The winning young writers

CEBU, Philippines - Twenty public elementary school kids from all over Central Visayas competed in the On-the-Spot Short Story Writing Contest at the Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa, on June 23. They were the finalists picked from over a hundred that entered in the preliminary screening. All were aged 10 to 12.

The contest mechanics required a piece consisting of 500 words maximum, a story centered on marine conservation. It proposed a seahorse, personified and with a local-sounding name, as the main character. The kids were given an hour to write their stories.

Lectures on environmental conservation and short story writing preceded the competition proper. Towards the end of the day-long event, three kids were proclaimed winners. Carlo G. Gonzaga of Consolacion Central School placed first, with his story titled “Deep Inside”; Kassandra V. Mangolare of Medellin National Science and Technology School placed second, with “Loving Dab, the Seahorse”; and third was Charles Xander Adrian R. Vergara of West City Exceptional Child Learning Center – Dumaguete City, with his “A Seahorse’s Wish.” All three winners were aged 12 and currently at Grade 6.

The Freeman KIDSTUFF is publishing the kids’ works starting Sunday, August 17; one story every Sunday.

The contest was aimed at enhancing the environmental consciousness of young children, while also encouraging the development of their writing skills. It was a collaborative project of The Freeman, Shangri-la Marine Sanctuary, iSeahorse, and DepEd 7.