Silliman University (SU) placed second runner-up in both the Individual and Team categories of the Philippine Society for Microbiology (PSM) Visayas Microbiology Olympiad 2026 held on October 14, 2026, at Colegio San Agustin–Bacolod.
Representing SU in the Team category were College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) students Jasmine Villar (BS Biology IV), John Rich Dumahil (BS Biology III), and Rhynodz Noblefranca (BS Biology III).
Terence Conrad O. Reyes (BS Biology III) represented the University in the Individual category.
They were coached by Asst. Prof. Yushabel M. Romagos of the Biology Department.
The Olympiad brought together students from 10 higher education institutions across the Visayas to promote academic excellence, camaraderie, and interest in microbiology.
Participating institutions included the University of St. La Salle–Bacolod, University of San Agustin, University of the Philippines Visayas, University of San Carlos, and West Visayas State University, among others.
The Individual category featured a 100-item pen-and-paper examination, while the Team category used a board-raising format. Questions covered major subjects included in the Philippine Academy for Microbiology (PAM) Certification Examination for Registered Microbiologists (RMicro).
Dumahil described the experience of representing SU for the first time as both an honor and a nerve-racking challenge, particularly as the team prepared for the competition while managing final examinations.
“We never expected to make it into the top three, especially while juggling our preparations with our final examinations. Despite the pressure, we learned to enjoy the process, embrace the experience, and appreciate the opportunity to represent our university,” he said.
Reyes likewise described the achievement as gratifying and unexpected, especially amid the demands of finals week.
“Who would have thought that we would place especially when we were already juggling with our schedules during finals week?” he explained.
Reyes also expressed gratitude to their instructors, particularly Romagos, for sharing their knowledge and providing support.
The Olympiad served as a pre-convention activity of the 33rd Annual Regional and Scientific Meeting of the Philippine Society for Microbiology, in which Silliman University also participates.