A first-time participant, the 14-year-old student will take the written examination in January to qualify for the national competition in Washington, D.C.
Last year, GCA’s Vinni Orsini topped the examination in the Pacific region which he represented in the national contest.
Mamaril was the regional Spelling Bee champion last year who vied for the national title in the states.
“I feel proud and happy that I made it here,” she told Variety. “This is my first Geography Bee and I’m hoping this will give me another opportunity to be in the national contests representing our school and our islands.”
The national contest is scheduled for May 2009.
Mamaril said she will again join the Spelling Bee next year.
“I feel confident that I am going to do good this time,” she added.
Mamaril is also on the school’s mock trial and forensic teams, and regularly participates in sports.
To prepare for the qualifying Geographi Test, she vows to work diligently with her teachers, coaches and advisers.
She will focus on reading, research and reviews.
Heather Linday, event coordinator, said to trim down the number of participants, GCA conducted preliminary rounds in each class from fourth to eighth grades.
On Friday, the 35 contestants were trimmed down to 10 finalists from whom two were chosen for the championship round.
Linday expects Mamaril to stay focused on her studies and preparations.
“We’re hoping that she won’t be too overwhelmed with studying. We wish her the best,” she said.
She added that the competition aims to promote geographic awareness among students.
“It is important that they know not only the other areas and countries in the world…but their origins and cultures, too,” she said.
In the finals, Mamaril defeated sixth grader Hanako Shirata.
The other students in the top nine were Neill Conti, Tim Dela Rosa, Abigail Dimaano, Camille Masilungan, Emman Parisan, Kenichi Shirata, and Josiah Trinidad.
The school-level Bee was the first round in the 21st annual National Geographic Bee, which is sponsored by the National Geographic Society.
