BAGUIO CITY — The ten Outstanding Students in the Cordillera Administrative Region (OSCAR) were feted in the regional recognition ceremony last July 31 at the Hotel Supreme here.
This year’s OSCARs are Rou Jay Balagot, Brett Dales Maslang and Avjine Magwiling from the University of the Cordilleras; John Oliver De Vera, Zion Jemillinium Tam-awen, and Mark Neil Pageet from the Benguet State University; Hearthel Kate Buyuccan from the Ifugao State University; Oliver Lance Insigne from the Abra State Institute of Science and Technology; Mark Lorenzo Permalino from Saint Louis University, and Romane Jasmin Manos from Easter College.
They will represent the region in the national search for the 56th Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) 2017.
These students were selected from the 20 finalists from the different colleges and universities in the region. They were then screened by the regional executive committee chaired by CHED-CAR OIC Geraldine Casipit. Its members include National Youth Commission North Luzon Coordinator Jun Angeles, Philippine Information Agency – CAR Regional Director Helen Tibaldo, Baguio Host Lions Club President and Hotel Supreme Manger Mark Jefferson Ng, TOSP-CAR Executive Vice Chair Adrian Fernandez and OSCAR Alumni President and Program Standards Chair Ahmed Capuyan Abdullah Khayef.
In her keynote message, Department of Justice Assistant Secretary Cheryl Daytec-Yangot congratulated the new OSCARs and reminded them of the responsibility that goes with the award.
Yangot shared her experiences when she was recognized as a TOSP awardee. She encouraged the students to instill the values and ideals of being an outstanding student not only in academics but also in their attitudes and way of life.
“The TOSPs are given not only based on superior academic excellence but also with strong sense of community involvement,” Yangot said. “The award is prestigious but it represents a monumental responsibility,” she added.
Yangot stressed that the students will now live under the constant expectation to remain outstanding and this will be measured not in terms of how much wealth they will earn in their respective degrees of profession but in terms of how much they apply it in their lives. She added their profession should cause change to humanity.
“We share the award, we share the glory but we share the responsibility, too. Accept the gift of being needed, accept the privilege of contributing to change, go out and serve the people,” she enjoined.
The OSCAR search is the regional level of the annual national TOSP award, which aims to give due recognition to students who can be held as role models for others, students who can exemplify academic excellence, leadership, good moral values, and determination to serve God and country.
The regionalization of the search process is being done in the hope that by doing so, more and more Filipino youth will be recognized for their commitment to excellence and leadership as manifested in their initiatives and willingness to engage in the affairs of nation-building. **RMC & R. Garcia- PIA CAR/UC Intern
