By Saul Pa-a
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna June 18 (PNA) -– Calamba City cultural affairs, sports and tourism development department bared the grand winners for the various competitions and activities lined up in a prelude to Dr. Jose Rizal’s 152nd birthday celebration Wednesday.
Students, youth and city folks here participated in both the artistic, creative and sporting activities to demonstrate their affection and tribute to their illustrious compatriot, martyr and the country’s National Hero.
This year’s celebration adopts the theme “Rizalismo: Gabay ng Kabataan, Inspirasyon ng Mamamayan sa Magandang Kinabukasan” which inspires both young and old to the legacies of Rizal and salute the hero’s works.
In the competitions that perpetuated Rizal’s literary craft and creativity billed “Sulat Para Kay Lolo Pepe” (letter writing contest), some 112 Grade 4 to 6 students participated with Vince Zedrick Alcaraz of Calamba Elementary School winning the Grand Prize and P10,000 cash.
The 2nd Prize went to Jan Zefran Medrano also from Calamba Elementary School with P 7,000 cash while Khalil Isaac Buena of the same public school went home with the 3rd prize and the P5,000 cash.
Winning kites of various shapes, colors and designs also hovered at the world’s tallest Rizal Monument at the Plaza here in the kite making and flying competitions dubbed as “Saranggola ni Pepe” with P5,000 for 1st Prize, P3,000 for the 2nd Prize and P2,000 for 3rd Prize.
For the Box Kite category, Oman Tulayan captured the 1st Prize; Jerwin Erasga, 2nd Prize and Rudolf Eliseo, 3rd Prize while for the Flat Kite category winners: Ryan Villamarzo, 1st Place; Michael Jhelo Urbano, 2nd Place and Joerey Maligaya, 3rd Place.
The huge banca-shaped kite of Ulyssis delos Santos grabbed 1st Place in the Figure Kite category with Orlando Manila, 2nd Place and Dexter Delantes, 3rd Place.
The day-long competition sessions for the Rizal “On-The-Spot Relief Art Painting” also revealed the “best and finest” among 20 budding artists from the high school category for ages 13 to 16 as well as 30 entrants for the open category for the professional or amateur for ages 17 to 46.
The high school winners were Olan Arcos, 1st Place with P5,000 for his entry “Daraanan Tungo sa Tagumpay”; Arlene Pagtalunan’s “Salamin ng Tagumpay Calambeño”, 2nd Place with P3,500 and Amiel Roberto’s “Kamay ng Kabataan, Susi sa Maunlad na Kinabukasan”, 3rd Place with P2,500.
Jurors Choice Awardees with P1,000 each were Anatalia Abing (Rizalismo), Ana Vallerie Corre (Layunin), Quennie Vivien Garces (Si Jose Rizal ang Kinabukasan Ko), Jericho Jimenez (Lupang Hinirang) and Gian John Perez (Trinity).
For the open category, Likha artists topped the three major awards and the Juror’s Choice with Marben Correje (Ehemplo), 1st Place; Aries Hizon (Pag-usbong), 2nd Place and Jeffrey Ofalsa (Kahalagahan ng Edukasyon), 3rd Place.
Jurors Choice Awardees with cash prize of P1,500 each were Leodegario Cepeda (Sa Bayan Ko), Aaron Paul Elauria (Kasarinlan), Alvin Manalo (Imahe ng Pag-asa), Gilbert Olaez (Kasabay ang Pagmamahal sa Kalikasan Patungo sa Matayog na Kaunlaran) and Joji Resentis (Rizal-Inspirasyon ng mga Bagong Henerasyon).The winning art works and the Banga Art winners will be displayed at the Rizal Ancestral House and Shrine for the city’s celebration and exhibits on Wednesday of Jose Rizal’s 152nd Birth Anniversary.
Rizal Comic Strip Contest winners from the high school visual arts students or artists were Jerome Cristobal of the City Science High School, 1st Place with P7,000 cash; Mark Jerome Llorera of Calamba National High School, 2nd Place with P5,000 cash and Rhoanna Marie Dizon of St. John Colleges, 3rd Place with P3,000 cash.
Consolation Prize winners went to Ma. Lalaine Joy Arma; Joel Estoesta; Crystalle Mae Manalo; Richard Manjares; Rica Jane Caldozo; Dennis Malaborbor; Evelyn Tio; Ian Paulo Mendoza; John Kenneth Jaliyasco and Jean Vernard Vernas.
The award-winning comic strips depicting Rizal and his works are also featured in the story-telling sessions dubbed as “Mga Kuwento ni Lolo Pepe” for nursery, kinder and preparatory students in the city public or private schools from Jun 18 to 21.
The Rizal Henyo (quiz bee) grand winners for the three groups received P 25,000 cash prize per pair: City Population Office tandem of Isabel Navarro and Ediza Saliva group Group 1; DepEd Camp Vicente Lim National High School team of Arlene Arin and Joy Garcia for Group 2 and the City Health Office pair of Wilmer Señerez and Eva Luna for Group 3.
These class sessions for kiddie learners will also have the opportunity to watch the winning entries of the Rizal Flash Animation competitions.
The Rizal Calambike 22-km city fun bikeathon also drew close to 200 participants with “fun” winners for the youngest bike rider Manuel Alcasid at 11 and septuagenarians Antonio Momante and Teodoro Habacon Jr.
“Jose Rizal – The Movie” as the hero’s filmbio was also shown Tuesday morning at the SM City Calamba Cinema One here. (PNA)
HBC/SEP/UTB