Philpost awards Thomasian writer

San Carlos City, NEGROS OCCIDENTAL–Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos welcomed PhilPost Area 6 Director Atty. Benjie Yotoko, CPA, who awarded a tenth grader for winning third place during the Philpost “Salamat Po” National On-The-Spot Letter Writing Contest last July 24, 2019.

            Daniela Katrina Pauline D. Purisima, from Section St. Matthew, is the first representative from Philpost Area 6 (Western Visayas) to have won in the national level held last February 2019 at the GSIS Museum, Pasay City.

            Purisima placed third among 30 contestants from all over the country.

            Yotoko, during his speech, said he came all the way from Iloilo City “to give due recognition to the student of CST-R for being the top three in the national letter writing contest.”

            The area director admitted that he had wished that Purisima won the first prize and she would have been able to represent the Philippines in the 49th Universal Postal Administration Letter Writing Contest in Bern, Switzerland.

            “I’ll expect that one, two or three students [from] CST-R will once again represent Area 6” in the next national level, Yotoko added.

            Purisima received cash prize, certificate and a medal. CST-R also received a Certificate of Appreciation from Philpost for continuously supporting the “Salamat Po” projects which are all aimed “to improve literacy with the art of letter writing.”

            Marionne Sasis, CST-R English teacher and the Thomasian’s coach and trainer, shared the many roadblocks during the journey to the national level contest. Sasis emphasized the financial support that the Local Government of San Carlos City gave which made their trip to Manila possible.

            Rev. Fr. Joel Alve, OAR, school director and principal, pointed during his speech that, “Time is the reason why we no longer write letters by hand.” Fr. Alve is an avid supporter of Philpost’s “Salamat Po” project, which is now in its seventh year.

            Maria Novah Sollesta, San Carlos City assistant local economic investment officer, who declared that she is a “proud Thomasian,” said that today “the art of letter writing is outdated; your thoughts are buried in social media and acronyms,” and that “sadly communication has turned generic.”

            Sollesta in her inspirational message lauded Philpost’s efforts and projects to revive the art of letter writing and encouraged Thomasians to write letters “particularly by hand” for “to send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything except your heart.”

            Yotoko told Thomasians that, “If you want to be a lawyer, you should know how to write properly and clearly.”

            Promoting the “Salamat Po” raffle promo, the Philpost director said that every student who sends a letter through Philpost is entitled to one raffle entry. Entries are unlimited and the promo will begin on September 2019 up until March 2020. The draw will be on April 2020. Cash prizes await the winners.             Other guests during the awarding ceremony included Hons. Allen Gustilo, Lorna Hinolan and Carlos Valmayor, San Carlos City councilors, Diosdado Teves, SPSO Negros Occidental District Director, and Ma. Victoria B. Flores, San Carlos City Postmaster.

With reports by Maridel Hubahib, ABM student

(photo below) Guests from the Local Government of San Carlos and Philpost together with Rev. Fr. Joel Alve, OAR and Rev. Fr. Vicente Ramon, Jr., OAR, Purisima and Sasis.