Philippine President P’noy congratulates essay writing contest winners

(USP4GG) —Winners of the essay writing contest, “The West Philippine Sea and its Impact on the future of the Philippines,”were feted at the awards ceremony held at the Dusit Thani Hotel, Makati on Feb. 26, 2013 in conjunction with the Global Summit of the Filipinos in Diaspora, a project of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) chaired by Secretary Imelda M. Nicolas.
The event was attended by more than 500 Global Filipinos, individuals from different disciplines, public and private organizations and associations from the Philippines and all over the world.
Dr. Celia Lamkin, USP4GG Marianas chapter chairperson, read the message of Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III congratulating the winners. The president’s message states, in part: “In this globalized milieu, our sense of nationhood enjoins us to go beyond the physical demarcations of territories in upholding our people’s narrative of valor, freedom and dignity. This competition is borne of the same resolve, and it is our hope that this redounds to the greater involvement of our youth in issues of social significance, and in the wider enterprise of nation-building.”
For her part, Lamkin, thanked her husband, Ronald P.Lamkin and two sons, Jericho and John Raymond for their support in her essay writing project. In addition, she also thanked USP4GG officials — attorney Loida, Lewis, attorney Ted Laguatan, attorney Rodel Rodis — and Secretary Imelda Nicolas for their faith, trust and support on her that made the essay contest a reality.
Lamkin also thanked Secretary Armin Luistro of the Department of Education and Dr. Patricia Licuanan of the Commission on Higher Education, donors, sponsors, judges, volunteers and media partners as well as the winners of the essay contest.
The judges were comprised of Atty. Ted Laguatan, USP4GG spokesperson/legal counsel and one of the top immigration lawyers in the U.S.; Dr. Josefina Tayag, retired vice chancellor for Academic Affairs of the University of the Philippines-Manila and currently a professional lecturer of the UP Open University; Zaldy Dandan, editor of Marianas Variety on Saipan, CNMI; Francois Xavier Bonnet, geographer and a research associate of the Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia; Dr. Myrna Soriente-Estrada, a Manila-based medical doctor and an associate professor at the De LaSalle College of Medicine; Samantha East, an associate producer with CBC News Network in Toronto, Canada and a first runner-up in the 2009 Mutya ng Pilipinas beauty pageant; Romy Cayabyab, publisher and editor of the award winning EMANILA, a Sydney-based Internet publishing and media company and The Filipino Australian (TFA)News; attorney Lolita Farmer, OAM, the first Filipino practicing lawyer in New South Wales, Australia and chair of the Worldwide-Filipino Alliance; Dr. Almira Astudillo Gilles, an award-winning writer of fiction and non-fiction based in Chicago, Illinois and a 2012 Presidential awardee of Pamana ng Pilipino award; Gus Mercado, regional chair of USP4GG Texas and CEO and chairman of the Datalogix in Texas and Silicon Valley; Nancy Alba Baldoz, a Guam-based businesswoman, president of Laguna Association of Guam and USP4GG Marianas chapter member; and Alfredo Antolin,Jr., director of Guam Agency for Human Resources Development.
The winners in the college category are :
• Ferth Vandensteen L. Manaysay, first prize, 50,000 pesos or $1,250.00, University of the Philippines- Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
• Gervie Kay S. Estella, second prize, 25,000 pesos, University of Santo Tomas-Manila, Philippines
• Francis Dave L. Selorio, third prize, 12,000 pesos, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University- Iloilo City, Philippines
The winners for the high school category are:
• Hentjie Oliver A. Tachado, first prize, 30,000 pesos, La Salle College, Antipolo, Antipolo City. Metro Manila, Philippines
• Reena Jenara B. Biso, second prize, 15,000, pesos, Future Generation Philippine International School, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• Amihan Krystal De Leon, third prize, 7,000 pesos, Colegio San Agustin-Makati, Philippines
The first prize winning essay university and school —The University of the Philippines Diliman College of Social Sciences and Philosophy and LaSalle College Antipolo received 20,000 pesos each.
Dr. Lamkin reported 323 students from both high school and college categories around the world—USA, Canada, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saipan and all regions of the Philippines who participated in the essay contest. She said it was heartening and overwhelming to know that our youth have so many opinions and thoughts on sovereignty over the disputed territories, protection of the resources on these territories and making sure these resources will improve the lives of the Filipinos in the Philippines. This first historic global essay contest is really a huge success”, added Dr. Lamkin.
The US Pinoys for Good Governance is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New York, headed by national chairperson Loida Nicolas Lewis, national president Rodel Rodis and spokesperson/legal counsel Ted Laguatan. Its mission is a better life for Filipinos everywhere and a better Philippines.
For more information on USP4GG, visit www.uspgg.org.