MANILA -- The Presidential Communications Office (PCO), headed by Secretary Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil, is calling all college students to join the essay writing contest anchored in the “Bagong Pilipinas” campaign of the administration.

In a Facebook post, the PCO said that the essay writing contest is part of the Communications Month Celebration in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Proclamation No. 308, issued in August this year, declaring October as Communications Month.

Enrolled college students who wish to participate in the essay writing contest must submit their respective entries no later than 5:00 p.m. on November 20. All entries must be written in English and must not exceed 1,500 words using Times New Roman font style, size 12 font size, and single-spacing.

“Bagong Pilipinas is the theme. The piece may touch on: 1) the Filipino youth’s aspirations for a Bagong Pilipinas, or (2) the inspirational spirit that will enable this call-to-action realization, among many other narratives the writer wants to communicate,” the PCO said.

The PCO said essays should be submitted in PDF format through milc@pco.gov.ph with the subject format: BPESSAYWRITING ENTRY – TITLE OF ESSAY while the body of the e-mail should include: names of participants; year level; school; municipality, province region; essay writing entry text; and essay writing entry file attachment.

Criteria for judging can be accessed on the official Facebook page of the PCO.

Three regional winners will receive PhP10,000 for 3rd placer; PhP30,000 for 2nd placer; and PhP50,000 for 1st placer; while five winners for the national level will receive PhP10,000 for the 5th placer; PhP30,000 for 4th; PhP50,000 for 3rd; PhP75,000 for 2nd; and PhP100,000 for first placer. (PND)