NMCADSV names winners of ‘Know Your Worth’ competitions

First – Gwanhun Son – Middle School

The Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence announced live on Zoom and on its Facebook page last Saturday all winners of the first “2022 Know Your Worth” art, essay, and spoken word competition for middle school and high school students.

The contest, held as part of the Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month campaign, was open to all CNMI students in the 6th to 12th grade, and had a Middle School division, grades 6-8, and a High School division, grades 9-12 for each competition category.

First – Irene Lee – High School

For the Art and Essay categories, first place winners won $150 cash prize, second place winners won $100, and third place winners won $75. NMCADSV also hosted an online vote for favorite middle school and high school artwork out of the top 10. The winners received the People’s Choice Award and $100. An anonymous donor also provided additional prizes to the top winners including gift certificates for Regal Cinemas Saipan, Tyler’s Gelatte Stone, the 670 Café, and Captain Nite’s Boat Charter for trips to Mañagaha.

The first-place winner in the Art category in the Middle School division was titled “The Two Sides of Dating” by Gwanhun Son of Saipan Seventh Day Adventist School. The second-place winner was titled “Healthy Relationships vs. Abusive Relationships” by Verica He of Dandan Middle School. The third-place winner was titled “Teen Dating Violence + Healthy Relationships” by Kyla Marie Diestro of Dandan Middle School. The winner of the People’s Choice Award was titled  “Sometimes fantasies aren’t what they seem” by Sheryne Yang of Saipan Community School. 

First – Irene Lee – High School

The first-place winner in the Art category in the High School division was titled “Don’t Waste Your Life” by Irene Lee of Mount Carmel School. The second-place winner was titled “Listen to Me” by Mariah Deleon Guerrero of Marianas High School. The third-place winner and winner of the People’s Choice Award was titled “Violence can be masked as love” by Angeline Faith Laxamana of Marianas High School.

In the Essay category, students were asked to address one of two prompts about teen dating violence. The prompt most chosen by the winners is “How common do you think violence or abuse is in relationships in the CNMI? What needs to be done to help youth and teens experiencing violence or abuse?” The other prompt asked students to describe how they think culture affects the way CNMI youth view healthy relationships and dating violence.  

Second – Mariah Deleon Guerrero – High School

The first-place winner in the Essay category in the Middle School division was Victor Nash M. Santos of Mount Carmel School. Second place went to Lovelee B. Jingco of Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School, while the third place went to Mya DLG Pangelinan of Mount Carmel School.

The first-place winner in the Essay category in the High School division was Jermaine Chloe Yalung of Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr. Sr. High School. The second-place winner was Fiona Marielle Bucalig of Mount Carmel School. The third-place winner was Angeline Faith Laxamana of Marianas High School. 

Third – Kyla Marie Diestro – Middle School

In the Spoken Word category, the first-place winners won $300 cash prize, second place winners won $200, and third place winners won $100. The competition was judged by Mercilynn Palec, Jay Sanchez, and Malyssa Castro

The first-place winner in the Middle School division was titled “Toxic Love” by Gian Antonio of Francisco M. Sablan Middle School. The second-place winner was titled  “Beyond Repair” by Daniel Dela Cruz of Dandan Middle School. The third-place winner was titled “Never Again” by Jenilyn Jacoba of Francisco M. Sablan Middle School. 

Third and People’s Choice Award – Angeline Faith Laxamana – High School

The first-place winner and winner of the People’s Choice Award for the Spoken Word category in the High School division was titled “The Heart’s Will” by Victoria Igitol Pangelinan of Kagman High School. The second-place winner was titled “It’s Not Me” by Jill Anne Mallari of Mount Carmel School. The third-place winner was titled “Where Are You.”

According to the NMCADSV, the “aim of the competition is to encourage youth to learn about teen dating violence and take part in raising awareness through creating original two-dimensional artwork, writing essays, and performing spoken word poetry that address themes related to teen dating violence and/or healthy relationships in young people.”

People’s Choice Award – Sheryne Yang – Middle School

NMCADSV received “over 100 two-dimensional artworks, 21 essays, and 19 poems for the competition. While NMCADSV has hosted an annual spoken word competition, this year all 19 performances were filmed for the livestream for social distancing. Youth volunteers Yurihana Sasamoto and Shawnrey Gaviola emceed the event online, introducing each spoken word performance, providing information and resources on teen dating violence, and announcing all winners.  

“We are very pleased with the level of student participation we got for the first Know Your Worth competition,” said NMCADSV executive director Maisie B. Tenorio. “It was a great idea to add more ways for students to express themselves in addition to spoken word poetry.” 

If you or someone you know is experiencing violence or abuse, call 911 for emergency assistance. You can also call the Karidat Victim Hotline at (670) 234-5100, which is available 24/7 and confidential.

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