MANILA -- The Office of the President (OP) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) invite students from State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) across the country to join this year’s “Isang Bituin, Isang Mithiin” national parol-making contest.

Interested groups, composed of a maximum of four students, who wish to participate in the competition should submit one original parol – made of recycled endemic materials such as bamboo, paper, and coconut palm, except plastic materials – representing the unique traditions of the SUCs they belong to.

“Commercial- made parols are not allowed and will be disqualified,” the mechanics stated.

Participants are required to submit printed and soft copies of the official endorsement letter from the SUCs they represent. Submission of entries in Malacañang is only on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., on or before October 27 (Friday) only.

Other mechanics of the competition and the criteria for judging can be accessed on the official Facebook page of the Social Secretary’s Office.

King of Talk Boy Abunda, globally-acclaimed Architect Conrad Onglao, and former Commissioner for Cultural Heritage of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and former Commissioner for Culture of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines Architect Mico Manalo are the judges of this year’s competition.

Winning SUCs will receive a photo and video editing package composed of a gigabyte G7 laptop; one year Adobe Creative Cloud subscription; Canon M50 camera; 1 DJI Ronin-SC camera stabilizer 3-Axis Gimbal; and, one INSTA 360 Flow AI-powered smartphone stabilizer.

For students, the 3rd placer will receive PhP250,000; the 2nd placer will receive PhP500,000; and PhP1 million for the 1st placer while the online poll winner will receive a special prize of PhP100,000.

Representatives from SUCs are encouraged to contact Ching Villas at +63 917 3206047 for clarifications and queries about the competition. (PND)