Kalinga student wins JICA essay writing contest

MANILA, Philippines - A high school student from Tabuk City National High School in Kalinga province in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) was named grand prize winner of the first national essay writing competition of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The essay competition is part of the commemoration of the 60 years of Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA).

Angel Joy Orpilla, who hails from Kalinga, bested other student essays with her “Dumanay Meets JICA” entry that talked about a young girl’s travails going to her school in the mountains, which was eased by a JICA road project in the Cordillera. 

“People in this world cannot survive if they do not help each other. This is the valuable lesson that JICA taught us,” Orpilla wrote.

More than 170 high school students competed in the essay-writing contest.

The other winners were: Luis Antonio Valdez of South Hill School Incorporated in Laguna; Katherine Anne del Rosario of Cavite National Science High School in Maragondon, Cavite; Krystel Iris de Castro of Recto Memorial National High School in Tiaong, Quezon; and Theresa Mae Villanueva of South Hill School Incorporated in Laguna.

JICA chief representative Noriaki Niwa congratulated the winners during the awarding ceremonies at the 60thth ODA Anniversary Celebration in Manila. The competition, according to him, will help inspire the young generation of Filipinos to sustain and continue Japan-Philippines cooperation and friendship.

Winners receive a cash award and a certificate from JICA.