Ermitanio, Omotoy top Law Day contests

 Marcy Ermitanio, an eighth grade student at ChaCha Oceanview Junior High School, and Ma. Chrizelle L. Omotoy, a sixth grader from William S. Reyes Elementary School, captured the top awards in the Law Day Essay and Law Day Poster contests of the CNMI Judiciary.

The 13-year-old Ermitanio received the Supreme Court Award yesterday after besting 57 other middle school students from private and public schools on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota with her essay titled, “We the People Control the Justice.”

She wrote that “our freedoms are given to us by the Constitution, but are presented to us by the Judiciary. Justice is found in our court system, but is handled by the people.”

The 12-year-old Omotoy took the Superior Court Award after her poster was chosen as the best among the entries submitted by 121 elementary students in the CNMI.

Ermitanio, daughter of Francisco and Alma Ermitanio, said it took her a week to complete the essay.

“It was pretty unexpected,” she said of her win.

Omotoy, on the other hand, “feel overwhelmed.”

The daughter of Christopher and Maria Hazel Omotoy, she was also recognized as Artist of the Month at WSR last December.

At the 2nd Law Day awarding ceremony held yesterday at the CNMI Supreme Court courtroom, acting chief justice Alexandro C. Castro expressed appreciation to Public School System Commissioner Rita Sablan for her help in bringing the Rota and Tinian winners and their coaches and teachers to Saipan.

Castro also thanked the Northern Marianas Judiciary Historical Society for providing the cash prizes.

“I would also like to thank the teachers for their untiring assistance to our students-the future leaders of our Commonwealth,” Castro said.

In his closing remarks, Superior Court presiding judge Robert C. Naraja said that although only five students in each contest were presented with awards, all participants received the greatest award-learning.

Naraja said the goal of the contest is to encourage deep, analytical thinking into the role and importance of the court. “The courts bring order to society and, as many of you illustrated in your essays and posters, prevent chaos from arising. The courts breathe life into the law that protects our freedom and ensures justice. Therefore, your understanding of the court system is a valuable reward,” he said.

The other top winners in the essay contest were Thomas Lee A. Manglona II of Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr./Sr. High School, second place (Chief Justice Award); Jaqueline Doctor of Mount Carmel School, third place (Associate Justice Award); Juden Joyner of ChaCha Oceanview Junior High School, honorable mention; and Odorico San Nicolas, Tinian Jr./Sr. High School, honorable mention.

In the poster contest, the other winners are Euray Lim of Grace Christian Academy, Saipan, second place (Presiding Judge Award); Chloe Hazel Ann P. Salvosa of William S. Reyes Elementary School, third place (Associate Judge Award); Michaela Nica E. Gariguez of WSR, honorable mention; and Angelo S. Lucero of Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja, honorable mention.

The winners were given cash awards ranging from $125 to $25 and a copy of the book, Northern Mariana Islands Judiciary-a Historical Overview, plus a certificate of recognition signed by Castro and Naraja.