Backed by DepEd’s objectives of promoting love for reading and celebrating the diversity of learners through reading, Pasay City West High School kicked-off its celebration of the National Reading Month (NRM) on Nov. 6, 2018 at the school gym.

Banking on this year’s NRM theme of “Pagbasa: Susi sa Magandang Kinabukasan”, English Department gave various activities to the students. For the individual contest, the Department lined up the following: declamation, oratorical, extemporaneous speech, spelling bee, reading proficiency, essay writing, and the search for best literary character. Group contests were also given. To wit: spoken poetry, jingle writing and singing, news casting, reader’s theatre and speech choir. Also featured in the month-long event are Christmas card making, Drop Everything and Read (DEAR), Share a Book, and Mystery Reader. Angelica Salac, Grade 8-Aristotle acted as the mystery reader by narrating Bagobo tribe’s Story of Creation

 Outstanding performers of the various activities were announced during the closing program held on Dec. 10, 2018.Winners of the group contests are the following: Grade 9-Lavoisier, news casting; Grade 10-Einstein, speech choir; Grade 9-Aguinaldo, jingle writing and singing; Grade 8-Marunong and Grade 7-Rosas, reader’s theatre; and the pair of Ezra Española and Ronoel Gaylican, spoken poetry.

For the individual contest, the following were declared as winners: Joshua Elardo (declamation) and Samantha Nollora (oratorical). One winner from each grade level was declared in extemporaneous speech, spelling bee, reading proficiency, and essay writing contest.  Winners in extemporaneous speech are: Anthonette Magbuana (Gr. 7), Francis Rafael Domondon (Gr. 8), Ross Hashana E. Devad (Gr. 9), Anna Cecilia Rullan (Gr. 10), and Rei Ezekiel Buhain (Senior High School). The best spellers are: Zheus Paolo Tomines (Gr. 7), Resty Jim Torres (Gr. 8), Samantha Nollora (Gr. 9), Sophia Tercenio (Gr. 10) and Caleb Tristan Ongchua (SHS). Coming out as most proficient readers are: Jasmine Hyazenth Allaga (Gr. 7), Alexandria Renee Ilagan (Gr. 8), Jacob Go (Gr. 9), Raul Lorenzo David (Gr. 10), and Ma. Francesca Valerio (SHS). For essay writing contest, the following were declared as winners Arabella T. Taytay (Gr. 7), Siouxie Manila Smith (Gr. 8), Francine Jean D. Rin (Gr. 9), Mary Andrea Ruth C. Agio (Gr. 10), and Angela Nica B. Dejumo (SHS).

Meanwhile, the following students were declared as best literary characters: Daniel Agaran as Valak (champion), Jazryle Gloria as Joker (1^st runner-up), Jade Castil as Pennywise (2^nd runner-up) for SHS; Khaycee Lattao as Medusa (champion), Lorraine Osmar as Amphitrite (1^st runner-up), Patricia Ann Adolfo as Arachne (2^nd runner-up) for Grade 10; Jose Mari Perlada as Mad Hatter (champion), Jose Marie Gacutno as Queen of Hearts (1^st runner-up), Francine Fugoso as Gretel (2^nd runner-up) for Grade 9; Vince Edward Ignacio as Jumong (champion), Stephanie Loredo as as Shakuntala (1^st runner-up), Mikyla Sebastian as Kali (2^nd runner-up) for Grade 8; and Franco C. Madriaño as Bantugan (champion), Cloie Marie De Castro as Sinagmaling Diwata (1^st runner-up), Shelby Salcedo as Diwata ng mga Bulaklak (2^nd runner-up)  for Grade 7.