BACOLOD CITY – Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte commended the holding of the Invitational Fancy Drill Competition at the 125th Al Cinco de Noviembre in Bago City, Negros Occidental on November 5.
DUTERTE (FB)
In a video message, the Vice President underscored the collective dedication and hard work of the city government in the resumption of this event which brings together various Citizen’s Army Training (CAT) and Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) units from the province exemplifying the ideals of leadership, discipline, teamwork, and excellence.
For the city government, the fancy drill competition mirrors unity, bravery, discipline, integrity, ingenuity, and perseverance, among other traits that are innate to the people of Negros.
These qualities, like that of the troops from Bago City led by Gen. Juan Araneta who fought for freedom against the Spaniards over a century ago, are being highlighted during the Al Cinco de Noviembre celebration, the city government added.
Mayor Nicholas Yulo, in his message during the competition, said it is just fitting that one of the highlights of the celebration is the fancy drill competition alongside the parade of the cannons.
“After the absence of three years (due to the pandemic), we are now back to seeing the finest and right so because our Al Cinco de Noviembre is about heroism, discipline, ingenuity, bravery, and values that do not fade over time,” Yulo said. “These are still very important today and that we have to teach them to our children to become better citizens of tomorrow.”
Senate Committee on Education chairman Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, in a video message, lauded the skills of the participants as he urged them to always uphold sportsmanship and camaraderie in every competition they join.
Gatchalian previously filed a bill that seeks to re-institutionalize the two-year mandatory basic ROTC program and the two-year voluntary advance ROTC program on the tertiary level.
Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero de Vera III congratulated Bago City for coming up with such an activity that makes the CAT and ROTC programs in the province alive.
THE Enriqueta Montilla de Esteban Memorial High School (EMEMHS) in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental topped the fancy drill competition in the 125th Al Cinco de Noviembre in Bago City, Negros Occidental on Sunday, November 5. (Photo courtesy of Citybridge/Bago City PIO)
For the fourth straight year, the Enriqueta Montilla de Esteban Memorial High School (EMEMHS) in Pulupandan remained the champion in the fancy drill competition.
EMEMHS bagged P25,000 in cash prize and trophy. It also bagged three of the six special awards such as the Best Platoon Leader, Best in Uniform, and Most Disciplined. They received P5,000 and a plaque of recognition for each of these awards.
The annual tilt has put the name of the school on the map, particularly in the field of fancy drill competition in the province, Elizer Pineda, EMEMHS principal, said.
EMEMHS first won the title in the fancy drill competition dubbed “Battle of the Champions” in 2012. The school won again in 2014 and defended the crown in 2015 and pocketed three straight titles in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The Lopez Jaena National High School in Murcia was the first runner-up, winning P20,000 and a trophy, and was Best in Street Performance and received P5,000 and plaque of recognition.
The STI-West Negros University in Bacolod City was second runner-up, receiving P15,000 in cash. It was also named Best in Production Number and Best in Narration and pocketed a total of P10,000 and plaques of recognition.
Other participating schools were Minoyan National High School in Murcia and Mariano G. Medalla Integrated School in Bacolod City. They received P10,000 in consolation prizes.
The panel of judges was composed of Lt. Col. Richard Dinayugan and Major Jovy Perater of the Army 3rd Infantry Division and Cadet 1st Class Dezon John Tornea, Cadet 1st Class Clint Rianne Pino, and Cadet 1st Class Ayezza Myrisse Candelario of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).