Twenty students and five teachers who have been dreaming of qualifying for the global competition that could take them to Madrid, Spain, are now one step nearer that goal.
Inquirer editors have chosen the five team finalists in the Inquirer in Education My Dream Interview (MDI) contest. The even better news is that everyone in these teams is getting a Nokia Asha 200 (qwerty dual-SIM) phone, thanks to contest co-presentor Nokia Philippines.
With businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan as their dream interviewee, the team from Malayan High School of Science in Pandacan, Manila, made it to the finalists’ circle. Members are Bianca Grace L. Villanueva, 15; Bianca Marie N. Arreola, 15; Allyssa Jan Marie Joson, 15; Melissa Julianne L. Quing, 15; and teacher Jan Erwin O. Macam.
Also one of the five finalists is the team from Paref Rosehill School in Antipolo City composed of students Margarita Francesca G. Camacho, 15; Therese Marie G. Angangco, 15; Marie Louise B. Boncan, 14; Karen A. Racelis, 12; and teacher Glecy G. Gamboa. The team wants to interview multi-awarded science educator Dr. Josette T. Biyo.
The only school from outside Metro Manila that made it as a finalist is Quezon National High School. Its team is made up of Danica A. Brutas, 15; Vivien Joy P. Berania, 15; Angela Christine de Mesa, 15; Lea Z. Nuera, 15; and teacher Ramonito O. Elumbaring. They are raring for a question-and-answer session with online journalist Maria Ressa.
Another finalist is the team from Fort Bonifacio High School in Makati City, composed of Sarah Cabbuag, 14; Divine Grace Ellana, 15; Mary Bernadette M. de la Cruz, 15; Jude Lorenz E. Francisco, 15; and teacher Irene G. Aquino. Their dream interviewee is prima ballerina and ballet company founder Lisa Macuja-Elizalde.
The team from Colegio de San Agustin, also in Makati City, completes the list of finalists. Members are Jamie Anne B. Gutierrez, 14; Joseph Rem C. de la Cruz, 15; Riane Mitzi B. Manuel, 15; Katherine Anne M. Pavino, 15; and teacher Roberto C. Libao. They are going after Senator Juan Ponce Enrile as their dream interview subject.
The teacher coaching each team must contact the Learning editor at 09183824061 or e-mail learning@inquirer.com.ph for detailed instructions on the second phase of the MDI contest.
Teams from schools in as far as the cities of Pagadian and Kidapawan in Mindanao joined the contest. The contest drew the most number of entries from Baguio and Cebu, two cities where the Inquirer held workshops on the art of the interview.
Some teams that chose world-class Filipinos as their dream interviewees and presented really perceptive questions were disqualified for failure to meet the deadline or follow other contest rules. Others failed to submit all necessary documents or some of their members did not meet the age requirement.
The entries yielded all kinds of questions. For instance, one team wanted to ask Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago: Did you like playing with dolls like most girls? And: Why is your hair always short?
Another team wanted to ask Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle: Do you think technology has affected the younger generation’s relationship with God?
The finalist teams will go on to interview their selected subjects. After the interview, each team must use the question-and-answer material to write a feature story on their dream interviewee. Deadline for the submission of their stories is May 25.
Finalist teams may claim their Nokia phone prizes after they have submitted their stories to the Learning section.
Once all interviews are in, Inquirer editors will pick two MDI winners from the five stories.
Both winners will be the Philippine entries to the “My Dream Interview” global project sponsored by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-Ifra), Fundacion Acindar and the Interview People.
From the entries of the participating countries, two teams will be chosen as global winners by a panel of international editors. Two students and the teacher from each team named as global winners will be flown to Madrid, Spain, to receive their awards at the WAN-Ifra Expo in October.
All five interviews will be published in a series in this section.
The Inquirer workshops for MDI were sponsored by Maynilad Water Services Inc., inquirer.net and Radyo Inquirer.