NEW YORK — For the education and increased awareness of Filipino students regarding the issues on the West Philippine Sea (particularly the Scarborough Shoal and Spratly Islands) with China, Celia Lamkin, chairwoman of the US Pinoys for Good Governance-Marianas chapter, has launched an essay contest for high school and college students.

The contest is open to all Filipino students or of Filipino descent in the Philippines or overseas, from 10 to 25 years old who are enrolled in high school and college.

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Submissions start from Dec. 1, 2012 to February 1, 2013. Entries can be sent by email to [email protected] or by regular mail to ATTN: Secretariat, USP4GG Essay Contest on West Philippine Sea, 25 C Luna Gardens, Rockwell Center, Makati City, the Philippines 1221.The theme of the essay is, “The West Philippine Sea and its impact on the future of the Philippines.”

The essay should focus on:

1. Sovereignty or ownership issues of territories in the West Philippine Sea contiguous to the Philippines.

2. How control of Philippine territories and the valuable marine and energy resources found therein can affect the future of generations of Filipinos.

3. How can the youth help defend Philippine sovereignty over our territories and protect the marine and energy resources in the West Philippine Sea?

Contestants are encouraged to read books, publications and the Internet on various articles regarding the theme.

The essay must be original. It must not be previously published in print or online nor in any visual and/or auditory recording. It must be in English and must not be more than 1,500 typed words.

Prize ranges from P50,000 to P10,000 ($1,200 to $240). The school/college/university of the first prize winning essays will receive P20,000 ($480) each.

Every student entry must contain the confirmation of the school principal, college/university dean or president that the essay is written by and originated from the student. Signature of the school principal, college or university president or dean, address, email address and telephone number are required to authenticate the student entry.

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Only one entry per person will be accepted. The entry form is available at www.uspgg.org. A parental consent, authorization and liability waiver form is required for minor student. Adult students, for their part, must submit a student consent, authorization and liability waiver form.

A panel of judges, selected by the US Pinoys for Good Governance ad hoc Committee for Essay Contest on West Philippine Sea, will make the final decision. The panel is composed of prominent lawyers, journalists, retired educators and university administrators, among others.

The awards ceremony will be held during the Global Summit of Filipinos in Diaspora on Feb. 25-27, 2013, at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City, Philippines, where approximately 400 participants from different countries are expected to attend.

US Pinoys for Good Governance, headed by national chairwoman attorney Loida Nicolas Lewis, president attorney Rodel Rodis and legal counsel/spokesman attorney Ted Laguatan, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization based in New York, whose mission is a better life for Filipinos everywhere and a better Philippines.

For more information, please email Dr. Celia Lamkin at [email protected]

For more information on the USP4GG, visit www.uspgg.org.

For more information on the Global Summit of Filipinos in Diaspora, please visit http://www.cfo.gov.ph

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