UP Cebu student wins nat’l essay writing contest

A Cebuana emerged triumphant in the United Nation’s Rio+20 nationwide essay writing contest.

Gerriane Faith B. Rizon won first prize for her essay entitled “The Future I Want.”

The contest responded to the United Nation’s Summit for the Environment, which happens every 20 years where the UN leaders meet to address environmental problems. This year’s summit was held in Rio de Janiero.

A second year Mass Communication student at the University of the Philippines Cebu College, Rizon was awarded on July 16 in Eastwood Mall in Libis, Quezon City.

She received P15,000 and a trophy.

The contest, which started  early this year, was centered on the theme “what the youth would want to see for the environment in the future.”

Rizon’s mother who saw the poster beside UP’s canteen during the enrollment for first semester this school year, encouraged her to join.

“I thought for a few days before deciding to join because I had a lot of doubts about my writing. I told  myself I wouldn’t  lose anything and it was a good opportunity,” Rizon said.

Weeks  passed and when the top ten contestants were announced, Rizon was struggling to promote the video of her essay in the Internet for the public’s poll.

“I found the video poll kind of a hassle. My video took so long to upload and the staff was texting and calling me and I kept asking for an extension. It was embarrassing but during the awarding ceremony they said my efforts paid off,” said Rizon, who promoted her video  on Facebook. In the end, she was fourth in the poll.

Rizon’s winning piece was inspired by  stories that her father told her when she was young about the  good old days in barangay Camputhaw in Cebu City.

“He grew up in Camputhaw and we still visit his old home every now and then. The way he described his home before is totally different from what it is now and I thought, hey, why not write about that?” Rizon said.

Rizon, her parents and a sister  now live  in Mandaue City.

Rizon’s piece describes  how she wanted to see a lush  green Cebu City in the near future the way  her father once  experienced it.

“I think my essay will be able to help people realize that we all need to start conserving the environment for our next generation.”

“I hope that upon reading my essay about the importance of our environment, people won’t just say ‘she’s got a point,’ but will be encouraged to do something,” said Rizon.  Her essay is uploadedin the Internet.

Rizon is currently taking Environmental Science 10 under Prof. Jason Nieva.

She said the subject helps her understand more about the environment.

Rizon is calling on the youth to participate in conserving Mother Nature.

Like the UN’s Summit for the Environment, the essay writing contest will happen again after 20 years. /UP Masscom student Alyssa Ashley C. Manugas