light, entertaining, and “all-for-fun” contest, said Clement Darwin Huang (III BS CTM), one of the project heads. “While the event is a spelling bee contest, professors were told to purposely boast and tease each other to add to the comedic value.”
Greeted by a mix of hoots and cheers from students, Spellympics’ contestants entered the hall carrying signs that represented their school. For the event, teachers from the School of Social Sciences even donned different types of hats—an army hat, a Viking helmet, and a Spartan helmet.
“Grade school pa ako nung sumali ako sa (when I joined) spelling bee,” said Spellympics champion Jethro Tenorio, an assistant instructor from the Filipino Department. “Teacher na ako, magse-spell pa rin ako! (I’m a teacher already…and I’m still spelling!)”
Words spelled ranged from the French “chamois” to everyday “omission.”
The audience applauded and laughed at the “creative” spelling that some teachers came up with: “espresso” became “Figaro,” and “defenseless” was spelled as “I love you, Ms. Coo” by History Instructor Neville Jay Manaois. “Ms. Coo” refers to History Instructor Stephanie Marie Coo.
Almano Fermano, better known as “Ate Alma,” was happy when she was selected as a wild card participant for the Spellympics. Ate Alma mans the SEC B photocopying machine.
“Mahal na mahal niyo ako lahat …tsaka mahal na mahal ko kayong lahat (All of you really love me… and I really love all of you),” she said.
The event consisted of four rounds: each school competing as a group, representatives from each group battling with each other, the top two groups competing, and the representatives of the winning school (Humanities), vying as individuals for the championship.
Encore
Spellympics Project Head Vicente Tanseco III (IV BS Psy), said it was easy convincing the teachers to participate in the event. “They [the professors] were game after finding out that Spellympics is really for the sexually abused girls and abandoned babies of Tugon’s partner institutions,” he said.
Kimberly Joyce Ong (III BS Mgt) said Spellympics was a great event. “Hopefully, there’s another [Spellympics] next year.”
Information Systems and Computer Sciences Assistant Professor Philip Truscott said participating in the Spellympics taught him how to conquer his nerves especially when spelling in front of 300 people.
For Tanseco, Spellympics allowed the students to see the teachers and personnel in a different light. “By willingly participating in our event, the students will see that these professors do support a social cause.”
“Hopefully, the students will learn to have a brighter way of looking at the professors and personnel, and have a more personal relationship with them,” she said.
