Philippine winners of 51st Universal Postal Union International Letter Writing Competition for Young People (Photo courtesy of PHLPost) MANILA - A student of San Ildefonso National High School in Bulacan earned a trip to Berne, Switzerland after topping the 51st Universal Postal Union (UPU) International Letter Writing Competition for Young People that aims to promote better understanding worldwide through the post office. Loraine Evangelista won PHP25,000 and will travel to the UPU headquarters in Switzerland, according to aPhilippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) news release on Friday. Lucia Camila Perez Sta. Ana of Paref-Woodrose School Inc. in Ayala Alabang Village, Muntinlupa City, and Sofia Luxel C. Alburo of General Santos City National High School placed second and third. They will receive PHP15,000, and PHP10,000, respectively. All three will also get medals, plaques, and albums of Philippine stamps during the awarding ceremony on October 9, coinciding with the worldwide celebration of World Post Day. The contest for sudents aged 9 to 15 is a yearly event organized by PHLPost under the auspices of the UPU, which is composed of 192 countries. This year's contest theme was "Write a letter to an influential person about why and how to take action on climate change". The judges were National Press Club of the Philippines president Lydia Bueno; Genaro Gojo Cruz, Literature professor of De La Salle University; Joreen Rocamora, Ph.D., director of the Office of Public Affairs of the University of Santo Tomas; and Romeo Parayno, Special Events Unit head of the Department of Education. The UPU contest wants to make young people aware of the important role postal services play in societies; develop their skills in composition and their ability to express their thoughts clearly; foster their enjoyment of letter-writing; and help strengthen the bonds of international friendship, one of the basic missions of the UPU. (PR) }