IN celebration of youth creativity and the power of young voices, the Laguna Public Information Office (PIO) successfully held its first-ever On-the-Spot Essay Writing Contest on March 6 at the Cultural Center of Laguna, as part of the Anilag Festival Level Up 2026 celebration.
The activity was conducted with the full support of the Provincial Government of Laguna under the leadership of Sol Aragones, a former journalist and broadcast reporter before entering public service.
Nearly 180 campus journalists, student writers, and advisers from different towns across the province participated in the competition, crafting essays on the spot based on the theme, “Anilag Festival Level Up 2026 under a GOByernong may SOLusyon.”
The contest provided a platform for young writers to showcase their perspectives and creativity while highlighting the cultural significance of the Anilag Festival through the lens of the youth. It also strengthened collaboration between the provincial government and the education sector in supporting campus journalism and literary excellence among students.
Representing the Schools Division Office of Laguna were Dr. Orlando Valverde, Curriculum Implementation Division Chief, and Dr. Ruby Castillo, Education Program Supervisor in English, who attended the event on behalf of Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Editha Atendido.
In his opening remarks, Laguna PIO Head Danilo Lucas encouraged the participants to continue nurturing their passion for writing and storytelling.
“Alam ko na lahat kayo ay mga campus journalist at winners na sa iba’t ibang larangan ng pagsusulat kaya magandang alaala ito para sa inyong mga darating na pagsubok sa buhay,” Lucas said.
Meanwhile, veteran journalist Doland Castro, representing Governor Aragones, delivered an inspirational message emphasizing the importance of youth voices in telling stories that reflect culture, identity, and community.
“Nakakatuwa na makakita ng mga campus journalist na lilikha on-the-spot ng maikling sanaysay patungkol sa ating Anilag Festival. Sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga titik, naibabahagi ng ating mga batang Lagunense ang kanilang saloobin at damdamin, at naipararating sa sambayanan ang mga aral at pananaw ng kabataan,” Castro said.
After the writing competition and evaluation, winners were announced in three categories:
Elementary Category
• 1st Place – Nathan Manuel Villegas – Macabling Elementary School
• 2nd Place – Peter Paul Abe – Sto. Niño Elementary School
• 3rd Place – Nicaella Marie Plamo – San Juan Elementary School
Junior High School Category
• 1st Place – Ryzee Tubino – Calumpang National High School
• 2nd Place – Zianne Pural – Suba National High School
• 3rd Place – Kier Belmonte – Pedro Guevara Memorial National High School
Senior High School Category
• 1st Place – Yuan Nicolo Moreno – Balian Integrated National High School
• 2nd Place – Francheska Gwynett Astudillo – Siniloan Integrated National High School
• 3rd Place – Rey Micah Martinez – Don Manuel Rivera Memorial Integrated National High School
The Laguna PIO also expressed its gratitude to the Department of Education, particularly the Schools Division Office of Laguna, as well as the SDO clusters and cluster superintendents, for their continued support in making the event a success.
Beyond celebrating the Anilag Festival, the contest aimed to strengthen the community of campus journalists in Laguna by providing opportunities to practice responsible and meaningful writing.
Through initiatives like this, the provincial government hopes to encourage more young writers to use their voices and communication skills to inform, inspire, and contribute to society.
About the Author
