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Young Boholana wins in international writing contest

Trisha Louella Mae Lerin Racho, currently a freshman student of Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the Visayas State University (VSU), won first place in an international essay writing competition for undergraduate nursing students.

Racho is a senior high school graduate of Holy Spirit School.

Launched in mid-July and culminating on September 1, the essay contest was hosted by Stikes Bethesda Yakkum, an Indonesia-based university, to celebrate the country’s freedom month with the theme “Covid-19: The Reveal of the Real Kind of Nursing”.

Located in the city of Baybay in Leyte, VSU, formerly known as ViSCA and one of the leading state universities of the country, produced another winner, Althea Grace C. Mosende, a third year BSN student.

Mosende bagged the tenth place in the same competition that attracted some 60 entries from Canada, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nigeria and the Philippines.

Five other Filipino students are among the top ten winners. They come from the Philippine Women’s University (2nd), University of Santo Tomas (4th), Sultan Kudarat State University (7th), San Beda University (8th) and University of the Philippines (9th).

Dr. Joel Rey U. Acob, dean of the VSU College of Nursing, congratulated Racho and Mosende for bringing honor to their school.

Acob further shared the importance of supporting and empowering young students towards regional development, mutual understanding and collaboration in the ASEAN region.

For being the competition’s first placer, Racho shall receive 150 USD and a certificate from Stikes Bethesda Yakkum.

Most elated by the young writer’s accomplishment are her parents, Louie Neil Tan Racho and Maria Myrna Lerin Racho from Balilihan and Loon, respectively. The family currently resides in the elder Racho’shometown.

Incidentally, the first editor and associate editor of Amaranth, the official publication of college students of VSU, are Loonanons Reynaldo Prudente Monreal and Maria Teresa Descallar Posas, respectively. The paper’s first adviser, Jejoma Armachuelo, and some of its staff are also Boholanos, namely, Maria Fe Dominise, Grace Len R. Calipayan and Editha A. Gundaya.

This academic year, Amaranth marks its 40th anniversary and, if she so desires, Racho may join its current batch of writers. (Koddi PM / Source: VSU Official Website)