What is PBO?

The Philippine Biology Olympiad 2025: Siklab is a national biology convention for students in grades 7-12 that aims to enhance the participants’ interest, passion, and awareness on issues in biology. It shall select the four (4) student representatives of the country for the International Biology Olympiad (IBO), which will be held in our home country, the Philippines, next year.

The Philippine Biology Olympiad (PBO) 2025 presents the theme SIKLAB, a Filipino word that means to spark or ignite, symbolizing the fire of passion for the biological sciences. This year’s theme represents the moment when ideas catch fire – from a single spark of curiosity, into a blaze of discovery. It also encourages students to nurture their scientific interests, push their boundaries, and challenge existing knowledge.

Theme Overview

What is IBO?

The International Biology Olympiad (IBO) is a worldwide Biology competition for high school students bringing together the most gifted biology talents around the world. Through worldwide competition, the IBO aims to identify, inspire, empower, and support the next generation of leaders in the life sciences and to develop their international network. Currently, there are 78 member nations, including the Philippines, with over one million participants worldwide.

Year-by-Year Results

In 2018, our delegates won one silver medal and one bronze medal in the IBO held in Tehran, Iran.

2018

In 2019, the delegates took home a bronze medal, two honorable mentions, and a video competition winner in the IBO held in Szeged, Hungary.

2019

In the IBO Online Challenge 2020, Team Philippines was able to take home one bronze medal.

2020

In 2021, Philippine delegates bagged two bronze medals and two merit citations.

2021

In 2022, three participants garnered bronze medals each, and one received a Merit Citation.

2022

In 2023, three participants took home bronze in the IBO held in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

2023

In 2024, the Philippine delegates bagged one bronze medal and three merit citations.

2024

This year, we strive to maintain or even surpass this level of success in future IBOs.

2025

IMPORTANT DATES

January 18, 2025

Online Orientation Seminar (ORSEM)

March 29-30, 2025

Semi-Finals

January 25, 2025

Eliminations

March 30, 2025

Top 20 Announcement

February 1, 2025

Top 55 Announcement

April 5, 2025

Finals

ACTIVITIES

This year’s competition will consist of three phases: the eliminations, which will be held in satellite testing centers around the country, and a combined semi-finals and finals which will be held in the Ateneo de Manila University.

There will be two examination types, the theoretical exams and the practical exams. Each exam comes with its own phases.

Theoretical Exam

The Theoretical Examination aims to test the participants’ knowledge and understanding of the concepts of Biology through a three-round competition that promotes integrity and academic intelligence. This category will challenge participants' mastery of the topics, not only through questions that will ask specific facts and concepts but also through theoretical tasks that will require them to apply their understanding of the topics.

The Theoretical Exams will cover three (3) major divisions – Cellular, Organismal, and Population Biology. These divisions include, but are not limited to, the following subtopics:

Cellular Biology

Cellular and Molecular Biology

Genetics

Microbiology

Biochemistry

Organismal Biology

Animal and Human Biology

Plant Anatomy and Physiology

Biophysics

Developmental Biology

Population Biology

Ecology and Ethology

Evolution

Biosystematics

Practical Exam

The Practical Examination aims to test the laboratory knowledge and skills of the contestants. The competition will require the contestants to comprehend, apply, and analyze methodologies and research on biology, and evaluate biological problems using the necessary laboratory skills in related fields. This category will also test the participants’ familiarity with concepts related to the scientific method, and apply them in situations where multiple biological fields intersect.

This examination type will feature topics in:

Biochemistry
Bioinformatics
Molecular Biology
Animal Anatomy and Physiology

Masterclasses and Workshops

The top 55 semi-finalists will participate in an 8-week training program, combining theoreticals and practicals. This training is divided into two phases: a 4-week online theoretical phase followed by a 4-week hybrid practical training sessions, ending with onsite sessions at Ateneo de Manila University.

Phase 1: Online Theoretical Training

Theoretical sessions will run online, tentatively every Saturday, from February 8 to March 1 featuring advanced lectures led by accomplished professors specializing in various fields of biology.

Phase 2: Practical Training

Online practical training occurs from March 8 to March 28, 2024. The final week, March 24-28 will be held at Ateneo de Manila University with the semi-finals on March 29-30. Quizzes may be conducted throughout the training and will contribute to the semi-finals exam scores, rewarding engagement and reinforcing key concepts.

Last, but not the least is the Amazing Race! This activity aims to evaluate the participants’ grasp of general science, trivia, and current issues in biodiversity while being able to enjoy it through various forms of games and challenges. In addition, this competition will require teamwork, time management, and critical thinking. The Amazing Race will be awarded separately and will not affect the teams’ standing in the overall competition.