We’re looking for true stories from World War II.

If you’re a high school student between the ages of 13 to 18, we invite you to join the 2010 World War II True Stories – a writing contest aimed at collecting true accounts of Filipinos who survived the war including the personal experiences of World War II veterans and other Filipinos who lived through the conflict.

This contest is intended to show that students have interviewed, researched, read about and understood the subject and formed their own narratives.

The 2010 WWII True Stories Contest offers prizes for the three best original narrative stories about the Second World War as experienced and recalled by WWII veterans and other individuals who were alive during the same war and survived to do the telling.

Contest Mechanics

1. The contest is open to all Filipino students 13 to 18 years of age attending public or private high schools in the Philippines.
2. To compete, a high school student must:
   a. Personally interview a WWII veteran or any person alive during WWII about his/her experiences during the war era (see Interview Guidelines);
   
   b. Write a narrative in English that tells in a maximum of 2,000 words the interviewee’s story, including important details and quotes from the interview (see Manuscript Guidelines).
3. Each narrative entry should be an original, unpublished, logical, cohesive and fluently developed narrative written by one student. A student may only submit one entry. Only one (1) winner per school will be selected. To be clear, that this is an individual contest. Entries done by a group of students (e.g. a collaborative work) will not be accepted.
4. Each manuscript should be typed or computer-printed on plain, white, letter-size paper. Pages must be numbered consecutively and double-spaced with writing on one side and with no more than 12 characters per inch or no less than 10-point type.
5. Each entry should be accompanied by a fully accomplished entry form cut out from the Inquirer’s Learning section (photocopies not acceptable) and glued on a sheet of paper that serves as cover page.
6. Each entry must consist of the following:
a. the narrative manuscript with the fully accomplished entry form,

b. interview tapes,

c. transcription manuscript,

d. signed releases by both interviewee and the student (please see sample release forms),

e. an endorsement from the student’s History or English teacher, and

f. a certification from the school principal that the entrant is a full-fledged high school student of the school. Only one student can win per school.
7. Each entry may be accompanied by photographs, maps and/or illustrations, but no memorabilia may be taken from the interviewee or his/her family. If there are diaries, journals, letters, etc., this should be indicated in the manuscript and on tape. If the entry wins, PVB will contact the interviewee and look at memorabilia for validation.
8. To ensure impartial judging, there should be no name or other identifying information on any page other than the cover page. All pages of the narrative story must be stapled together in the upper left hand corner with the cover page first.
9. Entries may be submitted to any Philippine Veterans Bank branch nationwide beginning February 3, 2009. Clearly mark the envelope “2010 WWII TRUE STORIES CONTEST” and include the following information: student’s name, address and telephone number(s), school’s name, and the PVB branch where it is submitted. A full list of PVB branches nationwide can be seen at www.veteransbank.com.ph.
10. Entries may also be submitted to Philippine Veterans Bank Corporate Communications & Marketing Services Dept., 101 V. A. Rufino corner De la Rosa Sts, Legaspi Village, Makati City.
11. Deadline of submission of entries is on March 16, 2009, 4:00 p.m.. Entries received after this date will not be included in the judging. Neither PVB nor PDI may be held accountable for entries send by mail or courier service not received by March 16, 2009.
12. Receipt of entries may be verified at telephone (02) 9021670 to 71 or by email to corpcomm@veteransbank.com.ph.
13. All entries will be verified by the Veterans Federations of the Philippines – Sons & Daughters Association, Inc. (VFP-SDAI) District Offices as to the authenticity of the name and military service or guerilla unit of the subject veteran.
14. Previously submitted entries shall not qualify to enter the contest.
15. The panel of judges, whose decision shall be final, will consist of representatives from PVB, VFP-SDAI, PDI, National Historical Institute and University of the Philippines History Department.
16. Selection of winners will be based on the following criteria: Substance: content, originality, authenticity and compliance with guidelines (60%) and Form: clarity, proper use of language and presentation (40%).
17. The first place winner will receive a laptop computer and a printer plus a PVB savings account of P10,000. The second place winner will receive a desktop computer plus a PVB savings account of P7,000. The third place will receive a digital camera plus a PVB savings account of P5,000. No alternative prizes will be awarded.
18. The endorsing teachers of the winning students will be awarded P5,000 in PVB savings account each.
19. The judges may decide not to award all of the above prizes.
20. Winners will be announced on April 5, 2010 and will be notified by mail, email or telephone. After proper verification of the identities of the winners prizes shall be awarded on April 12, 2009.
21. The winning stories will be published in the Learning section on April 12, 19 and 26, 2010 in commemoration of Bataan Day.
22. Non-cash prizes are non-convertible to cash. 20% tax of prizes over P10,000 will be shouldered by PVB.
23. Non-cash prizes shall be delivered to the winner’s address or School address as specified in the Entry Form.
24. Winners of the PVB Savings account shall open a PVB Savings passbook or ATM Account with the nearest PVB branch.
25. All entries, including the narrative manuscripts, interview tapes, transcriptions, etc. become the property of Philippine Veterans Bank and will not be returned to the participant/contestant.
26. All employees of Philippine Veterans Bank and Philippine Daily Inquirer, their advertising agencies and their relatives up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity are not allowed to participate in the contest.
27. For more information about the contest, call (02) 9021670 to 71 or email corpcomm@veteransbank.com.ph or log on to www.veteransbank.com.ph.

Prizes:

First Place – 1 laptop and printer plus PVB savings account of P10,000
Second Place – 1 desktop computer plus PVB savings account of P7,000
Third Place – 1 digital camera plus PVB savings account of P5,000

For more information about the contest or any queries, please visit the nearest Philippine Veterans Bank branch in your area or reach us through the following:

Landline: (02) 902-1670
Fax: (02) 857-3870
Email: corpcomm@veteransbank.com.ph
Facebook: Philippine Veterans Bank PVB

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For any questions or clarifications, please call:
Mike Villa-Real
Vice-President
Corporate Communications and Marketing Services Dept.
Tel: 902-1670
Email: mcvillareal@veteransbank.com.ph