his
This composition, whose title translates to "Noble Hymn of the Tagalog Region," was commissioned by Emilio Aguinaldo in 1898 to serve as the national anthem of the First Philippine Republic. Although it was soon replaced by Marcha Nacional Filipina (now Lupang Hinirang), what is the original title of this work, whose music was composed by Julio Nakpil?
Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan
Considered one of the greatest works of literature, this tragic heroine is the central character of Leo Tolstoy's 1877 novel. Her tale explores themes of passion, adultery, social hypocrisy in Imperial Russia, and ends tragically with her death by suicide at a railway station. What is the name of this titular character?
Anna Karenina
This essential organ, located behind the stomach, plays a dual role as both an exocrine gland, producing digestive enzymes (like amylase and lipase) that flow into the small intestine, and an endocrine gland, producing vital hormones (like insulin and glucagon) that regulate blood sugar. What is the name of this organ?
Pancreas
Due to the British occupation of Manila during the Seven Years' War, the Spanish colonial government led by Governor General Simón de Anda y Salazar relocated the functioning capital of the Philippines to the town of Bacolor in Pampanga. What is the two-year span during which Bacolor officially served as the temporary capital of the Spanish colony?
1762-1764
The shortest complete sentence in English can be represented in two ways, depending on whether the subject is implied or explicitly written. What are these two different complete sentences, one being a single-word imperative and the other containing the shortest written subject and verb?
Go! and I am.
In the history of the popular "empty orchestra" system, Filipino inventor Roberto del Rosario is widely credited in his country with patenting the Karaoke Sing-Along System in 1975. However, which Japanese businessman and engineer is recognized internationally for manufacturing and selling the very first commercial electronic machine for this purpose—known as the "Sparko Box"—starting in 1967?
Shigeichi Negishi
Dating back to approximately the 23rd century BCE, this Mesopotamian High Priestess of the moon god Nanna in Ur is the earliest known poet and author in recorded history whose name has survived. Her works include "The Exaltation of Inanna" and "A Hymn to Inanna." What is the name of this Akkadian princess?
Enheduanna
Named after the Scottish botanist who first described it, what is the term for the seemingly random, erratic movement of microscopic particles suspended in a fluid or gas, caused by collisions with the surrounding molecules?
Brownian Movement
Published in 1933, this work is considered the first novel written by a Filipino author entirely in the English language. Meaning "The Fate" or "The Destiny," what is the title of this pioneering novel and its author?
Ang Kapalaran ni Zolio Galang
Who is the Disney Princess recognized as both the first to appear in a feature film (1937) and the youngest in the official Disney Princess line-up, being only 14 years old in her debut story?
Snow White
The Katipunan, officially known as the Kataastaasan Kagalanggalang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan and abbreviated as the KKK, was a revolutionary organization founded in 1892 by a group of Filipino nationalists. Enumerate them.
Andres Bonifacio, Deodato Arellano, Valentin Diaz, Ladislao Diwa, Jose Dizon, Teodoro Plata
Which final, experimental novel by James Joyce is renowned for its dream-logic, cyclical structure, and features the longest single word in literature: the 101-letter thunder-word "Bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk," which represents the sound of a great fall?
Finnegans Wake
What is the astronomical term for the hypothetical sphere surrounding a black hole beyond the event horizon, where spacetime is dragged by the rotating mass and nothing can remain stationary relative to a distant observer?
Ergosphere
This is a traditional Kapampangan Catholic observance held during the nine nights leading up to Christmas Eve. The event involves a procession of parols (lanterns) that represent the eighteen major historical barangays of the city, often accompanied by a brass band, culminating in a midnight mass. What is the name of this festive and spiritual tradition?
Lubenas
This tiny, stirrup-shaped bone is located in the middle ear and is officially recognized as the smallest bone in the human body. It transmits sound vibrations from the incus to the oval window of the inner ear. By what name is this bone known?
Stapes
This Filipino person from the Island of Manila became an unlikely celebrity in Britain in the late 1820s and 1830s. Billed in traveling shows as only 2 feet and 2 inches tall, he gained widespread fame for his public appearances, and his later marriage to an English woman was a popular topic in the British press. What is the name of this historical figure, who was arguably the most famous Filipino in 19th-century Britain?
Don Santiago de los Santos
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." is the iconic opening to which historical novel by Charles Dickens, which is set in London and Paris during the turbulent era of the French Revolution?
The Tale of Two Cities
In biochemistry, what specific class of enzymes is responsible for transferring a phosphate group from a high-energy donor molecule, usually ATP, to a specific substrate molecule, often resulting in the activation or inactivation of that substrate?
Kinase
In the indigenous Kapampangan cosmology, what is the name of the colossal mythological creature, often described as a gigantic serpent, crocodile, or combination of a bird and serpent, whose attempt to swallow the sun or moon is the traditional explanation for a solar or lunar eclipse?
Lawu
The viral TikTok boy group Boy Throb, which features the member Darshan performing remotely from India, openly claimed that their immigration lawyer stated they needed to reach a specific social media milestone to secure the necessary work visa for Darshan to join them in the United States. What was the exact follower count they claimed they needed to achieve for this purpose?
In pre-colonial Philippines, especially in Visayan society, what was the term for the male priestesses or shamans who traditionally performed spiritual rituals, acted as mediators between the natural and spiritual worlds, and often took on feminine roles and appearance?
Asog
The famous quarto collection of William Shakespeare's poems, published in 1609, is widely considered the ultimate source for his non-dramatic poetic achievement, containing the sequences dedicated to the "Fair Youth" and the "Dark Lady." What is the total number of sonnets in this specific, iconic collection?
154 Sonnets
This largest moon of Neptune is notable for its retrograde orbit (meaning it orbits opposite to the planet's rotation) and is one of the few geologically active moons in the outer solar system, featuring active nitrogen ice geysers. What is the name of this moon, which is thought to be a captured Kuiper Belt Object?
Triton
This festive Kapampangan rice dish is often called the "Filipino paella." It is traditionally cooked in a bilao (woven tray) with sticky rice (malagkit), coconut milk, turmeric (which gives it a distinct yellow color), and often chicken and chorizo. What is the name of this rich, savory dish, a staple at celebrations?
Bringhe
Recognized as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, this Middle Eastern capital city has served as a center of civilization for millennia, notably as the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate from 661 to 750 AD. What is the name of this historical city, which is the capital of modern-day Syria?
Damascus