European Commission-Ombudsman to hold Multi-Event Challenge

By Rodolfo P. Gumabong

The European Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman will conduct a multi-event competition comprising of On-the-Spot Poster Making, Essay Writing and Slogan Making contests, under the theme: “Building a Culture of Integrity and Excellence”.

This multi-event challenge is open to all students, government employees and the general public. The student category is open to any bonafide high school and college student. The government category is open to all government officials and employees of the national and local governments including government owned and controlled corporations. It is also open to private individuals. Valid entries should include the completion and submission of the Application Entry Form available at the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas, Dept. of Agricultural Compound at M. Velez St., Guadalupe, Cebu City.

The On-the-Spot Poster Making Contest will be conducted on August 4, 2005 at the Iloilo Business Hotel at the Benigno Aquino Ave., Diversion Road, Mandurriao, Iloilo City from 9:00 A.M. To 5:00 P.M. Drawing and writing materials shall be provided by the organizers, including illustration board, craypas, pencil and others. Regional winners shall qualify for the National On-the-Spot Poster Making Contest. The criteria are as follows: Adherence to Theme-40%; Creativity and Originality-30% and Visual Ecology-30%. The regional level grand prize is P30,000, 2 nd prize is P10,000 and 3 rd prize is P5,000. The national grand prize is P30,000, 2 nd prize is P15,000 and 3 rd prize is P10,000.

In the Essay Writing Contest, the entry must have an electronic and hard copy and both must be submitted either by hand delivery or addressed directly to the Ombudsman Visayas Office, D.A. Compound, M. Velez St., Cebu City on or before July 8, 2005. A participant can submit no more than one (1) entry. Each entry submitted must not be the work of two or more people. Essays must be within 2,000 to 2,500 words for the Student Category and 2,500 to 3,000 words for Government Employees and the General Public Category. The essay must be an original composition, double-spaced, font must be Bookman Old Style with font size of 14. The title must be in bold letters. Regional winners shall qualify for the National Essay Writing Contest. The criteria are as follows: Substance (Adherence to the Theme) 40%; Logic and Coherence 30% and Style and Presentation 30%. The grand prize for the regional winner is P20,000, 2 nd prize is P10,000 and 3 rd prize is P5,000. The national grand prize is P50,000, 2 nd prize is P20,000 and 3 rd prize is P10,000.

For the Slogan Making Contest, slogan entries either in English or Filipino, must contain not more than fifteen (15) words relevant to the theme. The entry must be printed in an oslo paper for uniformity. Entries should not contain any form of identification of the participant. An ENTRY NUMBER will be assigned upon registration. Regional winners shall qualify for the National Slogan Making Contest. Submission of entries should be submitted on or before July 8, 2005, either by Postal Address or hand delivered directly to the Ombudsman Visayas Office, D.A. Compound, M. Velez St., Cebu City. The criteria are as follows: Comprehensibility (of message and idea)-40%; Creativity and Originality-30% and Appropriateness to be used as OMB Official slogan-30%. The grand prize for the regional level is P10,000, 2 nd prize is P5,000 and 3 rd prize is P3,000. The national grand prize is P20,00, 2 nd prize is P10,00 and 3 rd prize is P5,00.

Entry forms of the contest have been distributed to schools, and colleges in Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo and Negros Occidental and to government employees and the general public. For more inquiries, contact Belle Quijano and Irene Pintor, Ombudsman, Cebu City, or call telephone numbers 032-2550977, 032-4166134 and 032-4166131. Or write directly to the Office of the Ombudsman, D.A. Compound, M. Velez St., Cebu City.