By Giovanni C. Duran
English Language Teacher

Joannah Demdam and Kyla Mae T. Santos, both Grade 10-Jacinto students under the Open High School Program (OHSP) in Pasay City North High School-M.Dela Cruz (PCNHS-MDC) clinched second place in the virtual Essay Writing Contest and Pagsulat ng Sanaysay, respectively, February 19.

Pegged with the theme “One Heart, One Passion: OHSP Bridging the Gap in Education,” the official delegate of PCNHS-MDC in Essay Writing Contest bested 14 other student-writers from different public secondary schools in the Schools Division Office-Pasay (SDO-Pasay) offering OHSP. Titled “Saturdays of Hope,” she featured how OHSP kept her dreams ablaze despite her predicaments in life. She made a strong closing statement emphasizing that no dreams die in Open High. Her winning piece earned her the second spot.

Meanwhile, Kyla Mae T. Santos, official school delegate in the Filipino Category, bested five other contestants in Pagsulat ng Sanaysay. In her piece entitled “Liwanag ng Bukas,” she explained how she juggled her studies and parenthood. Moreover, she highlighted the importance of valuing education through programs such as OHSP. Like her fellow school delegate in the English category, she placed second in the said contest.

Demdam and Santos were coached by Mr. Giovanni C. Duran and Miss Jessica Peralta, respectively. Mr. Duran is an English Language Teacher in both the regular and OHSP classes, whereas Miss Peralta handles Filipino subjects in regular and OHSP classes.

Other events during the program included Slogan Making and Poster Making Contests. The winners in each event were recognized virtually and awarded certificates on February 19 during the closing program of the Virtual Conduct of Open High School Program Division Contests Amidst Pandemic.          

The PCNHS-MDC student-participants and coaches were supervised by Mrs. Elvindia P. Juanillo, PCNHS-MDC OHSP Focal Person, and Dr. Efren E. Canzana, PCNHS-MDC School Principal.