Filipino, Huh?, a short essay writing contest for youth

Filipino, Huh?, a short essay writing contest for youth

The Philippine Advocacy Through Arts and Culture (PATAC) Youth Committee is re-launching its first essay contest, “Filipino. Huh?” on May 17, 2008, 3:00 p.m. at the Parliament Library, 269 Gerrard Street East and Parliament, as part of the community celebration of Asian Heritage Month.

The contest is open to all youth of Filipino descent who lives in the greater Toronto, Durham, Halton and Peel regions in Ontario, Canada. The contest hopes to engage the young people of Filipino descent in identifying and articulating the challenges they face as visible youth minority in relation to their immigration, settlement and development as young FilipinosCanadians; get their insight on how to best deal with these issues; consolidate their perspective and experiences and compile it into a literary work; enhance their writing skills; and, promote the youth of Filipino-descent as a literary artists. This contest is co-sponsored by Migrante Ontario, Community Alliance for Social Justice, and Boses Pinas-Trip 1610am.

Among our judges are writers, journalists and educators from the Philippines and greater Toronto: Rebecca Anonuevo, poet, book author, a professor of Philippine Literature and a Palanca (dubbed as the “Pulitzer Prize” of the Philippines) awardee; Hermie Garcia, a seasoned journalist and writer, Publisher and Editor-In-Chief of the multi-awarded local newspaper, The Philippine Reporter; Mila Garcia, editor of two books, Filipina I and Filipina II, co-publisher and managing editor of The Philippine Reporter, a researcher and a well-known community activist; Ramon O. Grajo, Sessional Instructor and PhD student in Philosophy at the University of Toronto; Ricky Esguerra, previously a professor at the University of the Philippines in Asian Studies also a long time community activist; Karlo Cabrera, Instructional Leader, Equity (North East)-Toronto District School Board and co-chaired the 2008 Joint Asian Heritage Month celebration of the Toronto Catholic and Toronto District School Board; and, PATAC is still working to get a few more adjudicators and judges for the essays and other literary contests.

Those interested in becoming a partner, sponsor or donor, please contact Paulina Corpuz at 416-995-7957. PATAC’s website: www.patac.org/projects.html