When it rains, it pours.
Aside from emerging champion in the Regional Debate Competition and winning in 13 major categories in the 7th Regional Higher Education Press Conference, Lyceum Northwestern University came home this week as the new grand champion of the Aweng Paskua 2006 Christmas Choral Competition held in Baguio City .
The LNU Chorale, a group of young, upbeat individuals sharing to the university and to the community their passion in singing, bested eight other school-based choral groups from Region 1 and the Cordillera to win the grand prize in the competition.
“I am happy that Christmas is coming and there is no better gift for our university than our choral group winning the Aweng Paskua 2006,” said lawyer Gonzalo T. Duque, LNU president.
The choral competition, which is sponsored by the Baguio City First Methodist Church and the Baguio City government, was open only to Baguio-based schools in the last two years and this was the first time participants from Region 1 were invited.
“Nobody ever believed that LNU will be declared grand champion because we were in a very unfamiliar ground. And indeed, since this is the first time, we have proven them wrong. Region 1 is number one when it comes to choral competitions until during these years,” Duque said.
Before being declared as grand champion, the LNU Chorale was first chosen as Best Adult Choral Group while the Baguio City National High School’s Young Minstrels was the Best Junior Choral Group.
The Young Minstrels had dominated the competition in the last two years as grand prize winner.
Other participants included University of the Cordilleras Chorale, Juan G. Macaraeg National High School’s Sayawit, Calasiao’s Sts. Peter and Paul Children’s Choir, Colegio de Dagupan’s Koro Colegio, Pines City Colleges Chorale, The Louisian Youth Choir, and the University of Baguio Chorale.
The board of judges included multi-awarded composers Nathanael Arnel A. De Pano and Joy T. Nilo, University of the East Chorale conductor Anna Tabita Abeleda-Piquero, and lawyer-beauty beauty titlist Zorayda Ruth Andam.
In the Regional Debate Competition held at the People’s Hall in San Fernando City, La Union, the LNU Debating Team dominated the competition by also emerging as champion. Smith Dacasin, a B.S Psychology student and president of the LNU Student Government, was named Best Debater.
In the 7th Regional Higher Education Press Conference, LNU’s official student publication, Ulnos, won the 2 nd prize in Best Layout, 3rd in Best Features; 4th in Best Cover; 3rd in Best Sports Page; 4th in Best News Page; and 4th in Best Developmental Communication.
Aside from these, Ulnos staffers also won in various individual writing competitions: Clint Markwin Olivo, 3 rd place, Photojournalism; Aiza Fernandez, 8th place, Feature Writing (Filipino); Aida Rose Seradoy, 8th place, Feature Writing (English); Ruby Grace Gutierrez, 9th place, Editorial Writing (Filipino); Janet Gutierrez, 10 th place, News Writing (Filipino); Ruby Grace Gutierrez, 10th place, News Writing (Filipino); and Otilov Llarenas, 10th place, News Writing (English).
