POLANGUI, ALBAY—In celebration of the upcoming Organic Agriculture Month this November, the regional Departments of Agriculture (DA-5) and Education (DepEd-5) hosted the On-the-Spot Poster-Making and Essay-Writing Contests with the theme “Organic Agriculture: Advancing the local food culture movement in the Philippines on October 1, 2018 at the Polangui General Comprehensive High School here.

The contests will promote and enhance awareness, appreciation and value of Organic Agriculture to the society and elicit cooperation and support of the public in upgrading the quality and standards of Organic Agriculture in the country.

DepEd Bicol representative Christie L. Alvarez said that this year’s theme is about being a Filipino.

“We are what we eat and we should advocate Filipino food,” she said.

Portraying best the local theme “Food Kaleidoscope: a nation filled with colors of what you eat” in his poster is Krysten G. Gino of the Sorsogon Pilot Elementary School.

The local theme for the essay-writing contest “Eat Local, Write Local: Tasty Words for Filipino Food Movement” was clearly portrayed in words by Daryll Jan M. De la Rosa of the Sorsogon National High School. Both entries are from Sorsogon City.

The second and third place winners for the Poster-Making contest were Winnoh R. Ogarte of Naga Central School 1, Naga City and Marlon Rementizo Jr. from Polangui North Central School, Polangui, Albay, respectively.

For the Essay-Writing Contest, Nikki Shane V. Pillejera of Masbate National Comprehensive High School, Masbate City and Blesil C. Luna of Bicol Regional Science High School, Ligao City placed second and third place respectively.

The two winners will represent the Bicol Region in the national contest on October 18, 2018 at the El Cielito Hotel in Makati, Metro Manila. (jaysonmgonzales with photos by Christie Alvarez)