10 finalists picked in “Letter to My Parents” contest in Hawaii

The 10 finalists will read their letters during FilCom Sunday’s “Pasasalamat” at the FilCom Center. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

HONOLULU—The 10 finalists in the first “Letter to My Parents Contest” sponsored by the Filipino Community Center, Sariling Gawa and Reiyukai America will read their letters during FilCom Sunday’s “Pasasalamat” on Sunday, Nov. 24.

The 10 are John Paul Banasihan, Mercedez Cunanan, Kathryn Esteban Angelica, Marie A. Fernandez, Maria Andrea Jurado, Fely Marie Princess Magaoay, Laetitia Marie Nazareno Mahoney, Dwayne Manzanillo, Desiree Joi Mateo and Eliaquim Reyes.

All 10 finalists will receive a $1,000 scholarship from Argosy University.  A panel of judges will decide the winner of the $1,000 prize.

The project is meant to celebrate the role of the family as the basic foundation of society, since it is family unity that helps people grow as both individuals and as members of society. In a more individualistic society where the role of the family is changing, the goal of this contest is to encourage the youth to acknowledge the role of their parents and/or guardians in their lives.

The 10 finalists are individuals aged between 16 and 21 residing in the State of Hawaii, or those born during the years 1992 to 1997.  Some finalists chose one or a combination of Philippine languages and provided an English translation.

The first “Letter to my Parents” contest was organized by FilCom Center, Reiyukai America and Sariling Gawa. Sponsors are Budget Color Litho and Argosy University.