Philippine News Updates: 2020

<h1 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-jxNcNZkOK3zyvz9moxhGvdtwU-amm2Y-szH4aL9oIUywWLXkuI-lFHTNwWUNpuy5SwWs0QO6wdASZpyY_ucadMYobdPCOiMoKDXitSqfRbYpoLiN2i91MqyuWwyDP7GOrTAeWJjPZGq/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="630" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-jxNcNZkOK3zyvz9moxhGvdtwU-amm2Y-szH4aL9oIUywWLXkuI-lFHTNwWUNpuy5SwWs0QO6wdASZpyY_ucadMYobdPCOiMoKDXitSqfRbYpoLiN2i91MqyuWwyDP7GOrTAeWJjPZGq/w318-h320/1.jpg" width="318" /></a></div>Hoping to provide a creative outlet to millions of Filipinos in these trying times, The Next Poets Society conducted its first-ever national poem writing contest online from May 15–27, 2020.</h1><div><h3 style="text-align: left;">With the theme Life and Love, more than 500 participants penned their chances of submitting entries from all over the country.</h3><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbpxX3p7rfitQ744oclCpxzzZibDjViwErE1lrDfDxzZoaoOmXLXq1afMn5ZRwmXeQ1yZmVQHipWemq84LUHeufzVRr71wLlUQFMQTDFXXHWSX8BEcbGn9QFBmO746yI31u6OKDkBLZRj/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="713" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisbpxX3p7rfitQ744oclCpxzzZibDjViwErE1lrDfDxzZoaoOmXLXq1afMn5ZRwmXeQ1yZmVQHipWemq84LUHeufzVRr71wLlUQFMQTDFXXHWSX8BEcbGn9QFBmO746yI31u6OKDkBLZRj/w200-h198/The+Next+Poet+Society+Logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Days after the grueling judging followed by online voting, <font>𝐀𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥 </font>During these trying times brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Next Poets Society aimed to provide a creative outlet to millions of Filipinos through its first-ever national poem writing contest held online from May 15-27, 2020. With the theme "Life and Love," more than 500 participants from all over the country submitted their entries in hopes of winning the top prize.</div><div><br /></div><div>After days of grueling judging followed by online voting, Angel Allen Montejo Son from Cavite emerged as the champion with his poem "Larong katoto, di nahahapo." Patrizsa May Alfonsso of Zamboanga City followed closely in second place with her entry "Philautia," while Charles Werrold Fernandez of Pangasinan took the third spot with his poem "SILA."</div><div><br /></div><div>For Son, poetry helps him balance his thoughts and provides him with a medium to explore different perspectives, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. Aside from the top three winners, three other hopefuls also made it to the finals: Kim Angelo P. Umayam from Quezon City (4th Place, Entry: "Paano Magmahal ng Isang Uod?"), Arnold C. Gatus from Valenzuela City (5th Place, Entry: "My Quarantined Love Amid Quarantined Life"), and Marc Morric Arayan from Las Piñas City (6th Place, Entry: "Ang Natuto"). The contest was a success in terms of providing a creative platform for Filipinos to express their thoughts and emotions during these challenging times.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdteSZD17akD8o-xfVLSxdRKS8kdwEH-8gbkDWN3OncwjSC0Zo-dgTPmz8pD1qJlj6DVbHRyETXc0ymwMn-xbTFYg0wfoEaAwuvtlBEBDv_rhlPyj_GjljoPGJkNfKaWGYcbyfQ9WV9XQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="1080" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdteSZD17akD8o-xfVLSxdRKS8kdwEH-8gbkDWN3OncwjSC0Zo-dgTPmz8pD1qJlj6DVbHRyETXc0ymwMn-xbTFYg0wfoEaAwuvtlBEBDv_rhlPyj_GjljoPGJkNfKaWGYcbyfQ9WV9XQ/w640-h365/First+Winner.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInrblGln85MHmCH-cqzOb-wrkVO7o3y95hja1-HgAm9yxwkUexZPdcVbVT0OZmcGFWSZ1s6UyZBtzmmoUWhjc-4Un6XbeXHAFznHGMwj9u7ZXNE4tVID9_aTHqQKTyR-CiTKQ5jYxN1ua/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="1080" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInrblGln85MHmCH-cqzOb-wrkVO7o3y95hja1-HgAm9yxwkUexZPdcVbVT0OZmcGFWSZ1s6UyZBtzmmoUWhjc-4Un6XbeXHAFznHGMwj9u7ZXNE4tVID9_aTHqQKTyR-CiTKQ5jYxN1ua/w640-h364/Second+Winner.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeupFjRxXTDennZGi8HZweUqX3ONG1zAZhLVo8VHjXPNri5Ommp-KB5bBSPcAy3oS8XVRvgFsJnrsHaaQYwdxvqJTUwI2TViNK7dj1KAckETOeuunIlVKo6wLZGNb59zj7h9csUcj3AUi/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="1080" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeupFjRxXTDennZGi8HZweUqX3ONG1zAZhLVo8VHjXPNri5Ommp-KB5bBSPcAy3oS8XVRvgFsJnrsHaaQYwdxvqJTUwI2TViNK7dj1KAckETOeuunIlVKo6wLZGNb59zj7h9csUcj3AUi/w640-h364/Third+Winner.jpg" width="640" /></a> </div><div>Here’s the link to the video: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/110165790698123/posts/120608502987185/">The Next Poets Society</a> on Facebook Page.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>