Bona fide text
NSPC 2009 in Naga
I wrote this article while sitting in the lobby of Villa Caceres in Naga City past 11 o'clock in the evening. I was sent by St. Joseph School (Iloilo), Inc. as the teacher adviser of Vicah Adrienne P. Villanueva and Jasmine Garet P. Jardeleza, our two qualifiers for the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC) from February 15-20, 2009. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Maria Lourdes Josefina I. Garcia, our school directress for the trust she has given me to represent SJS this time in a national competition. Actually it was my first time to attend NSPC. Indeed, it was an opportunity for me more than anything. And above all, it is my first time here in Naga.
T'was our second day upon writing this article and actually we didn't have that great time to explore what the city can offer. Nevertheless, I know for sure, we won't leave this place without visiting the beautiful spots which include antique churches built during the Spanish era.
Before I went here, I had the chance to research where's Naga and what's in Naga. Naga City is the capital of Camarines Sur, which is more well known today for its short-cut version CamSur. Located in the Bicol Region, a peninsula on the southeasternmost tip of the island of Luzon, it is 377 kilometers southeast of Manila. With a relatively small land area compared to all cities in Bicol which accounts for it being the most densely-populated city in the region, Naga City is locally known as the "Heart of Bicol". It is the religious and cultural center of the Bicol region.
In history account, it was Juan de Salcedo named the place "Naga" because of the abundance of Narra trees ("Naga" in Bicol). Although some local historians now believe the term naga came from a similar word found in the languages of the Bataks of Sumatra and the Dayaks of Borneo which means "serpent/dragon". This derivation of the name Naga coincide with the story of of local historian Danilo Gerona that the ancient Tagalogs and Pampangos used a decorative figurehead on the prows of their seacrafts in the shape of the head of a dragon or snake which they called naga. Whatever is the right one, Naga become one of the tourist spots in the entire country. Not only Naga but the entire CamSur is the new hub in the Bicol Region that attracts both local and foreign tourists. Actually this “Heart of Bicol” was described in the newest edition on Lonely Planet traveller's guide as "Luzon's best kept secret".
Sad to say there is no direct flight from Iloilo going to Naga. A connecting flight from Iloilo to Manila and from Manila going to Naga is a best travel guide for sure. But if you would like to capture the beauty of the perfect mountain cone in the world, just what I did, I had Manila-Legazpi flight. After 55 minutes travel, I had a jaw-dropping reaction seeing Mt. Mayon while exiting the plane. It was my first time seeing the beauty of its perfect cone. Now, I can indeed really attest that Mt. Mayon is one of best gift God has given to the Bicolanos.
A two-hour bus drive, which can cost you an affordable bus fare of P120 from Legazpi going to Naga is somewhat worth the experience. Naga is a very simple but progressive city, no taxis, no traffic at all. You can go to places that would like to visit by riding tricycle or jeepney. This “Heart of Bicol” is the home of the first school for women in the Philippines, the Universidad de Santa Isabel along Elias-Angeles Street. And of course, if you are a Catholic devotee, you shouldn't miss visiting the Church of Peñafrancia, the Ina of the Bicolanos.
Back to NSPC, Region VI has 197 delegates out of the 3178 who attended the said national conference. Contests include News, Feature, Sports, and Editorial Writing, Cartooning, Copryreading and Headline Writing, Photojournalism, Broadcasting and Online Writing. Yesterday, plenary sessions were held catering topics such as Matanglawin and Climate Change given by Mr. Kim Atienza nd Mr. Nong Rangasa, respectively. Contests started yesterday until Thursday and awarding ceremonies on the 19th.
Good luck to all the participants and congratulations in advance. Thanks to Mrs. Dialita Jardeleza and Mrs. Diana Villanueva, the ever supportive parents of Jasmine and Vicah, and of course, Ma'am Sonia Jerezo, Education Supervisor II – Department of Education Region VI, for the warm accommodation she has given us during our entire stay in Naga City.