LHS student is grand winner of int’l essay tilt

By Mark Ian C. Tagami, StratCom Correspondent

 

Etching a mark in the international scene, a Grade 10 student of the Mariano Marcos State University - Laboratory High School in Batac bagged the top prize in an international essay writing contest organized by Human Asia (HA). 

 

John Lynyrd Ganitano prevailed as the grand winner of the HA’s 6th Human Rights Essay Competition with the theme, “Climate Crisis and Human Rights,” besting other contenders from various Asian countries.  

 

Ganitano received one million Korean Won (an estimate of Php 41,000) in an awarding ceremony held online on September 23. 

 

The LHS student expressed delight in winning the competition, saying his award is dedicated not only to himself, but also to MMSU and to the entire Philippines which he represented. He was coached by Prof. Rosalie Bacister, with the supervision of LHS Batac head teacher Mignon Cecilia Diego. 

 

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis congratulated Ganitano for his feat in the competition, saying “this proves that the university truly hones exceptional students who showcase MMSU’s brand of academic excellence not only in the country but also in the international arena.” 

 

The competition was open for the Asian youth (13-18 years old) who are interested in expressing their creative insights into how to revive, strengthen, and extend human rights in Asia which are currently threatened by various phenomena. 

 

Other winners are Chea Xong Heng from the Republic of Singapore (first runner up); Gianne Kirsten C. Itaralde, Hanna Valerie Acama, and Julia Adelie David from the Philippines, Lee Zheng Yu Rayden from Singapore and Wong Yu Xuan from Malaysia (consolation prize).

 

Established in 2006, HA is a Seoul-based non-government organization registered to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and accredited with partner status to the United Nations Department of Public Information. It aims to spread the light of human rights across Asia and the world, and strengthen solidarity on human rights through diverse educational and advocacy programs. (HLY/DPTJ, StratCom)

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