Notre Dame of Jolo College (NDJC) emerged victorious in the Pre-Service Teachers’ Regional Quiz Bee, held during the 25th Annual Pre-Service Teachers’ Regional Convention with the theme “Teaching as a Calling in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Leading Learning with Purpose and Technology”, on November 14, 2025, at Astoria Plaza, Grand Astoria Hotel, Zamboanga City.
Representing NDJC were Mr. Moh’d Brian S. Tan and Mr. Yahya Ibrahim G. Yusop of BSED ENGL, who dominated the Quiz Bee with a total score of 44 points, outperforming strong contenders from across the region. Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology and Saint Vincent’s College Inc. settled for second and third places, respectively.
In an electronic interview with Tan, he shared his experiences and feelings about bringing the championship trophy amidst challenges and uncertainties.
“The events leading up to the competition were stressful, as we had to balance traveling and preparation. I was honestly unsure if we would even place anywhere within the winning ranks to the point that I just focused on simply not letting the NDJC institution down. The victory, though, isn’t mine alone, as my partner and I were on constant teamwork all throughout. So I say the journey and experience make the victory and our return all the more rewarding,” he said.
On the other hand, Yusop expressed his gratitude to those behind their success in a separate electronic interview, highlighting the first victory of the College in this kind of event.
“I am so grateful na may maiuwi kaming recognition and championship trophy pa. I guess this is the first time sa aming department since the attendance sa convention. And honestly, I can’t believe that historical ang pagkapanalo namin. That’s why, with this pride and honor, I dedicate this victory sa buong Batch Aurora Nova 2026, COE, NDJC, and Sulu,” he said.
The NDJC team was guided by College of Education (COE) faculty members Ms. Qaswa Awali, LPT, and Ms. Aniza Bauddin, LPT, MAEd, throughout their preparation. The event brought together pre-service teachers from nine tertiary institutions across ZAMBASULTA (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi) with the Quiz Bee hosted by Ateneo de Zamboanga University.
NDJC’s delegation, comprising fourth-year Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) and Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English (BSED ENGL) students attended the event alongside their faculty mentors, marking a significant achievement for the institution.
