#ProudViscans rank 7th at the National Forestry Olympiad

For the Visayas State University (VSU) forestry team, the journey through the 15th National Forestry Olympiad was not simply a test of technical knowledge—it was a measure of resilience, preparation, and teamwork. 

Competing against 26 schools across the country, the Viscan delegation ultimately rose to 7th place, proving once again the strength of VSU’s forestry program on the national stage.

Held from February 21–27, 2026 at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), the competition gathered 26 forestry schools nationwide for a week-long showcase of skill and scientific mastery in the field. 

Representing VSU were Jholina May Notarte, Aaron Ken G. Lastimado, and Roxanne Alexandra C. Pito, with Justin D. Binueza serving as observer, under the guidance of coach For. Christian Albert Martinez and with the support of For. Leyminda L. Marañon on behalf of the Department of Forest Science.

Despite limited preparation time, the Viscan team delivered a remarkable performance across several events. Their efforts earned them 3rd place in the Quiz Contest, 4th place in Forest Surveying, 5th place in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and 8th place in Leaf Identification, placing VSU among the country’s strongest forestry institutions.

From the Classroom to the National Stage

For Notarte, a third-year forestry student from Hilongos, Leyte, the Olympiad presented challenges that pushed the team beyond their comfort zone.

“The hardest part of the entire NFO event is the Plant Disease Identification,” she related. “We weren’t able to prepare much for it because to be honest, we barely had two weeks to get ready for this national olympiad. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to cover much on the topic. Pero we still made sure to give our best.”

The Forest Plant Disease Identification event—newly relaunched in this year’s Olympiad—tested participants’ ability to analyze specimens, identify pathogens, and determine causal agents affecting forest health. Alongside other technical competitions such as Leaf Identification, Wood Identification, Tree Measurement, Forest Surveying, and GIS, the event highlighted the diverse competencies required of future foresters.

For graduating forestry student Lastimado of Baybay City, Leyte, the team’s strong finish was rooted in the knowledge they had built long before the competition.

“Basically, it’s the lectures that we had in the classroom by our instructors that really helped us,” he said. “Also, we would attribute our win to the hard work, guidance, and overtime review of our passionate instructors in Forestry who really took a fraction of their time to help us prepare for the national olympiad.”

He also credited the mentorship of their coaches, adding, “Of course, our coaches, Ma’am Lei Marañon and Sir Christian Albert Martinez, really knew how to lift us up every time we felt down while we were there.”

For Pito, a graduating forestry student from Mayorga, Leyte, the experience was more than an academic competition—it was a deeply personal milestone.

“I dedicate this win to my family, especially to my mother,” she said. “Also, I would like to dedicate this win to our coaches for their time, support, and their sacrifices for us. Most especially, I would like to thank our team. The NFO really built our camaraderie and teamwork.”

Her reflection echoes a key spirit of the Olympiad—while the events test individual knowledge and technical ability, success ultimately rests on collaboration and mutual support.

For coach For. Martinez, the defining moment of the Olympiad was not during the awarding ceremony but in a quiet moment after one of the competitions.

“I think the most memorable part was after the Mensuration,” he recalled. “Walking home to our accommodation, I noticed that they were so down because they felt badly about their performance in that activity. The girls really cried.”

Yet what followed, he said, revealed the character of the team.

“But what amazed me the most was their showing of resilience—after crying, they dusted themselves, wiped their tears, and studied again for the next day’s events like nothing happened. I’m really proud of them,” he said.

A legacy of forestry excellence

The National Forestry Olympiad, first staged in 1994 at UPLB with only seven pioneering schools and five events, has grown into the country’s premier forestry competition. Endorsed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Olympiad continues to evolve, integrating both traditional field-based competencies and modern technologies such as Geographic Information Systems.

Now in its 15th edition, the event welcomed a record 26 participating universities, reflecting the expanding scope and rigor of forestry education in the Philippines.

For the Viscan delegation, finishing 7th overall among the nation’s top forestry schools stands as a testament not only to their academic preparation but also to their determination to rise above every challenge—much like the forests they study and seek to protect.

This article is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 4: Quality Education; SDG No. 10: Reduced Inequalities; and SDG No. 17: Partnerships for the Goals. 

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