Six children between the ages of 5 and 10 are the winners of Tinig UK’s first essay writing competition for Filipino children in the UK. Love for their family and Filipino food are the two key themes that participants wrote about in their essays. The winners will receive prizes sponsored by Talas Books, Aya Co Handmade with Love, Nora Tsourous and Jules Calonia.
Tinig UK received a total of 12 entries, all of them written in English.
Anne Shields, young adult writer and judge of the competition, said, “All the children who joined should be applauded for putting themselves out there by joining the competition. This is how we keep our heritage alive – by sharing with one another about what we love most about being Filipino.
There was so much heart and talent in the essays. I was especially impressed by how many of the writers used the senses to share a memory (for example, the sound of rain in their hometown) or explain what they enjoyed about being Filipino (like the taste of traditional food such as halo-halo).”
This is how we keep our heritage alive – by sharing with one another about what we love most about being Filipino.
Anne Shields, writer and competition judge
Essay winners
The winners of the 8 to 10 years old category are the following:
First prize: Tumini Grace Allison
Second prize: Chelsea Blythe Carag and Carnes Layao
Third prize: Jamie-Abigail Pooten
Fourth prize: Georginna Wigley
The winner of the 5 to 7 years old category is Leonardo Levett.
Tinig UK will be giving away consolation prizes to the following:
Averelle Calde
Hannah Mohammad
Aina Elaine Navarro
Joaquin Palacios
Danielle Velasquez
Eleanor Pooten-Watan
Family as a recurring theme
“Being an immigrant mum, it was fascinating to read about how Filipino culture comes to play in their lives here in the UK. One of the winners shares how her parents cook bulalo and nilaga for her during the winter months,” Ms Shields observed.
“Family is a recurring theme. The children may be growing up in the UK but their ties to their Filipino heritage are firmly anchored in their relationships to their lolos and lolas, titos and titas, and cousins. Ultimately, the family is what keeps Philippine future alive in our diaspora communities,” she said.
Feedback from parents
Parents were delighted that a competition of this kind was organised by Tinig UK. However, a couple of them said that their children are quite busy with homework and after-school clubs so it was hard for them to find time to write their essays. Other parents with multiple children also mentioned not having been home to the Philippines for a few years because of the travel expenses as well as Covid travel restrictions. For parents of younger children, they felt that the competition is more suitable for 10 year and over.
Tinig UK would like to thank all the children and their parents who took time to write their essays, as well as the sponsors for giving away lovely prizes to everyone who joined.
