Nineteen schools from Negros Occidental participated in the Provincial Schools Conference on AmBisyon Natin 2040 conducted by the NEDA and Department of Education in Negros Occidental last December 12 in SMX Convention Center, Bacolod City.
With the theme “AmBisyon Natin 2040: Tungo sa Pangarap Nating Pilipinas,” participating students competed on the following categories: Quiz Bee, Feature Writing, Poster and Slogan Making, and Poem Writing.
In his opening remarks, Department of Education Negros Island Regional Director Gilbert T. Sadsad extended his gratitude to NEDA for providing an avenue for the Negrense youth to showcase their talents and skills.
“The government’s AmBisyon Natin 2040 is an occasion for us to consolidate our dreams for ourselves and our nation. Planning for a bright future to come to fruition requires sacrifice and perseverance,” he said. He also shared how poverty, along with other problems in life, should never hinder people from realizing their dreams.
Kristel Bañares of La Castellana National High School emerged as champion in the Quiz Bee category, Micah Tiolo of Doña Montserrat Lopez Memorial National High School wrote the best feature for the Feature Writing category, Kennete Luage of Sagay National High School won in the Slogan and Poster Making contest, and Paul Oliver Sidayon of Bacolod City National High School won in the Poem Writing contest.
La Castellana National High School and Sagay National High School emerged as Overall Champions. Both schools garnered the same total score based on the points of their winning students.
The winning entries in the Feature Writing and the Slogan and Poster Making categories are planned to be featured in NEDA’s DevPulse, whereas, the winning poem will inspire an AmBisyon Natin 2040 campaign video.
The Provincial Schools Conference is one of the advocacy activities conducted by NEDA in the Negros Island Region to popularize the long-term vision among Negrenses. A Regional Launch and Expo was held on November 24 and a Grassroots Forum was held on December 16.
Maria Krisna B. Parrera, DIS-DRD
Photos by Lance P. Agustin, DIS-DRD