This story was taken from Bulatlat, the Philippines's alternative weekly newsmagazine (www.bulatlat.com, www.bulatlat.net, www.bulatlat.org).
Vol. VI, No. 10, April 9-15, 2006

Blind Poet among CAR’s 10 Outstanding Students

A blind poet from Sagada, Mt. Province has recently been chosen as one of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)’s candidates for the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP). His being chosen as such is seen as a fitting gift for his school’s centennial celebration this month.

BY MAYETTE INIGUID AND ARTHUR L. ALLAD-IW
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat

BAGUIO CITY – Blindness did not prevent a 19-year old Kankanaey (a tribal group) from being considered an outstanding student.

Chester Stone Batnag from Sagada, Mt. Province has recently been chosen as one of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)’s candidates for the Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP).

Eighteen contenders were chosen from among several students nominated by their schools and organizations. The board of judges then selected 10 finalists based on leadership, academic excellence, community involvement and values.

Blindness did not prevent Batnag, a student at the Easter College, from honing his poetic skills. His poems have seen print in regional publications here under the nom de plume Blind Poet. He has won in several poetry contests, both regional and Luzon-wide.

As a student, he displayed exceptional knowledge in a variety of subjects and got good grades.

He won in several regional and Luzon-wide quiz contests. Last March he completed his Bachelor of Secondary Education, major in mathematics, cum laude.

Aside from Batnag, the other students in the TOSP-CAR roster are Theodore Solang (Mt. Province State Polytechnic College), Charisse Anne Lumanlan (University of the Philippines-Baguio), Joel Bongsilen (Apayao State College), Jonathan Barcelo and Randyl Tabajonda (both from St. Louis University), Gilyn Abordo (STI), Phonexiematte Kierulf and John Ducusin (both from the University of Baguio) and Jamel Moyano (AMA). 

The 10 students will represent the Cordillera at the National TOSP selection.

Batnag’s selection as one of the Cordillera’s candidates for the TOSP is considered by the Easter College community as a fitting gift for the school’s centennial celebration this April 9. Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat