MANILA, Philippines - Over 200 students from several public high schools in Metro Manila livened up a week-long series of competitions called the Rizal Youth Program that was designed to honor the values of our National Hero and commemorate his 150th birth anniversary.
Organized by the Yuchengco Group of Companies (YGC), which itself is marking its 100 years of service to the country, the Rizal Youth Program is part of the larger scaled YGC Buhay Rizal program that has been initiating various nationwide activities intended to put a spotlight on the memory of Rizal and his enduring values for the benefit of Filipinos.
The students came from 22 partner-schools of the YGC Buhay Rizal program, and were accompanied by their respective principals and other school officials. The contests in which they participated were Essay Writing, Extemporaneous Speaking, Poetry Writing, Poster Making, Quiz Bee, and Sayaw-Awit Interpretative Dance, all of which revolved around the theme of honoring Rizal and perpetuating his heroic legacy.
The activities, held at the YGC headquarters in RCBC Plaza, Makati City, were individually sponsored by RCBC and its subsidiaries.
At the end of the five-day competition, several top YGC executives graced the awarding ceremony, led by chairman Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco.
The following first place winners received trophies and certificates of participation: John Bernard Caasi, Don Alejandro Roces, Sr. Sci&Tech HS (Essay writing); Jayr Beligan, Sergio Osmena, Sr. HS (Poetry Writing); Paul Kevin Petallo, Don Alejandro Roces, Sr. Sci&Tech HS (Poster Making); Mark Edison Bautista, Don Alejandro Roces, Sr. Sci&Tech HS (Quiz Bee); and Treb Liquigan, Concepcion Integrated HS (Extemporaneous Speaking).
Prizes also included computer packages that were given equally both to the winning students and their respective schools.