Johanna Lindsey Macababbad ||

The National Youth Congress, an annual convention that focuses on economics, was held online this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Held last November 28-29, 2020 through the online video conferencing service Zoom, it celebrated its 17^th year with the theme: “Beyond the numbers: Navigating a Data-Informed Philippine Ecosystem”. It is aimed to introduce high school students to the art and importance of economics in order for students to create analysis and applications regarding economics to solve the various problems of the country.

The convention had various competitions such as the game week, quiz bee, INK category including flash fiction and essay writing contest, CAPTURE: Infographic, GLIMPSE: Video Making Contest, SMART: Idea Pitch, and Amazing Race; with some of these being already done and submitted before the conference at November 28.

The representatives of the Philippine Science High School – Eastern Visayas Campus (PSHS-EVC) who participated in this year’s NYC were seven Grade 12 students, namely: Mark Russel Caranzo, Lide Logarta, Georginne Perez, Ma. Karen Calabia, Kimberly Naputo, Marylen De la Cruz, and Gian Denaya.

PSHS-EVC brought home multiple awards such as Caranzo placing 2nd runner-up for the INK: Flash Fiction contest with “When Humans Stopped Dying” as well as placing 1st place for Essay Writing Contest with “Solving None at All”. The group also placed 1st place for CAPTURE: Infographic with their entry titled “Octubafest” and another 1st place for GLIMPSE: Video Making Contest with “Solusyon sa Kahirapan”. Overall, PSHS-EVC grabbed first place for NYC 17. 

“Economics ay isang social science. Wala itong tiyak na kasagutan kaya maaring magkaroon ng pabagong-bagong opinyon hinggil sa isang isyu… At the end of the day, ang mahalaga ay ang malaman at piliin ang mas makakabuti para sa lipunan”

, Caranzo emphasized in their video entry for the GLIMPSE contest, which focuses on whether the printing of more Philippine money is a solution to poverty in the country. 

Julian Songsong, a co-convener of NYC 17, stressed in his closing remarks that he hopes that the students would see the importance of the application of economics in the development of a country and that after the conference, they would aspire to find ways and do deeds that would help create a society that is compassionate, inclusive, and progressive.