Four teams from The Philippine School Dubai brought home 52 gold and silver medals from the World Scholar’s Cup (WSC) 2026 Dubai II Regional Round — now officially known as the Dubai (May) Round — marking the school’s first participation in the competition in seven years. The three-day event ran from May 16 to 18, 2026, with Junior Division matches held on May 16 at Sunmarke School, Senior Division bouts on May 17 at the same venue, and a combined Day 3 finale on May 18 at the Arcadia Apollo Theatre.
The WSC is an international academic competition built around four events — Team Debate, Scholar’s Challenge, Scholar’s Bowl, and Collaborative Writing — all tied to the 2026 theme “Are We There Yet?” Teams are composed of three students, and those who perform well at regional rounds advance to one of the WSC’s Global Rounds, with top finishers earning an invitation to the Tournament of Champions at Yale University.
All four TPS Dubai squads — Team 916, Team 917, Team 918, and Team 919 — secured Global Round qualification, scheduled later this summer.
Among the standout performers was Team 916, composed of Jillian Denise Pilapil (Grade 10-A), Sean Ezekiel Cosmiano (Grade 9-A), and Ocean Thomas Tayo (Grade 11-E). The team swept Debate Champions Gold Medals, Team Debate Gold Medals, a Writing Champions Gold Medal, challenge medals across History, Literature, Science, Social Studies, and Special Area, and a Champion Scholars Gold Medal.
Team 917 — Nathan Ged De Torres (Grade 9-A), Ceana Nadin Gonzales (Grade 10-A), and Alexandria Athena Urbano (Grade 10-A) — claimed Debate Champions medals, Team Bowl and Team Debate Gold Medals, a Writing Champions Silver Medal, and a Special Area Challenge Gold Medal.
Team 918, composed of Bianca Jaz Buenaobra (Grade 9-A), Danielle Wilhelm Ablang (Grade 11-F), and Samantha Clarice Tivi (Grade 10-A), earned Debate Champions Gold Medals, Team Debate Gold Medals, Team Bowl Silver Medals, a Science Challenge Gold Medal, and a Writing Champions Silver Medal.
Team 919 — Lawrence Jed Genova (Grade 11-C), Samantha Surabia (Grade 10-D), and Angeles Marthena Agabao (Grade 10-E) — took home Debate Champions Silver Medals, Team Bowl Gold Medals, Writing Champions Silver Medals, a History Challenge Silver Medal, and WSC Global Round Qualifier medals.
The awarding ceremony was led by TPS Dubai School Principal Dr. Rommel E. Pelayo. The teams were coached throughout their preparation by Mr. Christian Panaligan.
