HP and DepEd Recognize the Metro’s Ten Best Student Writers in the Write&Read Program

I like this advocacy! Congratulations to the winners!

Press Release:

The Department of Education-National Capital Region (DepEd-NCR) and technology giant Hewlett-Packard (HP) recognized ten of the Metro’s most promising young writers at the culminating activity of the Write&Read Program held at the SM City North EDSA Annex.

A collaborative story-writing competition, the Write&Read Program provided opportunities for the youth to hone their writing skills as well as their imagination in making illustrations. Among the top writers included five winners from the Junior Division namely Naomi Therese Legaspi of St. Paul College-Pasig, Geri Angela Paragas of Miriam College, Isabella Dela Cruz of Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College, Gillian Sandigan of St. Paul College-Pasig, and Aira Maria Joy Amarante of Special Science Elementary Class-Santiago de Guzman, who entered inspiring stories about achievement and success.

The five winners from the Senior Division, Katrina May Jimenez of Marikina Science High School, Courtney Allison Tirol of Manresa School, Leonor Evangelista of Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Science &Technology High School, Pamela Jenna Sabuero of Caloocan City Science High School, and Kimberly Ann Ramos of Quezon City Science High School also created winning compositions that centered on the value of technology in enriching the learning experience of today’s youth.

Themes for the Junior Division short story competition included “Technology makes learning so much fun,” “Young leaders: Going the distance with technology” and “Future dreams with A+ grades.” The Senior Division took a more serious approach, with themes such as “Score cool points in school with technology,” “High fives for high grades: Win in school, win new friends,” and “Tech-savvy whiz: connecting to A+ grades, A+ future.” The ten finalists also joined the On-The-Spot Essay Writing Challenge, the final leg of the year-long Write&Read Program which also included other activities such as writing workshops.

Panelists from DepEd-NCR and HP judged the entries to determine the final rankings. DepEd-NCR’s Assistant Regional Director Dr. Rizalino Rosales, Write&Read Program Ambassador Efren Peñaflorida and HP Philippines Country Manager Albert Mateo handed the students their prizes for exhibiting their writing prowess.

A+ compositions and artwork

The first place awardees, Naomi Therese Legaspi and Katrina May Jimenez, each received PHP 100,000. Second place winners Geri Angela Paragas and Courtney Allison Tirol copped PHP 40,000 each, and the third placers Isabella dela Cruz and Leonor Evangelista were awarded PHP 20,000 each. The first to third placers all received the HP Ink Advantage 5525 e-All-in-One printers.  Special citations were also given to Junior Division finalists Gillian Sandigan and Aira Amarante and Senior Division finalists Pamela Sabuero and Kimberly Ramos, each receiving PHP 10,000 as well as HP Ink Advantage 3515 e-All-in-One printers. To complete the A+ experience, all ten winners also receivedan HP Mininote laptop and an HP Ink Advantage All-in-One printer for their schools.

More than 200 students from grade school and high school all over Metro Manila submitted compositions and illustration masterpieces. Only ten, classified into the Junior and Senior Divisions, made it to the finals.

Molding education through reliable, affordable printing technology

In its aim to improve education for the country’s youth, HP, in partnership with DepEd-NCR, spearheaded the A+ campaign, with the Write&Read Program as its biggest component.

Dr. Luz Almeda, Regional Director of DepEd-NCR lauds the partnership in empowering kids of today: “It is an honor to be working hand-in-hand with HP in this wonderful undertaking for the future of education. With their commitment to providing tools that will help children reach their full potential in academics, families and schools can be assured that technology is there to create a brighter future for the world,” she says.

HP Printing and Personal Systems Country General Manager Albert Mateo shared his insight on the project: “We’re glad to be partners with the Department of Education-NCR in this endeavor. Through the Write&Read program, we have reached a lot of students and encouraged them to develop a habit of writing and reading to enhance their education. We’re proud that HP has helped these children through the use of HP Ink Advantage printers that enhance their potential through affordable and reliable printing.”

HP’s Ink Advantage printers, the company’s products aimed at families and students, make use of the best of today’s technologies that incorporate wireless connectivity and the internet. Students can enhance their learning experience with a suite of ground-breaking features such as ePrint, wireless direct and print apps at a low running cost.