As Negros Occidental celebrates the 22nd Provincial Wildlife Month, students from Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod (CSA-B) and Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) emerged as the top three winners of the 2nd Provincial Wildlife Quiz – Tertiary Level, held at the CHMSU Talisay Campus on November 10, 2026.
CSA-B students Johann Francis Cuachon and Brent Joshua De Castro took first and second place, respectively. They were coached by Prof. Plaridel Tison Jr.
Meanwhile, Marven Cañoneo of the CHMSU College of Education won third place. Coached by Prof. Alberto Dela Cruz, Cañoneo is a fourth-year Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Science student from the Binalbagan Campus.
(fourth from left) Third place Marven Cañoneo of CHMSU, first place Johann Francis Cuachon, and second place Brent Joshua De Castro, both from CSA-B flanked by (from left) PhilBio Field Operations Director Philip Godfrey Jakosalem, Information Officer Keith Brandon Cari-an, CHMSU coach Alberto Dela Cruz, CSA-B coach Plaridel Tison Jr., and Supervising Environmental Management Specialist Maria Elena San Jose of PEMO.
CIER / Enoch Joran Bartolome photos
CIER / Enoch Joran Bartolome photos
(from left) Atty. Julie Ann Bedrio, PEM Officer; VP for Academic Affairs Arjay Alvarado, and Philip Godfrey Jakosalem of PhilBio
Atty. Julie Ann Bedrio, Provincial Environment Management Officer, thanked the participating schools for their continued support of the activities of the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) especially during the Provincial Wildlife Month.
A total of 18 contestants from eight Higher Education Institutions in Negros Occidental joined the second installment of the collegiate environmental quiz. The participating schools were Binalbagan Catholic College, Inc.; CHMSU; Catholic Ming Yuan College, Inc.; Central Philippines Adventist College; CSA-B; Philippine Normal University – Visayas; State University of Northern Negros; and the University of St. La Salle.
In his welcome remarks, Vice President for Academic Affairs Arjay Alvarado congratulated the students and coaches in advance and urged them to continue advocating for biodiversity conservation and climate action, from the four corners of their schools outward to their communities.
Also representing the University were Remuel Togle and Samjay Alonsabe, fourth-year BSED Science students from the Talisay Campus. They were coached by Prof. Kalvin Joy Bauno.
Serving as judges were Field Operations Director Philip Godfrey Jakosalem of the Philippines Biodiversity Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PhilBio) and Supervising Environmental Management Specialist Maria Elena San Jose of PEMO’s Technical Support Services Division. Meanwhile, Kimberly Casipe of PEMO served as quiz master.
The quiz was jointly organized by PEMO Negros Occidental, PhilBio, CHMSU, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
CIER / Enoch Joran Bartolome photos
