Four college graduates from Dumaguete and Siquijor are vying for the regional finals of the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines that will be held here in Dumaguete on July 19 to 23 at the Negros Oriental Convention Center.
According to Lea Sicat-Reyes, a national TOSP awardee, this year’s host for the Central Visayas search is Dumaguete City, and is chaired by Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, representing the TOSP Regional Executive Committee. This year’s provincial coordinator is Felix Mosqueda III.
The last time Dumaguete hosted the regional search was five years ago in 2012.
Of the 20 regional finalists this year, four are from Dumaguete and Siquijor: Val Amiel Vestil, magna cum laude at Silliman University, Lemuel Angelo Eleccion of Foundation University, Mark Harley Caspiz of Siquijor State College, and Genin Raya Amiscaray of Silliman University.
The other regional TOSP finalists are: Christine Joy Bongcaras of Holy Name University, Jimboy Nunez of Cebu Institute of Technology University, Jessa May Basiga of University of San Carlos, Divine Grace Yuson of University of San Jose Recoletos, Ronald Calamba of University of Bohol, Aljoe Luis Bacus of University of Cebu-Banilad, Arnold Joseph Caesar Esteban of UP Cebu, Lorraine Mitzi Ambrad of USJR, Michael Angelo Alegre of UP Cebu, Bret Alfonso Balbuena of USC, John Keith Marzo of USJR, Alexander Bajarias of USC, Joesil Dianne Sempron of University of Bohol, Niel Roy Impas of University of Visayas, Kynn Nyssus Toribio of Holy Name University, and Jeriel Panimdim of UC Banilad.
Sicat-Reyes said the credentials of the Top 10 in the regional search will be sent to the national secretariat for another round of paper screening. Only 30 finalists from the entire Philippines will qualify for the national level search.
The vision of the TOSP is youth participation in nation-building. Founded in June 1961 by businessman Jose Concepcion, the search recognizes students who exemplify academic excellence, exemplary leadership, and selfless service.
Some of the best from Central Visayas who made it as the country’s Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines are from Dumaguete, including: Atty. Myrish Cadapan-Antonio in 1995 who is now assistant director for Leadership Development at the Center for Public Leadership of the Harvard University-Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Massachusetts; Wilma Famoso in 2000; Dr. Jenny Lind Elmaco in 2002 who is now research fellow of the UP College of Law and Businessnet Taskforce of the International Federation of Business & Professional Women; Atty. Ivan Bandal in 2003 who is now associate solicitor at the Office of the Solicitor General in Manila; Lea Sicat-Reyes in 2004 who is now administrator of ABC Learning Center in Dumaguete; Stacy Danika Alcantara in 2009 who is now a foreign service officer at the Department of Foreign Affairs; and Von Jovi Biala in 2015 who is now a licensed architect.
