Students from Southville International School & Colleges, St. Paul College Pasig & Colegio San Agustin - Makati came out as victors for the HP’s Write and Read 2. In partnership with the Department of Education, HP Read & Write is a  illustration and poetry writing contest that covers both private and public schools and universities. The awarding took place in a media event held at the Crowne Plaza held last week.

“Last year, when HP started with the first Write and Read, our vision was simply, to inspire. We wanted to reach a handful of students and change how they perceive learning. This year, as we culminate the HP Write and Read 2, we realized that we have reached so much more, and we were able to share to more audience HP’s commitment to creativity, education and of course, learning,” says Franco Flameno, HP’s Marketing Development Manager for Consumer Printers. “HP is thankful to both partners—DepEd and our Write and Read ambassador, Efren Penaflorida, for believing in the HP vision, and agreeing to partner with us.”

The HP Write and Read 2 program was opened to 1st to 4th year high school students based in the National Capital Region. The contestants underwent a two-day master class either in poetry writing or illustration. The final contest entry was a collaborative work between one writer and one illustrator who underwent the master classes.



Present in the said event is CNN Hero of the Year 2009 & HP Write and Read ambassador,  Efren Peñaflorida. He is the founder and head of the Dynamic Teen Company, which offers Filipino youth an alternative to street gangs through education, recreating school settings in unconventional locations such as cemeteries and trash dumps. In 2009,  he was featured as a CNN Hero as part of the news network's program to honor individuals who make extraordinary contributions to help others.

He shared that, “Learning is a personal advocacy. I believe that to passing over that love for learning is as important as of course using extremely attractive printed materials are important in nurturing students’ creativity in reading, writing and visual arts, and sustaining that interest.”

HP READ & WRITE 2 PROGRAM WINNERS:


Rank 1: "Left Behind"
Miguel Angelo C. Villar of Southville International School and Colleges (Writer)
Jin Ju Park of Southville International School and Colleges (Illustrator)

Rank 2: "Infinitesimal" 
Anica Isabella B. Franco of St. Paul College Pasig (Writer)
Ronelle Risha E. Mariano of Colegio San Agustin - Makati (Illustrator)

Rank 3: "Where They Converge"
Meg H. Musngi of St. Paul College Pasig (Writer)
Jose Carlos Gaston S. Garcia of Colegio San Agustin - Makati (Illustrator)

Prizes: 1st Place winners took home two (2) printers, two (2) desktops, two (2) notebooks, two (2) slate, 50k cash; 2nd Place winners took home two (2) printers, two (2) notebooks, two (2) slate, 20k cash and the 3rd Place winners took home two (2) printers, two (2) Slate, 10k cash.