By Zharina Marie Stephanie Lugo
The various Outstanding Students of Iloilo during their awarding ceremony.
4 Centralians emerged victorious as finalists and brought home 14 awards during the Search for The Outstanding Students of Iloilo Awards(TOSIA): Salute to Excellence held at Robinsons Place Iloilo on July 10, 2022 at 1:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon.
Senior Accountancy students Gabriel Mico Bondoc, Ro-Anne Lozada, Senior Political Science and Public Administration students Zharina Marie Stephanie Lugo, and Daryl Lutero were able to surpass the 5-month screening process of JCI Regatta and Board of Judges by embodying the TOSIA Pillars of Academic Excellence, Leadership, Faith, and Community Involvement.
Out of the 10 TOSIA finalists from different universities in Iloilo City and Iloilo Province, the 4 Outstanding Centralians were able to bring home the following major and special awards:
Lozada garnered 2 Major awards namely: TOSIA Top Circle Awardee and, TOSIA Hall of Fame Awardee, 3 more Special Awards TOSIA Scholar (student who exceptionally excelled Academics) TOSIA Speaker (student who exudes confidence and wit during interview round), TOSIA Leader (student who was able to create/ initiate most number of opportunities for her fellow students’ participation in school activities) and The Outstanding Students of Iloilo Awardee.
“As an alumnus who tried to conquer TOSIA for the second time around and was expected to receive the Hall of Famer Award, I believe that the greatest challenge I have encountered was to overcome my expectations to myself and personal goals where I was never complacent with what I can achieve but rather afraid of failing whenever the luck and odds wouldn’t be at my side.”
Furthermore, Lozada also explained that after reflecting on her experience since receiving the award back in 2016 she felt inspired to continue inspiring other people.
“However as the pandemic spread, my previous behaviors and leadership style underwent a significant transformation. To be able to lead even on a digital platform, I had to unlearn, relearn, and rediscover who I was. With my worthwhile experiences with TOSIA, it helped me to rediscover the best version of myself.” It also aided her in surpassing her limitations and making her more prepared to face and craft her own “what’s next” story with unwavering moral compass.
Moreover, Bondoc was also hailed as one of the TOSIA Top Circle Awardees and The Outstanding Students of Iloilo Awardee.
When Bondoc was questioned on what inspired him to pursue the challenge in conquering his TOSIA Journey, he highlighted that he have always wanted to share his story to his fellow youth, and allowing them to learn from his mistakes and live his successes in the hopes of inspiring them to be their own catalyst of positive change.
“Knowing that TOSIA can provide a bigger platform for my mission to make a difference and make my part of the world a better place is definitely more than enough of a reason to inspire me,” Bondoc added.
At the same time, Lugo and Lutero was both awarded with Special awards: TOSIA Artisans (Students who are exemplar of Artistry and Creativity), TOSIA Best Advocacy Video (3-minute advocacy video aired during the TOSIA Advocacy Jam) and The Outstanding Students of Iloilo Awardee.
Lutero shared that such acknowledgment was an affirmation of every pattern, scene, words and episodes of his life works and it motivated him to be consistently creative on his own form of craftsmanship.
“To all dreamers, we have our own art of expression and we must remember that we are the scriptwriter of our own storyline; and everyone can be an Artisan, only if we share the spotlight of innovations because Artisans were made to tell stories that inspires and make dreams that transpires,” Lutero emphasized.
Meanwhile, Atty. Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno was the keynote speaker of the TOSIA Awarding Ceremony. He emphasized the importance of the youth in shaping the nation and highlighted that to be outstanding means having a clear national consciousness and a national conscience.
School representatives President Dr. Teodoro Robles, Director of Student Development Programs Dr. Margen Java and CPU College of Arts and Sciences Dean Dr. Stella Fernandez attended the said prestigious awarding together with the parents and close relatives of the Centralian honorees.