#NEWS | The Humanities Festival Essay Writing Contest

by Joelle Oribiana , Riana Ofilada, and Jaden Reyes

Selected students from each class participated in the Essay Writing Contest of the 2020 Humanities Festival held by the English Unit last December 11 to 18, with each grade level having a different pandemic-related prompt to write about. The winners from each batch were announced last January 9.

Grade 7

Grade 7 participants were given the prompt: “What is CoViD-19 pandemic in the eyes of a young mind?” They were tasked to write a letter to the next generation of teenagers about the realities and impacts of the current health crisis.

First placer Kurt Travis C. Canico of 7-Topaz, in his essay titled, “Despair and hope amidst the fight against a microscopic enemy and how it affected the world and I,” discussed the many grave impacts the pandemic has on our world. He discussed how COVID-19 pandemic is an example of our inability to handle ourselves in hardship, and how this resulted in panic, poverty, and protests. Despite this, the human race rapidly adapted to their new environment through the formation of the new normal.

Atila T. Vinculado from 7-Garnet placed second, and Avril Sachi T. Tan from 7-Emerald placed third.

Grade 8

Keeping in mind the social, cultural, and political issues of last year, Grade 8 participants were asked “What should be 2020’s Word of the Year (WOTY)?”

Summarizing 2020 in one word was surely a challenge given everything that has happened. First placer Alysca Corinne T. Llantero from 8-Adelfa proposed in her essay titled, “The Cries in the Crisis” that the word of the year is “crisis.” She stated it became obvious once she realized 2020 has been full of them. Furthermore, she wrote about the different responses everyone had to these crises, comparing them to the mental states in a crisis: uncertainty, fear, anxiety, and dread, hopelessness and helplessness, and denial.

Llantero also wished to emphasize that the only solution in overcoming a crisis is taking action. “We must build back what was broken and give back what was lost because who wants to be stuck in a storm? So, we must all do what we can do, especially those in position, to overcome this crisis. May the year 2021 be the response.”

In second place was Nathan Kyle R. Cometa of 8-Ilang Ilang, who brilliantly suggested that the word of the year be “litmus test.” In third place was Maria Rita Victoria D.G. Tuason of 8-Champaca.

Grade 9

What constitutes “relevant learning” during a pandemic? How can education be made more “human” in times of a world crisis?

Given the prompt of education during these times, Grade 9-Potassium student Katrina Isabelle P. Dela Rama wrote a piece entitled “Learning in Interesting Times,” which got her first place in her grade level.

Dela Rama discussed the importance of personal relevance in education. Incorporating relevant news and information into lessons and sharing learning experiences greatly enhance the student’s learning and retention.

Dela Rama concluded that relevance turns studying into learning saying that “making learning relevant could make education more human.”

In the Grade 9 division, Alex Anthony L. Andal from 9-Sodium got second place and Davis Nicholo A. Magpantay from 9-Rubidium got third.

Grade 10

With misinformation being more rampant than ever, strategies have been developed to combat this. Some attempts have been successful, while others have been poor. Grade 10 participants were asked what strategies have been effective or poor in fighting the hydra of misinformation. More importantly, what do we need to change in order to combat misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic and onwards?

First placer Daniella Sophia T. de Guzman, in her essay titled “A Truth Downtrodden,” mentioned how in a time in which the people need the internet more than ever, the internet is becoming less and less trustworthy.

WIth everyone and anyone having the access to post and share, de Guzman talked about how rumors have the potential to grow larger than the truth. “There is no lack of truth. Instead, we have truths rephrased, redressed, rearranged.”

De Guzman emphasizes the importance of verifying credibility, especially during the pandemic, when misinformation can cause people their lives. “Step back, and let the main actors tell their stories.”

In the Grade 10 division, Malks Mogen M. David from 10-Truth got second place and Carlos Miguel Angelo S. Salazar from 10-Gluon got third.

Grade 11

The Grade 11 participants were tasked with writing about how prepared we are for this new normal that we are experiencing. How much from our daily lives have changed, and how have we adapted to these drastic changes?

Well, the participants have thought of different ways to adapt to the new normal. Gwen Valimento’s winning essay, titled “Sticky Notes in the Time of the Pandemic,” talked about how no one could have prepared for this pandemic and how the poor have received the brunt of it.

Valimento also talked about how the negative effects of this pandemic could have been avoided if there were proper systems in place for this kind of scenario. She also mentioned that “the inevitability of seeing bad news seems to keep coming.”

But she reminds us that “tomorrow is worth waking up for.” Valimento shared that her inspiration when writing this piece was “for those who read this essay, they’ll be reminded of all the little things to look forward to.” All of the things we used to take for granted. And in our current state, that is all we can ask for.

In the Grade 11 division, Jose Rafael A. Escareal from 11-D got second place and Zachary Zoe C. Lapat from 11-C got third.

Grade 12

As education has continued on in this pandemic, the Grade 12 students were asked about the effect of different factors, including the pandemic, political, social and economic changes, on decisions regarding education.

Cathleen Bettina M. Baroy of 12-D, the first placer in the Grade 12 category, wrote a piece entitled “The Art of Resuscitation.” She weaved a narrative on the current state of our country and education while relating it to resuscitating a heart.

“Until now, we are slaves to an education that was never meant to be our salvation.” Baroy talked about how education was turned into a privilege and how it does not have the Filipino people in mind.

She points out that education is a vital part of any society as it is “what allows individuals to to go beyond…” And the only way that it can be “revived,” is if all sectors of society work as a collective unit to improve the education system.

According to Baroy, “the pandemic only brought these issues to the forefront.” This means that there has always been an underlying problem with the education system. And although initially hesitant to use the ‘heart resuscitation’ metaphor, she thought it to be the most fitting one.

“It’s human nature to learn, whether it’s from our environment, or from other people. We need it to survive, like a heartbeat.”

Alongside her, Jan Apollo D. Estrella from 12-C and Jana Martina A. Gales from 12-B also wrote essays garnering second and third place, respectively.