Agusan del Sur pupils bag medals in 2013 National Press tilt

The province of Agusan del Sur again made its mark in a nationwide contest by grabbing awards in this year’s National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) held on April 7-12 at Ormoc City, Leyte.

An annual event of the Department of Education, the best and the brightest elementary and high school students in the entire country compete in various fields of journalism in English and Filipino media. This year’s NSPC competition focused on the theme: "Campus Journalists: Championing Ethics in Social Media".

Students of San Francisco Pilot Elementary School’s SPED Learning Center headed by its director Godwin Gomez stumped their class by emerging as the champion in the Best in Broadcast Production by topping the Best in Infomercial and Best in Technical Application and placing 3rd in the Best in Script categories.

Members of the team were Shaira Angay, assistant director; Kobe Eleazar Luarez, technical director and Erika Dasmarinas, infomercial specialist.

News anchors Janelle Sabornido, Manel Lumawag, Chamiline Madelo and Michael Rema Tumulak also clinched the plum as Best News Presenters.

Also making their marks were Drexler Ayuban of Patin-ay Elementary School, Prosperidad who took the 5th place in Editorial Cartooning in Filipino and Arlene Sabelino of Sampaguita National High School, Veruela for taking the 4th spot in Photojournalism in Filipino.

Teachers Lyndon Llacuna and Venus Bajao emerged as Outstanding School Paper Advisers in elementary and secondary levels respectively. Bajao also bagged the Best in Regional Costume award.

Acting DepED division head Gemma de Paz presented the students and coaches Paul Michael Espinosa, Allan Casinillo and Nilo Zolina to provincial officials and employees during the regular Monday morning Capitol flag raising ceremony here at the Naliyagan Plaza Cultural Center in Prosperidad.

Governor Eddiebong Plaza commended the students and DepED officials for their efforts and achievements.

“The feats of our students in national competitions indicate we are on the right track in our educational system. Despite the challenges we are up to being one of the poorest provinces in the country, we are at par or even better in terms of performance than students coming from the big cities and provinces. I am very much proud of our students and teachers,” the local chief executive declared.

Governor Plaza especially cited Sabelino who hails from Barangay Sampaguita, Veruela town, one of the heavily-affected areas by typhoon Pablo which struck late last year for bagging a place in the contest.
On February this year, students from different elementary and high schools in the province romped with various awards in the 10th National Science Quest (NSQ) held at the Teachers’ Camp in Baguio City. (PPIO-AgSur)