Batangas State University wins nationwide parol-making contest

Batangas State University topped the nationwide parol-making contest organized by the Office of the President. 

BSU bagged the P1-million grand prize, while the University of Northern Philippines and Bohol Island State University placed second (P500,000 cash prize) and third (P250,000 cash prize), respectively. 

''All top 3 winners received laptop and mobile phone showcases on top of the cash prizes they received, while their respective state universities and colleges received photo and video editing packages, which include a Gigabyte G7 Gaming Laptop with a one-year Adobe Creative Cloud subscription,'' the Presidential Communications Office said in a press release.

''The schools also received a Canon M50 camera, 1 DJI Ronin-SC camera stabilizer 3-Axis Gimbal, and 1 Insta 360 Flow AI-powered smartphone stabilizer.''

Polytechnic University of the Philippines, meanwhile, received a cash prize of P100,000 after it earned the highest number of “heart reactions” on Facebook.

The winners of the "Isang Bituin, Isang Mithiin'' parol-making contest, which involved students from different colleges and universities, were announced during the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in Malacañang on Saturday. 

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. led the ceremony. 

In his speech, Marcos said the Philippines has gained the reputation of ''celebrating Christmas with more fervor than most other countries.''

"And I think that that is a good thing because I think all of us Filipinos take Christmas as a time for reflection and a time to spend with your friends, your family, your loved ones, and, of course, to watch the children because, as far as I’m concerned, Christmas is really for the children," he said. 

"With the formal start of the Yuletide season, I suppose what is left now is for me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas," he added. 

Jose Mari Chan, Rita Daniela, Coro de San Jacinto, and the Cagayan State University Chorale also serenaded the President and the First Family, members of the Cabinet, and other guests. —VBL, GMA Integrated News