7 ARMM students win in national, international contests

COTABATO CITY – Seven students from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have won in different national and international competitions recently in what they described as a “result of the enhanced attention” of the Bangsamoro leaders on harnessing the potentials of resident school youths.

Yasser Malang of the Regional Science High School bested the 18-year and below category of the Southeast Asia Video Festival last November 24 in Manila, while Ricco Teraytay of the Camp Siongco National High School bagged a medal as finalist in the 2018 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships on Nov. 15-18 in Taipei, Taiwan, the ARMM’s Bureau of Public Information (BPI) announced on Thursday.

Five other victors, named only in a BPI statement as students of the Parang National High School, bagged the grand championship prize in the national Science Investigatory Project competition on Nov. 16 in Olongapo City.

ARMM Education Sec. Rasol Mitmug Jr. tendered a thanksgiving gathering for the seven students, who will likely become recipients of scholarships under the Maguindanao Program on Education Assistance and Community Empowerment of Governor Esmael Mangudadatu.

“I’m equally proud of the seven students because they are all from Maguindanao,” Mangudadatu said.

At the sidelines of the recent celebration here of the 29th ARMM foundation anniversary, Malang presented his 15-minute video entitled “Super Guro” that earned for him the championship in children category of the Southeast Asian Video Festival in Manila last Nov. 24.

Malang’s video footage depicted the resilience of a Moro teacher in hiking daily more than two kilometers of muddy road in a secluded rural school at barangay Landasan in Parang, Maguindanao just to teach in his classroom for mostly Muslim elementary pupils.

“In my search of a subject for the contest theme – “Everyday’s Hero,” I chose and filmed a teacher known for his routine sacrifices for the future of children in a remote villag... I am glad I made the right decision, not only for the contest award but because I believe that no people can turn professionals without teachers,” Malang said in Filipino.

Malang’s words drew resounding applause from audience, some of them clapping in between tears. The audience included dozens of active and retired teachers led by former education secretaries in ARMM Dr. Janina Tito, Udtog Kawit and Baratocal Caudang.