(PSS) — The Public School System successfully staged a Commonwealth-wide Spelling Bee on Jan. 22 after a three-year break. Alleena Villaluz, an eighth grader at Saipan International School, took first place for correctly spelling the word “creances.” A long, thin cord attached to a hawk’s leash to prevent it from escaping during training is called a creance. Its plural form is creances.
The competition was held at the Grandvrio Resort Saipan’s Fiesta Hall, and there were a total of 42 spellers. Villaluz clinched victory in the 12th round.
Grace Christian Elementary School’s Chloe Hayul Shin finished second. The seventh grader correctly spelled “ulna.”
Round 10 determined the third-place winner, Zimo You, a sixth-grade student at Agape Christian School. The Round 10 word was “yabbies.”
Finishing fourth was eighth grader Branden Asher Reyel of Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior-Senior High School of Rota.
The top three spellers will represent the CNMI in the regional Scripps Spelling Bee in Guam sometime this year.
The revival of the CNMI competition coincided with the 100th founding anniversary of the first Spelling Bee in the United States. The last time the Bee was held in the CNMI was in 2022.
This year’s competition was organized by PSS’ Office of Instructional Services led by Dr. Rizalina Liwag with the support of Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho.
Best spellers
Each public and private school on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota sent two of their best spellers to the CNMI-wide competition.
They were: Alleena Villaluz, Grade 8, Saipan International School; Andrew Yang, Grade 7, Hopwood Middle School; Audrey Reyes, Grade 5, Grace Christian Academy; Branden Asher Reyel, Grade 8, RHIJSHS; Brienne Gayle A. Dizon, Grade 3, San Vicente Elementary School; Chasidy Julene Arriola Diaz, Grade 4, Oleai Elementary School; Chloe Hayul Shin, Grade 7, Grace Christian Elementary School; Dai’laures Sandbergen Pangelinan, Grade 8, Tinian Middle School-High School; Erin Phair, Grade 5, Garapan Elementary School; Fatima Hossain, Grade 5, Tinian Elementary School; Fayriah Lizette Maratita, Grade 5, Sinapalo Elementary School; Frankie Evan Tudela Santos, Grade 5, Northern Marianas International School; Hope Villagomez Tenorio, Grade 5, Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School; Inos G. Repeki, Grade 7, Tanapag Middle School; Iyani Lizama Muna, Grade 6, Saipan Community School; Jamie Andrea Alejandro Palabay, Grade 7, Green Meadow School; Jaze Enzo Pineda San Nicolas, Grade 8, Mount Carmel School; Sally Zhen, Grade 6, Dandan Middle School; Jeordan Bacuyag Buduan, Grade 5, Saipan Community School; Jerry Ada Deleon Guerrero Jr., Grade 5, Kagman Elementary School; Jhon Joseph Salas, Grade 6, Tanapag Middle School; Jill Ann Jasmin Fernandez, Grade 4, Oleai Elementary School; Lex Emma Ray F. Flogio, Grade 3, Koblerville Elementary School; Lilliana Terie Attao Villagomez, Grade 7, Mount Carmel School; Logan Zane T. Atalig, Grade 6, Sinapalo Elementary School; Maria Francoise Johanne Cruz, Grade 3, Tinian Elementary School; Marq Hernandez, Grade 7, Hopwood Middle School; Maru Xiamara Bernardo, Grade 3, Golden Harvest International School; Mia Dawn E. Jicko, Grade 5, San Vicente Elementary School; Naomie Ajoste, Grade 5, William S. Reyes Elementary School; Nathalia Banayat Dagos, Grade 5, Golden Harvest International School; O’rien Reyes, Grade 8, Dandan Middle School; Piper Rose Christian, Grade 8, TMHS; Raina Francine Lagadia Santos, Grade 4, Kagman Elementary School; Samantha A. Toca, Grade 4, Garapan Elementary School; Scott Shi, Grade 8, Agape Christian School; Selina Santiago, Grade 8, Saipan International School; Tianni May D. Cabrera, Grade 4, Koblerville Elementary School; Washington Sinfuego Sicad, Grade 5, Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School; Zaijan Lorenzo Hocog, Grade 8, RHIJSHS; Zhenghua Wu, Grade 5, William S. Reyes Elementary School, and Zimo You, Grade 6, Agape Christian School.
The competition pronouncer was Vinnie Orsini, PSS Social Studies program manager.
The judges were Instructional Technology and Distance Education Program Director Dr. Lorraine Catienza, English Learners Program Manager Charles Huston III, and Saipan Southern High School educator and Pre-AP English Language and Pre-AP Seminar teacher/adviser Kadmiel Rey.
Celebration
Dr. Liwag said that great effort from all stakeholders was involved in ensuring the successful revival of the Spelling Bee.
“The fact that we have once again assembled the greatest spellers from our schools for a single competition makes us extremely proud,” she said. “Our PSS-Instructional Services team was able to make sure the competition ran as smoothly as possible thanks to the enthusiasm, dedication, and focus shown by our students, parents, and schools,” she added.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Camacho praised the PSS-Instructional Services team and the participating public and private schools for their “collaboration and partnership in giving our kids every opportunity that supports their learning and growth.”
“This is another way to celebrate our kids who are good at everything while showing all our stakeholders that partnership works,” Dr. Camacho said.
The CNMI-wide Spelling Bee was launched as a partnership between PSS and private schools on Saipan in 1999.
This year’s CNMI Spelling Bee champion is Alleena Villaluz, an eighth grader at Saipan International School.
Students from public and private schools take turns competing in the various rounds of the Spelling Bee.
It was an exciting, nerve-wracking competition for students, their parents, and their coaches.
A speller takes center stage as her fellow competitors look on.
The CNMI’s best spellers from public and private schools gather for a group photo during the Public School System’s Spelling Bee at Grandvrio Resort Saipan’s Fiesta Hall on Jan. 22, 2025. Alleena Villaluz, an eighth grader at Saipan International School, is this year’s best speller. Joining them on stage are Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, Senior Director for Instructional Services Dr. Rizalina G. Liwag, competition pronouncer Vinnie Orsini, PSS Social Studies Program Manager, and competition judges Instructional Technology and Distance Education Program Director Dr. Lorraine Catienza, English Learners Program Manager Charles Huston III, and Saipan Southern High School educator Kadmiel Rey, as well as school administrators from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
PSS photo
