SAN FRANCISCO – Winners of this year’s Letter to My Parents™ Contest in Hawai‘i were announced Saturday, Nov. 19 where nine contestants recited their letters dedicated to their parents.
Judges selected three award recipients for this year’s contest: Amanda Herolaga for “Bravery,” Shyloe Tote for “Reflection” and Aizea Ranon for “Proposal.”
Each of them received a prize of $500. For this year, there was another award – “Spirit of Aloha,” which was awarded to Casey Metrose, who received a $200 dinner certificate courtesy of Suntory Restaurant in Waikiki.
The judges were Dwayne Manzanillo, (Teacher, James Campbell High School), Joanne Corpus (Zippy’s), and Alvin Ishihara (Reiyukai America).
The Final Presentation was held during the “‘Ohana Day Celebration” hosted by Reiyukai America, which organizes the annual contest along with Kalamansi Books and Things and Sariling Gawa Youth Council, Inc.
A total of 187 letters from 21 different schools were submitted. The Organizing Committee invited nine contestants to present their letters to their parents, families, the general audience and the judges at the Hawaii’s Plantation Village in Waipahu, O‘ahu: Masar Abdeljawad; Maizie Distad; Amanda Herolaga; Casey Metrose; Aizea Ranon; Julienne Saladino; Hannah Smasne; Timoteo Sumalinog; Shyloe Tote.
After the letters were read, the nine participants received a $50 gift certificate and a Certificate of Participation, gift certificate from Zippy’s, a Free Online E-book subscription with a free pizza coupon courtesy of Read 2 Succeed Foundation. Each of the contestants will be also receiving a “1 Year TestPrep Course Subscription” courtesy of BenchPrep.
Noriko Sotta, member of the Reiyukai America National Committee noted, “We are very pleased to see this year again many families were able to get together.”
“This year again, this contest brought the youth in Hawai‘i and their parents to get connected for a stronger bonding. It turned out to be a full day of pleasant surprises. Many of the parents who were present were not aware why they were there. Once letters were presented, many parents were touched emotionally as well as pleased by learning how their children were thinking about themselves simultaneously willing to improve the relationship they have,” stated Evelyn Llena, past president of Filipino Association of University Women, one of the sponsors of the event.
Organizers of the award thanked Hawaii’s Plantation Village, Solomon, Deanna and Ashley Espinas, Filipino Association of University Woman (FAUW), Read 2 Succeed Foundation, Suntory Restaurant, Zippy’s, BenchPrep, GF Educators, Vicky Ramil, Alvin Ishihara and Gina Ramirez for their support.