In an inspiring display of academic excellence and sibling achievement, two Filipino expatriates have claimed top honors at the prestigious Scripps Spelling Bee UAE competition. Warren Bacongallo, a 12-year-old homeschooled student, emerged as the national champion while his younger brother Rei Martus, aged 10, secured second runner-up position in the February 2026 finals.
The brothers’ journey to spelling supremacy began years earlier in their native Philippines, where they first watched international spelling competitions online. Their relocation to the UAE in October proved transformative, allowing them to compete in the regional qualifiers for the world’s most prestigious spelling championship. Their victory earns Warren the opportunity to represent the UAE at the Scripps National Spelling Bee finals in Washington DC.
Their educational approach, orchestrated by mother Jenelyn—a former teacher—combines structured homeschooling from 8 AM to 1 PM daily under the American curriculum with innovative practical learning techniques. The family has transformed routine activities like grocery shopping into mathematical exercises, with budgets allocated to the children’s bank accounts to instill financial literacy alongside academic knowledge.
Competition organizer Vishwa Babbar reported significant growth in participation, with 850 students from 145 schools and over 40 nationalities competing—a substantial increase from 580 participants in 2024. The open category format allows students from grades 2 through 8 to compete equally, creating remarkable scenarios where younger contestants frequently outperform older competitors.
Emirates Islamic Bank sponsored the event, awarding Dh15,000 to the champion, Dh5,000 to each runner-up, and Dh1,000 to the top 40 contestants. Beyond monetary rewards, the competition serves as a confidence-building platform, with organizers even conducting a parents’ spelling round to help adults appreciate the psychological challenges their children face on stage.
Warren now prepares to study Greek and Latin roots ahead of the international finals, where he will compete against 250 elite spellers worldwide. Meanwhile, his brother Martus aims to claim the championship title in next year’s UAE competition, potentially setting the stage for another remarkable sibling achievement.