Fil-Am family: Another shot at US Spelling Bee finals next year?
- Contests -
JOHN HENARES, the proud father of Joseph Henares (who tied for third place in the Scripps National Spelling Bee championship finals held Thursday in Washington, D.C.), e-mailed us about his family’s experience: “We had such a great time in the nationals that we are encouraging Joseph’s 12-year-old sister, Marian, to take us there again next year.”
John, who is homeschooling Joseph, Marian and two other children in Connecticut with his wife Jean, quipped, “No pressure on Marian though.” John grew up in Bacolod City while Jean was raised in La Union.
John added, “My dad in the Philippines just texted me saying that he has seen your write-up in the front page of the Inquirer today. He told me that his cell phone is busy with congratulatory greetings! One thing though that I’d like to clarify is that Joseph is not eligible to do Spelling Bees anymore. The rules state that eligibility is limited only to 8th graders and lower. Joseph is in 8th grade this year.”
