L Magazine’s editor-in-chief Angel Anne Mariz C. De Jesus, a fourth-year accountancy student from De La Salle Lipa (DLSL), was awarded as the Top 4 nationwide during the 33rd Jose Rizal Model Students Search at Bonifacio Drive, Manila, Dec. 30.
De Jesus said that her affiliations with organizations such as Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative, the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA), and Lavoxa contributed to her achieving the award.
“Ang unang affiliation talaga na I think contributed ay ‘yung sa Lavoxa, especially na Jose Rizal is also [a] writer. Next is yung Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative, […] more on environment [and] agriculture since Rizal was also nabansagan as ‘ama ng agrikultura’ during his stay in Dapitan,” De Jesus said.
Angel De Jesus during the flag raising in Rizal Park. (Photo courtesy of Angel De Jesus)
She also mentioned that she has been an academic varsity since her first year in college with JPIA where she got the chance to teach students and venture into various volunteer activities.
For De Jesus, being one of the recipients of this award was unexpected as she encountered a lot of fellow competent college students from different walks of life.
“Ang favorite takeaway ko […] mga kasamahan ko sa finalists, madami akong time na na-spend kasama sila and nalaman ko ‘yung mga advocacies nila. […] Sobrang diverse talaga and nakakatuwa marinig na in this generation ay may ganon na mga kabataan.”
According to De Jesus, the participants went through a thorough screening process after which, only the top 10 finalists got to attend the awarding event. She also added that during their stay, the finalists also got to know more about Rizal’s life and even visited some of the places where history was made, such as Luneta Park.
“Na-experience namin ‘yung […] same time na nagwalk si Rizal bago siya patayin. So inulit talaga namin ‘yung steps nya, ‘yung mga dinaanan nya bago siya barilin. Sobrang one of the books lang na experience,” De Jesus added.
Angel De Jesus with other Jose Rizal Model Students Search participants. (Photo courtesy of Angel De Jesus)
Organized by the Knights of Rizal (KOR), a civic and patriotic organization that upholds Rizal’s values and martyrdom to guide the future generation, the Outstanding Jose Rizal Model Student of the Philippines (JRMSP) 2022 is an event held annually to find students that epitomize Rizalian virtues and embody excellence and leadership, both in campus and in community activities.
To add, De Jesus said how such an award is essential, especially for the youth.
“Meron naman tayong history subjects […] pero hindi talaga nae-extract ng mga students usually ‘yung message […] Parang ginagawa din nila itong award na ito since sobrang umuunti na ‘yung tao na nakakarecognize sa history, considering ‘yung mga distortion na nangyayari sa Filipinos.”
After De Jesus, Luis Magdamit from Central Bicol State University of Agriculture placed third, Maria Nessie Yu from De La Salle University Manila placed second, and Jerwin Villacruz from Ateneo de Naga University ranked first nationwide.
The recipients of the award were posted on the official Facebook page of the Knights of Rizal International Headquarters Supreme Council.
Article by: Mahnlene Dela Peña
