Sammuel Zack Sung, a Grade Six pupil of Sun Hwa International Academy won First Place in Spellbound 2007 Elementary School category held last October 16, 2007 in Lores Plaza in Antipolo City besting 48 other contestants representing various public and private schools.

SPELLBOUND Philippines, already on its third year is an annual inter-school spelling bee competition aimed to bring out the best and the brightest in spelling for the Grade School and High School Levels. Spellbound Philippines is hosted by the City Government of Antipolo and the Victory Challenge Academic Foundation, Inc.

This historical feat for Sun Hwa came after joining the competition for two consecutive years. It was quite an achievement for Sun Hwa as it competed with the top schools in Antipolo and some schools in neighboring cities. Sun Hwa International Academy, inspired by the vision of the True Parents, was established in 2002 as a mission school of the Unification Movement in the Philippines for raising and educating blessed children but also caters to non-Unificationist children.

Sammuel Sung, who has been in the Academy for two years battled it out with 48 other spellers in a single knockout, "one miss, you’re out" verbal spelling. He coursed through three crucial rounds until only him and another speller remained on stage to fight it our for the championship.

After 10 rounds during the head-to-head finals, the two contestants were both declared as Co-Champions raising a wild cheer from the crowd because of the tightly contested award and for both contestants being underdogs.

Mayor Victor Sumulong, the mayor of Antipolo City, with representative from the Department of Education Region IV-A office awarded the trophy and cash prizes to the winning contestants, coaches and schools. An interview and press conference was scheduled on October 21, 2007 with Mayor Sumulong and the winners.

Last September 20, 2007, Sun Hwa International Academy also bagged over-all Championship in an Inter-School Declamation Contest when it won two First Places and two Second Places. Marie Valerie Joson, Grade 6 pupil and Satomi Sugita, Grade 2 pupils both were declared Champions in Category C and Category A respectively. Hiroaki Noda, Grade 6 and Timothy Dungan garnered 2nd places adding to the achievement of Sun Hwa. Valerie, Satomi and Hiroaki are Blessed Children.