P'sinan students shine in ASEAN provincial competition

BY VENUS MAY H. SARMIENTO

DAGUPAN CITY  - Students from the six school divisions and various universities of Pangasinan battled it out for the provincial competition in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The ASEAN competition, organized by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Region I, aims to strengthen the general public’s awareness on ASEAN and to widen the public’s knowledge on the benefits and opportunities of being a member-country of the globally-recognized association.

 “This activity will help the different sectors of the society, specifically the youth,  to appreciate the developments that ASEAN can bring to the country,” said Regional Director Jennilyne Role of PIA.

The poster /slogan making contest was joined by students from Grades 4-6, quiz bee by students in Grades 7 to 10 and the essay writing by college students. 

The activity was held simultaneously in the provinces of Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte. Representatives from the three ASEAN Pillar offices—the Departments of social welfare and development, trade and industry and foreign affairs—served as judges during the contest along with judges from the Department of Education (DepEd)  and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).  

In Pangasinan, the provincial elimination was held at the Division training hall of  DepEd in Dagupan City attended by more than a hundred contestants, coaches and supporters. 

Poster and Slogan champion was Isaac Jonathan Magno of West Central Elementary School while Mary Joy Narciso of San Carlos City Division was declared 1st runner-up. Shekinah Dizon of Bayambang I Central School was the 2nd runner-up. 

Winners for the Quiz Bee were: Andrew Racuya of Mother Goose Special School System  as champion,  Rico Romero of the Alaminos City Division  as 1st runner -up and Irish Mae De Vera of St. Albert the Great School as 2nd runner-up.

For the Essay Writing contest, Dionas Delos Angeles of the Pangasinan State University was declared the champion while Paul Javillonar of the University of Pangasinan -PHINMA  and Justin Aboy of the  University of Luzon came in as 1st and 2nd runners-up respectively.

The first place winners for  each category will be the provincial representatives to the regional finals to be held on September 14 in San Fernando City, La Union. (VHS/PIA-Pangasinan)