Tag Archives: National Spelling Bee

Emil Guillermo: Can’t get enough of those National Spelling Bee champs? The Filipino word didn’t stump them. Nor did the Fijian word, as South Asians dominate.

Must say it was an exciting finish last night.  And the real history was made when Vanya Shivashankar became co-champ. Her sister Kavya won in 2009 on the word laodicean.

No siblings have ever won the title in the 88-year history of the National Spelling Bee.

Read my story on NBCNews.com/Asian-America.

It’s been said the Spelling Bee is the Indian Super Bowl.  Indeed,  South Asians have won 7 straight years.

Last night, some potential stumpers included a Filipino word. Not filicite, that’s got nothing to do with Filipinos.

And thamakau, which has nothing to do with cows.

But POBLACION!

Now that’s a Filipino word.

And co-champ Gokul Venkatacham  got it in the 7th round.