Five young students from the secondary and tertiary schools in Cebu qualified to the nationwide search for “Jose P. Rizal Youth Exemplar” initiated by the Philippine Center for Gifted Education this year.
The search aims to find 35 children and youth who are willing to commit their lives to the ideals and principles of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal in line with the celebration of his 150th birthday on June 19.
The five youths are Leslie Estaniel of the University of Cebu, Mark Cedrick Antonino of the University of San Jose Recoletos, Miko Cabatingan from Abellana National High School, Serge Lorenz Villasica of Mandaue City Science High and Ezekiel Majan of Cebu City National Science High School.
They, along with 30 other youths from all over the country, will take their oath as ‘exemplars’ of what a complete Filipino is as Jose Rizal envisioned them to be.
The oathtaking will be held on June 17 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex in Manila with President Benigno Aquino III leading the ceremony.
The youth will commit their lives to emulate Rizal and help elevate Filipino consciousness for a life of integrity, dignity, truth, honesty and love of country and motivate other Filipinos to do the same.
The five Cebuano students were picked by the selection committee created by the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas (RDC-7) from among the 12 nominees after undergoing screening.