QC high school tops ‘End VAW’ poster-making contest


A junior high school student from Jose P. Laurel Sr. High School in Quezon City bagged the top prize in this year’s 18-Day Campaign To End Violence Against Women (VAW) Poster-Making Contest, besting other 30 schools in Metro Manila.

In an interview with Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) Media Unit, 15-year old Charina Racaza said her thorough research about VAW enabled her to fully depict this year’s theme “End VAW Now! It’s Our Duty!”

“This contest gave me a clearer understanding of violence against women. Now I understand what the meaning of VAW is. I was able to communicate, through my art work, that VAW victims should have the strength to fight for their rights and that unity is needed in ending violence against women,” she added.

Racaza received P10,000 cash prize and a trophy during the awarding ceremony at SM City Sta. Mesa on December 10.

Runner-ups Jamia Mei Tolentino from St. Stephen’s High School, Manila and Irish Andre Valenzuela from Arellano University High School Juan Sumulong Campus won the second and third prize respectively.

Meantime, University of Sto. Tomas (UST) High School’s Hannah Beatriz Dacanay clinched the People’s Choice Award after receiving a total of 2,793 Facebook likes.

Other awardees are Janine Ulob of St Scholastica’s College, Manila (Special Prize for Originality), Vance Galvin T. Tangcueco of St. Jude Catholic School, Manila (Special Prize for Creativity), and Shanel Salcedo of Elizabeth Seton School, Las Pinas (Special Prize for Artistry).

The poster-making contest, which is in line with the national observance of the said campaign, aims to raise awareness on Violence Against Women (VAW).