Catanduanes Student Wins PHLPost Letter Writing Contest

Mikaela Ashika Vargas, a student of Catanduanes National High School, topped the Philippine Postal Corp.’s 54th Universal Postal Union International Letter Writing Competition for Young People.

Vargas bested other entries submitted nationwide through PHLPost, focusing on the theme, “Imagine you are the ocean. Write a letter to someone explaining why and how they should take good care of you.”

Her winning entry will represent the Philippines in the worldwide competition to be held in Berne, Switzerland.

This year’s theme encouraged young people to creatively articulate their thoughts on the significance of ocean conservation, reflecting on global issues and proposing sustainable solutions aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Other national winners include Aime Renny B. Suon of Agusan National High School, Butuan City, who won second prize, and Jayden Lyle Darcy V. Tonosgan of Antique Vocational School, Bugasong, Antique, who took third prize.

The first prize winner will receive PHP25,000, second prize PHP20,000, and third prize PHP15,000, along with medals and certificates.

Part of Vargas’ letter read: “I’m the ocean near the Philippines, but really, I’m just a small part of something much bigger. I’m connected to all the other oceans and seas around the world. Water moves, creatures travel, and the winds above me carry my warmth and storms across the planet. What happens to me does not stay with me — it reaches you too!”

The contest aims to develop young people’s skills in composition and clear expression, foster their enjoyment of letter writing, and strengthen bonds of international friendship, one of the missions of the Universal Postal Union, a specialized agency of the United Nations where PHLPost is an active member.

Letter writing enhances various aspects of a student’s learning, including language skills, communication, and social-emotional development.

This year’s judges were Melanie Viloria-Briones, vice president for academic affairs and concurrent vice president for international engagements and quality assurance at City College of San Fernando, Pampanga and founder of the School Press Advisers Movement Inc.; Rachelle Bellesteros-Lintao, Ph.D., president of the Linguistic Society of the Philippines and professor at the Faculty of Arts and Letters at the University of Santo Tomas; and Archie Bergosa, editor-in-chief of Explained PH and a faculty member at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.