MANILA, Philippines - The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Miguel de Benavides Library marks the run-up to UST’s Quadricentennial celebration with a poetry writing contest themed “Lumina Pandit: Spreading the Light of Faith and Wisdom.”
Open to all members of the Thomasian community including the alumni, the poetry contest highlights UST’s role as an institution where the “light” of faith and wisdom radiated for the past 400 years through steadfast Christian education and religious formation in the Philippines and beyond. “Lumina” and “pandit” (derived from the verb “pandere”) are Latin words for “light” and “to spread, to grow or to expand.”
The contest is divided into two categories, English and Filipino, but each participant can only submit one entry per category. The originality of the entries must be certified by two University professors who are teaching English, Filipino, Humanities, or Literature subjects.
Entries should be typewritten on short bond paper with Times New Roman size 12 font and produced in three copies.
Interested parties must fill out an entry form available at the UST Office of Public Affairs, and the Miguel de Benavides Library Office. It can also be downloaded at the UST website (www.ust.edu.ph) or the Miguel de Benavides Library website (library.ust.edu.ph).
Contest pieces, along with the entry form, an electronic copy of the entry in a CD, and the certification of originality, may be submitted to the Miguel de Benavides Library Office or the UST Office of Public Affairs on or before April 30. UST students who wish to join the contest must include a photocopy of their most recent registration form along with the entries and the other requirements.
Entries will be judged according to originality (25 percent), content (25 percent), technical excellence (25 percent), and overall impact (25 percent). First, second and third prize winners in each category will receive P15, 000, P10, 000 and P5,000, respectively.
The announcement of winners will be on June 17 at the Miguel de Benavides Library during the opening of the Library exhibit “Lumina Pandit: An Exhibition of Historical Treasures.”