Outstanding students in Cordillera feted in rites

BAGUIO CITY – Resplendent in their ethnic attires, and with past awardees, their parents, school administrators and teachers in attendance, 10 outstanding students with four from out-of-town educational institutions were recognized here Thursday at city 

Named Outstanding Students of the Cordillera Administrative Region (OSCAR) were Chastity Wacdagan and Leonardo Visaya from the Kalinga-Apayao State College (KASC), Ginalyn Brioso from Abra State Institute of Science and Technology (ASIST) and Luisa Gay Antonio from the Ifugao State University (IfSU) joined Jordan Luther Basawil and Ronald Bustos of the Saint Louis University (SLU), Raymond Sakiwat from the University of Baguio (UB), Julienne Fortunato of the University of the Cordilleras (UC), Nick Sibaen of the Benguet State University (BSU) and 2Lt. Prolen Bonacua from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), chosen from the stringently screened twenty (20) finalists, including: George Dieyouson Estabillo, (UB); Almira Bentadan and Ronalda Tawanna Jr., (BSU); Marchellene Caday, UP Baguio; David Dupyawon, (UC); Crisember Compas, King’s College of the Philippines (KCP); Brandon Pierre Gullunan, (IfSU); Ronalie Guzman, Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC); Mae Magranga of the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC); and Tom Braian Aguilar of SLU.           

                

The students were part of 29 nominees from schools in Baguio, Benguet, Ifugao, Abra, Kalinga and Mt. Province, and who underwent values formation activities in Lepanto, Mankayan, Benguet.

                

Aptly named Balitok (Gold), the 2013 batch through their spokesman, vowed to deliver service, coupled with education, leadership, responsibilities attached, and anchored on moral values, to their fellowmen.

Committed to OSCAR principles, Balitok batch promised to concentrate on sustainable livelihood projects in the community, boosted with a values formation and learning experience earlier mainly in Mankayan, Benguet and other agricultural, industrial and tourism areas in the Cordillera region. Video presentations as to the students’ experiences within the grass roots were shown during the program.

Before the program, the 2013 batch honored the country’s national hero as they laid wreaths at the Rizal Monument, Burnham Park.     

                

Inspirational speaker Bro. Adrian Louie Atonducan of OSCAR batch 2008, during the awarding program encouraged the young group to be passionate and be their best in their chosen careers; be they home-makers, teachers or financiers; and share their know-how anywhere and with everybody. Be models for others; be they older or younger, he asked of Batch Balitok.

Allow the “wounds of ignorance” to be healed and become  scars, and be Christ-like in life’s battlefields, Atonducan also said.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan who welcomed the group shared them his late mother’s words of advice: “Agsing-singpet ka, anak ko,” (Be Good, my child.). “Have faith, have hope and share your talents,” he added.

Trophies and medals were given to the outstanding students, as with tokens and certificates to the interviewers, screening committees, schools and sponsors; including Commission on Higher Education (CHED-CAR) Regional Director Luisa Valencia, Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Regional Director Helen Tibaldo, Pastor Sam Galino, and Dr. Ryan Guinaran, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the OSCAR Alumni Community, Inc. Other participating schools in the CAR and sponsors, including values formation host town of Paco, Mankayan through local government unit official were also recognized during the program.

Earlier batches of OSCAR witnessed the awarding program, with presentations from the UC-Hapiyoh Mi Cultural Group highlighting the best in every CAR province with indigenous costumes, instruments and a well-choreographed dance number. – Julie G. Fianza