For a stunning fifth time in a row, the Ateneo de Naga University High School clinched the Overall championship at the recently concluded 14^th UP Harong Academic Festival, held from October 28-30, 2009 at the Naga City Youth Center.

AdNU clinched top spots in different solo events, including the "Boses Kan Jovenes" Public Speaking Contest with Dwight Tan getting the nod for first place, and the Sural Essay Contest with Ivy Villaverde in a firm 2^nd place. The said institution’s Team A (composed of Merselle Montes, John Bulaong and Clare France Maulion) also proved a contender in the Harong Nin Dunong Asiawise Cup Quiz Bee.

Ateneo also shone brightly in what many consider the “main event” of the Academic  Festival, the "Tingog Nin Rason" Debate Tournament. Adjudged Best Speaker of the tournament was Dwight Tan of Ateneo Team A (Tan, Merselle Montes, Kristy Mae Figuracion), which was the highest-breaking (garnering the highest score) team with a spotless record of 3-0 in the Elimination Rounds. When the tournament concluded, Ateneo B (Johanna Malang, Katharine Joy Nerva, Ralph Christian Bodollo) stood strong at third place while Ateneo A retained its undefeated streak in clinching the Championship, marking the first time in Acadfest history that an institution won thrice in a row (Ateneo also won the tournament in 2007 and 2008). Thus, the roving trophy which has been used since the tournament’s inception is now in permanent possession of Ateneo.

Other participants of the event included Maiko Francisco Rugeria ("Ladawan Nin Kabikolan" Photojournalism contest), Mark Arjay Bajo (Quiz Bee), Majelyn Molarte ("Gayon Bikolnon" Poster-making contest) and Ateneo C (Janina Imperial, Vincent Felix Sotaso and Katrina Marie Valle) of the Tingog nin Rason Debate Tournament.

The 14^th UP Harong Academic Festival is an annual event by UP Harong, an organization of UP students hailing from Camarines Sur, with the help of several members of the UP Debate Society. This year’s theme revolved around the theme “BREAKING THE APATHY: The Critical Role of the Bicolano Youth in Political Participation and Social Transformation.”