Meet the Filipino whiz kid making history in UAE

Spelling bee champion Elijah Zachary Dizon Mirandilla. JONATHAN YBERA/EXPAT MEDIA

When Elijah Zachary Dizon Mirandilla confidently spelled “cucurbit” in the final round of the inaugural UAE Spelling Bee earlier this year, he didn’t just win the championship—he made history. Out of 580 students across the country, this 14-year-old Filipino student from Jumeira Baccalaureate School emerged victorious, taking home a staggering Dh25,000 cash prize and earning an exclusive invitation to the prestigious Scripps National Spelling Bee in the US as an honorary guest this May. He competed in the Middle East Math Championship in April, adding another intellectual milestone to his growing list of achievements. Elijah’s UAE Spelling Bee victory was nothing short of extraordinary. His final word? “Cucurbit.” He recalls the moment with amusement. “When I heard the word, I thought, my fate is sealed. I’m not getting this right. But then, I did!” he tells Expat Media with a laugh. While his triumph may have seemed effortless, the reality is that Elijah's love for words runs deep. Unlike many spelling champions who meticulously drill thousands of words, Elijah took a different approach. “They sent us a list of words. I just skimmed through them and circled the ones I already knew,” he says, revealing a natural knack for linguistics. His familiarity with Latin, Greek, and French roots also played a crucial role in his spelling bee success. Winning on his first try was an astonishing feat, but Elijah is not your average spelling bee champion. His story goes beyond letters and words—he’s a young prodigy with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, an ear for music, a mind for mathematics, and a heart set on exploring the world.

Genius behind the champion

Elijah’s journey to brilliance began early. His mother recalls that he knew the alphabet before he turned one year old, could type on a keyboard before he could hold a pencil, and was reading by 15 months old. By the time he was five, he had taught himself 14 languages, though he admits he has forgotten most of them now. “I was three years old when I told my mom I wanted to study at MIT,” he shares. His interest in architecture started from a simple classroom activity in kindergarten. “They took a picture of us holding a whiteboard with our dream job. I told my teacher I wanted to be a builder, and she said, ‘Oh, like an architect?’ So I just went with it!” he says, laughing. His brilliance is matched by a curiosity that knows no bounds. He enjoys reading about science and history, attempting to invent his own language (he’s tried three times!), and perfecting his musical talents. Yes, Elijah has perfect pitch—a rare ability possessed by only 1 in 10,000 people, allowing him to identify musical notes without any reference. Beyond spelling, Elijah is a multi-faceted young mind. He insists he’s just like any other teenager. “I like singing,” he shares. “I listen to my Spotify playlist to unwind after a long day.” His favorite artist? Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey Lín Jónsdóttir. When he’s not spelling, studying or listening to music, he’s on the basketball court every Saturday, working on his game and hoping to be as good as his favourite player, LeBron James. He also enjoys creative fiction writing, chess, and spending time with his younger siblings, who proudly boast about their kuya’s achievements at school. Despite his staggering intellect, Elijah remains refreshingly down-to-earth. He’s a self-proclaimed foodie who loves Filipino giniling and Japanese ramen, enjoys cracking jokes, and is a fan of Teen Titans—particularly Robin. “I have a really good idea of what normal is, but I’m not really sure how to describe it,” he quips. At school, he doesn’t see himself as “the genius kid.” He has supportive friends, but he admits he doesn’t hang out much—mostly because he enjoys spending time at home. His laid-back approach to academics reflects his parents’ philosophy of letting him explore learning at his own pace. “My parents not pressuring me to get good grades really helps me a lot,” he says. “I’m not studying to pass—I’m studying so I can learn.” That mindset has led him to consistently score top marks in school, with math being his favorite subject. Ironically, he finds English class “incomprehensible,” though his love for words suggests otherwise.

Family, food, and the future

Elijah’s family has been in the UAE long before he was born—his mother since 1995 and his father since 2004. Despite growing up in the UAE, he cherishes his trips to the Philippines. “It’s fun! I get to meet my family there, and my grandparents' house is huge—three floors, with lots of dogs!” he said. And yes, he loves food. “I’m a foodie,” he admitted. “I love eating at Fridays, and I grew up with Filipino food, so it’s always special to me,” he shared. Despite his achievements, Elijah remains humble. “I never thought I would win. I felt like I was going to flop in the semifinals, but then I made it, and that was shocking,” he said. As for his winnings? The first thing he did was give Dh5,000 to his parents. The rest? “I want to invest in stocks. Probably the S&P 500,” he said, proving once again that he is wise beyond his years. As he flips through his giant Webster’s Third New International Dictionary—containing over half a million words—it’s clear that Elijah’s story is still being written. Although he remains unsure about his future career—considering paths in architecture or engineering—one thing is certain: whatever he sets his mind to, he’s bound to excel. And if his journey so far is any indication, it’s bound to be eloquent.

Rapid fire questions

Your favourite word. “Eloquent”. It just sounds perfect to me. Favourite book of all time? I don’t have a favourite book. New language you’d like to learn. It would have to be Japanese. Spelling on paper or spelling out loud? Spelling words on paper. One thing you always bring to school. A 3D printed whistle my friend gave me last year. Sometimes I use that one in the classroom to shut everyone up. Favourite food or snack? Cookies and milk, or chips Favourite cartoon character? Robin from Teen Titans. Country you’d like to visit soon. Finland. If you could star in any movie or TV show, what would it be? Probably House MD as a patient. Books or video games? Video games! Hardest word you’ve ever had to spell. During the spelling bee, “quire” was the only word I got wrong. It’s different to “choir”. What’s on your Spotify list? Pop music. Superpower you wish you had? To travel to the future and see the consequences of my actions. Your idea of a fun day out. Meet up with my friends and go to a Laufey concert. A condensed version of this story also appears in the Expat Media Special Edition magazine

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