BACOLOD City – The Enriqueta Montilla de Esteban Memorial High School (EMEMHS) in Pulupandan, Negros Occidental remains the champion after this year’s Bago City Invitational Fancy Drill Competition.
The activity was part of the 125th Al Cinco de Noviembre, or Negros Day, celebration highlights on Nov. 5 at the Manuel Y. Torres Memorial Coliseum and Cultural Center, Bago City.
Besting four other competing schools, EMEMHS took home P25,000 in cash prize and a trophy.
They also bagged three of the six special awards: Best Platoon Leader, Best in Uniform and Most Disciplined. They received P5,000 and a plaque of recognition for each of these awards.
The Lopez Jaena National High School in Murcia town bagged the first runner-up title, receiving P20,000 and a trophy. The group also won the Best in Street Performance award, receiving P5,000 and a plaque of recognition.
The STI-West Negros University in Bacolod City was the second runner-up, receiving P15,000 in cash prize. They were also adjudged as Best in Production Number and Best in Narration, receiving a total of P10,000 and plaques of recognition.
Other participating schools included Minoyan National High School in Murcia town and Mariano G. Medalla Integrated School in Bacolod City. They each received a P10,000 consolation prize.
EMEMHS first won the championship title in 2012, 2014 and 2015 fancy drill competitions of the city, dubbed “Battle of the Champions.”
It then recorded three straight wins in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Elizer Pineda, principal of EMEMHS, said the hardships made by the students have paid off.
“We’ve seen their dedication and determination, which are very important for us to win in this prestigious fancy drill competition,” Pineda said, stressing the support of the students’ parents, local officials and other stakeholders.
Bago City mayor Nicholas Yulo, in his message during the competition, said it is just fitting that one of the celebration’s highlights is the fancy drill competition alongside the parade of the cannons.
“After the absence of three years, we are now back to seeing the finest, and right so because our Al Cinco de Noviembre is about heroism, discipline, ingenuity, bravery and values that do not fade over time,” Yulo said, adding that “these are still very important today and that we have to teach them to our children to become better citizens of tomorrow.”
The annual fancy drill competition was in its 12th edition and just made a comeback after three years of hiatus due to the coronavirus disease pandemic./PN
