PHL Post Office urges students to participate in the UPU Letter Writing Contest

The Philippine Post Office (PHLPost) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), through the International Bureau, invites youth ages nine to 15 to join its 51st International Letter Writing Competition for Young People, to strengthen literacy through the art of letter-writing.

“The contest is designed to develop the young people’s skills in composition and the ability to express their thoughts clearly, to foster their enjoyment of letter-writing and to help strengthen the bonds of international friendship, one of the basic missions of the UPU,” the post office said in a statement.

In this project supported by the Department of Education (DepEd), participants from public and private schools nationwide will have to write a letter to an “influential person about why and how to take action on climate change.”

Entries to the competition must be written in English and should be handwritten with no erasures.

Submissions should not exceed 800 words and must contain the basic elements of a letter—heading, salutation, the body of the letter, complimentary close, and signature.

PHLPost reminds participants to indicate on a separate sheet of paper the number of words of the letter composition, the participant’s complete name and home address, gender, age, and date of birth, a colored photo of the participant (300 dpi minimum), name and address of school, including year or grade level, and contact number of the school and the participant.

Entries should be placed in a brown envelope and submitted strictly through Domestic Express Mail Service (DEMS)—UPU 51st International Letter Writing Competition for Young People (2022), Post Shop, Philately, and Museum Division, Philippine Postal Corporation, 3/F Manila Central Post Office Building, Magallanes Drive Liwasang Bonifacio, Barangay 659-A, Ermita 1000 Manila. Entries sent via private couriers will be automatically disqualified.

In this project supported by the Department of Education (DepEd), participants from public and private schools nationwide will have to write a letter to an ‘influential person about why and how to take action on climate change.’

Judging will be based on relevance to the theme of the composition (30 percent), imagination, and originality of the content (20 percent). The entry must demonstrate a good style of writing and communication (20 percent), an extensive vocabulary (20 percent), and youthfulness of tone (10 percent).

Submissions will be accepted until April 25, 2022, and the final winner will be determined on May 2, 2022. 

The first prize is ₱25,000 cash, second is ₱15,000, while third is ₱10,000. Winners of the first to the third spot all get a medal and presentation frame.

Interested participants may call Joy Edralin-Cacho at 8527-01-32 or visit the official website of the Philippine Postal Corporation at phlpost.gov.ph, Facebook pages @PHLpost and @Pilipinas Philately, or Twitter account @phlpostofficial for updates on the letter-writing competition.