#alpacanation

Pwaa!

Exactly a year ago, on this day—the 10th of July—the first World Scholar’s Cup regional round was held in my city: Manila, Philippines.

It’s been so long since those two days… Two days in which I first experienced hugging an alpaca plushie, staring at Joga’s shiny head, screaming “Ay yo Scholars!” along with Burch and Chauncey-rolling through every victory.

But as I look at old photos and memories that I’ve taken from those two unforgettable days, I find myself wondering how I’ve gotten this far.

I wonder how I’ve won things such as school top scholar and earned eleventh in debate in that one fateful regional when I have never debated ever before.

I wonder how I’ve attended this year’s Hanoi Global Round after qualifying in both regionals held in my city and even passing unto the Tournament of Champions this year.

Looking at all those photos, those videos, bringing back all the memories that have stuck with me since those two days, I find myself fascinated by this little program we call The World Scholar’s Cup.

I’m fascinated in how I went from barely knowing what an alpaca was to excitedly searching alpaca videos on YouTube, in how I suddenly gained a newfound voice in learning how to debate, and in how this little competition has positively affected me in so many ways.

What I believe we all don’t know before entering our first World Scholar’s Cup round is that WSC is more than just a competition—it is a gathering; a community of insights and ideas simply waiting to break through.

That is what makes the World Scholar’s Cup so special.

It is incredibly different from any other competitions I’ve been to, breaking the rules of multiple-choice quizzes in the Challenge, combining two different styles of debate into one format, and even allowing students to cheat in the Bowl.

In complete honesty, WSC has allowed me to regain my interest in academic competitions.

It has shown me how different cultures, people from opposing corners of the world can come and collaborate together to discuss our history, our possible future, and the current happenings in our world.

It has shown me how academic tournaments do not have to be stiff and strict. It reminds me to have fun in learning and contributing to the ideas that swarm around our society.

Because of this, I would like to say a huge thank you to the entire staff behind the World Scholar’s Cup—you are all the reason why this community has spread all over the world, the reason behind what truly makes WSC special for each and every single student.

Thank you, Daniel and Burch, for creating this amazing gathering of thoughts and ideas. You have truly created something even more than special—something that has spread across our world in more ways than one, something that I will always be grateful for having experienced and if I can, I will do forever.

Thank you, also, to the rest of the staff behind the World Scholar’s Cup. You have all worked so hard for us Scholars, you have all been jetlagged and tired from bringing this wonderful thing around the world and we Scholars are incredibly grateful for all your efforts in assisting, scoring, hosting, and everything else you do every year at each of our rounds.

Rest assured, whether you go to only five rounds, thirty rounds, or all rounds held around the world every WSC season, you are appreciated and greatly respected by us Scholars.

And thank you, Scholars from all over the world. You are the soul, the life, and the heart of all this. You have all formed such a wide, wonderful community that has never failed to make me smile and laugh.

We—staff, scholars, former scholars, volunteers, coaches and parents—are truly the World Scholar’s Cup community; a community full of life, full of brilliant ideas and minds, and full of pwaas that others who aren’t familiar with WSC may find confusing.

(copied from my post in the World Scholar’s Cup Official Group)

That’s all for now! Any questions, comments, suggestions? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment! Let’s have a discussion!!

Hello! Here are some important details to keep in mind when reviewing/researching about the death and assassination of Julius Caesar:

•Four men led the conspiracy. Gaius Trebonius: served as a praetor and consul and had fought with Caesar in Spain. Decimus Junius Brutus Albinus: governor of Gaul and had been victorious against the Gauls. Gaius Cassius Linginus: served with both Crassus and Pompey as a naval commander and who some believe conceived the plot Marcus Junius Brutus: also served under Pompey and who was the brother-in-law of Cassius.

•the conspirators’ final decision was to strike during a session of the Senate at the Theater of Pompey on March 15, 44 BCE (also known as the Ides of March).

•The conspirators chose a double-edged dagger or “pugio,” about eight inches long. Daggers were better for close contact and could be hidden under their togas.

•Some people believed these omens signified the upcoming assassination: Caesar’s horses that were grazing on the banks of the Rubicon were seen to weep. A bird flew into the Theater of Pompey with a sprig of laurel but was quickly devoured by a larger bird Caesar’s wife, Calpurnia had a dream of him bleeding to death in her arms. A soothsayer named Spurinna warned him to beware of danger no later than the Ides of March.

•When Caesar entered the theater a man named Artemidorus tried to warn him of eminent danger by thrusting a small scroll into his hand, but Caesar ignored it and did not read the scroll.

•Casca dealt the first blow with his knife; Caesar immediately tried to defend himself by raising his hands to cover his face.

•The remaining conspirators surrounded the shocked Caesar, striking him in various areas (Cassius struck him in the face, Decimus to the ribs).

•Caesar collapsed, dead, ironically at the foot of a statue of his old enemy Pompey.

•In all there were twenty-three blows.

•Caesar did not say “E tu, Brute!” (You, too, Brutus!) as Brutus plunged his dagger into the dying dictator but “You, too, my child!” 

•Brutus even issued coins celebrating the assassination, known as the Ides of March.

(Taken from http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/caesar2.htm)

I hope some of these facts prove to be useful! If you have any more facts about Caesar’s assassination that they’d like to share, don’t hesitate to leave them by the “submit” part of this blog for your tips to get posted here as well.

That’s all for now! Any questions, comments, suggestions? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment! Let’s have a discussion!!

Hello!

Here's a small (perhaps helpful, in a way) guide and background to the many alpacas that rule over the World Scholar's Cup.

(Some Reggies and Skittles the Rainbow Alpaca)

For those who are new to WSC here's some basic information you'll want to know before starting your WSC journey:

Back in 2006, when The World Scholar's Cup was first beginning with very small rounds, the founders and team behind WSC (I'll make a guide on them, as well!! Watch out for it soon) decided to hold a mascot contest--a small election to determine what will become the official WSC mascot and eventually win the hearts of Scholars all around the world in a few years.

It isn't determined whether there were previous eliminations with other creatures in this election, but we know for sure that in the end, only three contenders were left to take the title of World Scholar's Cup mascot-- These were the penguin, the emu, and the alpaca.

As you can tell, the alpaca pwaa-d it's way to victory, triumphing over the rest and winning as the official WSC mascot.

("Pwaa!" is the sound a happy alpaca makes, by the way. You'll be hearing this a lot all throughout WSC so be prepared to learn how to pwaa like a true alpaca-scholar)

Ten years later, WSC is known for its alpaca stuffed-animals, alpaca logo, alpaca puns and more. A few of the alpacas in WSC include:

•Reggie

This is what you call the small mini alpacas given away every regional round. They come in a lot of colors as well. The Reggies I earned from the two regional rounds held in my city are dark pink and white. I named them Berry and Cotton respectively.

•Jerry

These are the big alpacas given away at the Global and Mini-Global rounds. This is also the name for WSC's overall mascot. Like the Reggies, they come in many, many colors. Scholars in most regional rounds are also offered a chance to win their own Jerry by participating in an alpaca balancing competition. In my round, scholars were asked to send one "champion" from their school to the front (I was chosen *cough* or forced by my school to go represent them as I had won top scholar for my school in the first regional round held in my city) where they would choose a Reggie, place it atop their head, and try balancing it for as long as possible while being asked to do certain actions. For example, we were asked to turn a complete 360 degrees, squat, and even make our Reggies kiss. I was part of the last four competing to get a Jerry, but sadly, I didn't make it.

•Jerry 2.4

Also known as Giant Jerry, this is a big, cream-colored alpaca the WSC staff carries with them to every regional (and Global/Mini Global plus Tournament of Champions!) round. This Jerry is supposed to be a replacement for Jerry 2.0. Despite the hope it represents for scholars, however, Jerry 2.4 has a dark past. After being spotted by Joga (a member of the WSC team) while taking pictures with Jerry 2.4, he told me how during a talent show at the 2016 Global Round in Bangkok, Jerry 2.4 suffered a rip to his back due to accidental tearing while accompanying a (group, perhaps?) of scholars during their performance.

We shall always honor you and your bravery through even the darkest of times, Jerry 2.4. Always.

•Skittles

An extremely adorable rainbow-colored alpaca that, like Jerry 2.4, is brought to every round. This alpaca is a popular stuffed-animal for scholars, usually appearing in most selfies with alpacas scholars choose to post on their social media accounts.

•Mini-Skittles

These are very special alpacas--you can only receive a mini-skittles at the Tournament of Champions, held once a year. If ever you are lucky enough to receive a mini-skittles, love it with all your heart, care for it, treasure it, and never ever eat it.

Any stories you want to share about the WSC alpacas? I'd love to hear them! Leave a comment or send me anything via the "Submissions!" part of this blog!

 That's all for now! Any questions, comments, suggestions? Don't hesitate to comment! Let's have a discussion!!

Hello!

This link leads to a short video explaining how The Birthday Problem works. Give it a watch! It may just help you better understand the concept of The Birthday Problem.

That’s all for now! Any questions, comments, suggestions? Don’t hesitate to leave a comment! Let’s have a discussion!!