Regional Academic Festival held to celebrate CAR’s 25th Anniversary

“SAY IT loud! Say it clear! I am an Igorot!” This was the striking greeting from one of the contestants in the recently held rhetorical contest in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The late President Corazon Aquino approved Executive Order 220 dated July 15, 1987, to form CAR which includes the provinces of Mt. Province, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Apayao and Abra. A region of rich cultural heritage, dramatic historical past and formidable dauntless struggles, CAR celebrates its 25th anniversary with various activities with the theme “Looking Back with Pride, Moving Forward with Hope.”

One of the identified activities is the academic festival held at the DepEd regional office, Wangal, La Trinidad Benguet last July 13. This event showcased the skills and talents of students from CAR region in the elementary to tertiary level in essay writing, oration and extemporaneous speech.

Dir. Ellen Donato, DepEd regional director welcomed the participants. “We have the best speakers in the Cordilleras. We are speakers of different languages. It’s a challenge to the cordilleras to show to the world how good we are in speaking the English language,” she said adding, “The academic festival was an activity agreed by all regional directors, congressmen and CAR officials as part of the CAR 25th anniversary celebration.”

This event was spearheaded by Donato, Yolanda Olano, TESDA regional director and Luisa Valencia, CHED-CAR director with DepED supervisors and staff Victoria Pablito, Dr. Ramon Santiago, Dr. Lucila Nagen, Suvane Delson and Daisy Jamorabon.

The contest proper started with the extemporaneous speech having 10 contestants from the different universities and colleges around the region.They were asked to answer the question: As Cordilleran, what are the values and resources that we can truly be proud and how can these be harnessed to create a better region?

The contestants eagerly answered the questions stating all the richness and glory of their region. On the other hand, the oratorical and essay contest were tasked to deliver contest pieces containing topics on autonomy and in relation to this year’s theme.

The judges represented by different agencies had a hard time judging as each contestant gave their best in the contest proper. But in every competition there has to be the winners.

The winners from the extemporaneous speech were as follows: 3rd place, Peter Conrad Gabriel from the University of the Cordilleras with coach John Mark Gamonnac; 2nd place, Kalinga Apayao State College Leonardo Visaya with coach Cyrila Bawer; and 1ST place from Abra Valley College Shera Roy Zapatero with coach Jubert Gannapaw.

Rainbow Gutierrez of Baguio City National High School with coach Noel Estolas won the first place for the oratorical contest, followed by Lepanto National High School Graciel Baroy with coach Clares Gumingin in second place and from Tabuk City National High School Cyrus Van Kurt Salvita with coach Maribel Bravor in third place.

The winners for the essay contest were: 1st place, La Trinidad Central School, Benguet Jayson River with coach Lily Ann Bolide; 2nd place, Bontoc, Central School Mt. Province Amelia Date Marquez with coach Annie Pachingel; and 3rd place from Liwan West Elementary School Kalinga Nerissa Daluyen with coach Joey Patinglag.

Olano ended the program by saying, “Let us continue to dream and be proud to be a Cordilleran.”

To all our readers matago tago-tago am-in! Long live to us all and happy Cordillera Day!