Last February 1, Senior High School (SHS) students dressed in attires following their batch’s theme along with faculty took to the Luxembourg Hall for the Culminating Activity and Costume Competition of the English Fortnight 2023, with the theme: “Promoting a Community of Readers, Speakers, and Writers with Grit, Growth Mindset, and Academic Rigor For the New Normal.”
The Luxembourg Hall looked extravagant as a luxurious red carpet seeped through for the Parade of Characters for all the students of Grade 10, Grade 11, and Grade 12 who respectively dressed up as characters from the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, intriguing Gods and Goddesses of Greek mythology, and familiar names of Disney media. Afterward, the students participating in the English Fortnight Costume Competition took to the red carpet to show off their costumes. It started with the Grade 10 with Ryza Boco dressed up as Suzie Binggam, Vince Santos as Billy Hargrove, Amelia James as Max Mayfield, Francis Granadaros as Billy Hargrove, and Hanna Nixon as Nancy Wheeler.
The Grade 11 followed starting with Stefanie Draper as Chloris, Goddess of Flowers; Raiza Francisco as Aphrodite, Goddess of Love and Beauty; Kelsey Colasito as Persephone, Goddess of the Spring and the Underworld; Zaira Cristobal as Dionysus, God of the Festivities and Pleasure; Kamea Rodrigo as Demeter, Goddess of Harvest and Agriculture; Alen Austria as Apollo, God of the Sun and the Light; Erico Esteban as Hades, God of the Underworld; Song Hyun Kyu also as Apollo; Juliana Tan as Hestia, Goddess of Hearth, Family, and Home; Cody Mapua as Aeos Dios, Human Eagle and Messenger of Zeus; Una Bighani Villano as Artemis, Goddess of Hunting, Nature, Archery, Wild Animals, Young Women, Sudden Death; Tiffany Sawaki also as Demeter; and Yoeiza Garcia as a younger Persephone.
Last but not the least, Grade 12 students also showed off their costumes starting with Lovable Tomaquin as Isabela Madrigal from Encanto, Xiej Laid as Prince Eric from The Little Mermaid, Julieanna Mendoza as Tinkerbell from Peter Pan, Bianca Calma as Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty, Chrizel Garcia as Rapunzel from Tangled, Chelsea Sarmiento as Alice from Alice in Wonderland, and Gabriel Obedoza as Prince Adam from Beauty and the Beast.
Once everyone had finished presenting their costumes, the audience listened to the opening remarks of K-12 & IB Principal Dr. Marie Vic F. Suarez. Before proceeding to the awarding ceremony, a video highlighting the competitions of each grade level for English Fortnight 2023 was showcased: Grade 6 Spoken Poetry, Grade 7 Readers’ Theater, Grade 8 Storytelling, Grade 9 Talk Show, Grade 10 Debate, Grade 11 Manuscript Reading, Grade 12 Short Film, and the Song Interpretation open to all.
The awarding of winners began from the Grade 10 level with the Digital Poster Contest. 10-Leadership was recognized as the 3rd placer and 10-Responsibility as the 2nd placer. 10-Commitment became the champion.
For the Debate Competition, 10-Leadership bagged the championship with their representatives: Don Enrique S. Padilla, Daniel Benileo C. Baniqued, Boris Nathaniel L. Principe, Bien Gabriel G. Obedoza, Shaun Angelo B. Santos, and River O. Ypon.
The Grade 10 Song Interpretation Champion was awarded to Hannah Grace G. Nixon. After being awarded, she proceeded with her intermission number of the song that brought her the award, "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper.
The event proceeded to the eleventh-grade level, starting with the awarding of the Manuscript Reading Contest winners. Si Hyun Park was acknowledged as the 3rd placer, Ruth Yhsabela A. Sanchez as the 2nd placer, and Yoeiza S. Garcia as the champion of their batch.
The awarding of winners continued with the Grade 11 Song Interpretation. Juliana Perez was recognized as the participant, Alijah Angulan won 2nd place while Aisleen Kate Villamiel won the championship, and after receiving her certificate, she sang her winning song, “Go The Distance” by Michael Bolton.
Grade 12 students proceeded with the Short Film Competition with the theme "Disney Icons: Multiverse of Magic." Before announcing the competition winners, there was the People’s Choice Award with different categories. Francis Gabrielle Bartolome was awarded as Best Actor, Andra Gabriela Sofran as Best Actress, Miguel Ramon Caeg as Best Supporting Actor, Lovable Princess C. Tomaquin as the Best Supporting Actress, and the film of 12-Grit (STEM) as the section with the best cinematography.
For the competition awardees, 12-Diplomacy (HUMSS) and 12-Initiative (STEM) won 3rd and 2nd place, respectively. 12-Grit (STEM) bagged the championship with their short film entitled “The Clubhouse.”
Next, the Song Interpretation Contest of Grade 12 followed starting with recognizing the participants. Bianca Raymundo won 3rd place, and Kurt Perido won 2nd place. Mharlane Corral and Xiej Laid tied for the champion spot. The two champions sang “A Whole New World” which Mharlane sang live on stage while Xiej’s video was played.
Before proceeding with the next part of the program, Ms. Roselet Reynoso, one of the Grade 12 Language and Literature teachers, took to the stage where she sang “I See the Light” as she wore her pinkish purple gown, identifying herself as Rapunzel.
After the intermission number, the awarding of the Best Female Costume and Best Male Costume commenced. For Grade 10, Francis Granaderos won Best Male Costume, and Amelia James as Max Mayfield won Best Female Costume. For Grade 11, Nikolaev Mapua as Aeos Dios won Best Male Costume, and Yoeiza Garcia as Persephone won Best Female Costume. For Grade 12, Gabriel Obedoza as Prince Adam won Best Male Costume, and Julieanna Mendoza as Tinkerbell won Best Female Costume.
Finally, the event drew closer to its end with the announcement of the most anticipated Overall Champion. Out of all tenth-grade sections, 10-Commitment won the overall championship. Proceeding to the eleventh grade, the overall champion was 11-Efficiency, and for the twelfth grade,12-Grit (STEM) bagged the award.
The Culminating Activity and English Fortnight 2023 as a whole came to a conclusion with the closing remarks of the SHS Deputy Principal Ms. January S. Guitierrez, followed by a photo opportunity to commemorate the productive event.
About the authors:
Minseo Kim is a senior trying to withstand the adversities of her last high school year. Regardless, she is (sort of) excited to make the most of her high school life. Even when she has a lot on her plate, she is committed to the responsibilities she has been given.
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