The Pautakan Primer

First organized in 1974, the Pautakan has now become one of the much awaited and most prestigious academic contests in Pampanga and is organized by the UP Aguman. Students from the best elementary and secondary schools in Pampanga compete through a series of elimination rounds and encounters to obtain the prestigious title of the Pautakan Champion and the much-coveted championship revolving trophy, which is actually a small scale replica of the famous UP Oblation statue. Once a school becomes the champion in its level for three consecutive years, it gets to keep the said Oblation trophy and be a source of pride and be a proof of the school’s passion for academic excellence.

The Pautakan sets itself apart from other academic competitions because not only does it pit its contestants against each other in a battle of knowledge and strategy, it also lets them socially interact with each other to foster the spirit of friendly competition. Since the Pautakan is scheduled ahead of the many other quiz bees organized by other organizations and schools, it serves as a launching pad for the teams that compete in it, and on the subsequent quiz bees for the rest of the year. Surely, the contestants will see each other often on said competitions, so the UP Aguman ‘breaks the ice’ for these kids by giving them an opportunity to know more about their fellow students from other schools and develop camaraderie in spite of being each other’s contest opponents.

The UP Aguman also recognizes our society’s need for bright minds that are socially aware. Through the Groups Dynamics portion of the Pautakan, the kids can discuss socially relevant issues and freely express their opinions about it, without the pressure or constraint of being graded for their personal views. Thus, the Pautakan invites the students to showcase their mental tenacity in a proactive and pro-student environment.

Unlike other academic contests, the Pautakan runs through three activity-filled days. With its unique contest mechanics, the Pautakan experience is one contest experience like no other, for both the winners and non-winners. Winners bring home the joy of victory and pride for themselves and their school, while the non-winners get to learn from the experience that motivates them to strive harder for excellence not only in future competitions, but in their studies as well.

The Pautakan is not only for the contestants, but also for the coaches and the rest of the audience. The UP Aguman members also prepare a number of interactive knowledge games for them. During the breaks, the non-contestants who witness the event also get the chance to share their knowledge and insights. Indeed, the Pautakan is for anyone who values knowledge and aims to use it for the betterment of themselves and our society.

The Pautakan also showcases Kapampangan wit and intelligence to other regions of the country. The Pautakan winners get the privilege of being the representatives of the UP Aguman, and in essence of Pampanga, in the annual PatalaSanlahi. It is an academic and arts contest organized by the UP Sanlahi Alliance of UP Diliman, of which the UP Aguman is a founding member. Held in the UP Diliman campus, the PatalaSanlahi is participated by the respective winners of the academic competitions of the other regional and provincial organizations that are members of the UP Sanlahi Alliance.

Truly, the Pautakan has become an academic benchmark for the students and schools in Pampanga. Being a part of it can be an experience that one will never forget in one’s lifetime. In fact, some contestants meet each other again in college, and most often, they’d be talking about and sharing their own respective Pautakan memories.

The UP Aguman's Pautakan 2008 is co-presented by:
PNB Life Insurance, Inc.
In cooperation with:
Globe Telecom
Joseph David (Batch 1976A)
Daniel Manalo (Batch 1977B)
Also brought to you by:
Nepo Mall Angeles
Sushiya (SM Pampanga)
Susan Pugeda-David (1976A)

NOTE: This Pautakan Primer was part of the Pautakan Accreditation Proposal submitted to the Division Superintendent of DepEd Pampanga, who eventually approved the it and officially endorsed the Pautakan 2008.