A 17-year-old student of E. B. Magalona won second place, out of 18 participants representing various local government units around Negros Occidental, in the province-wide Tour-Guiding Competition held at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central Wednesday [Sept. 21], as part of the ongoing 22nd Provincial Tourism Week.

Lauren Joy Palabrica, who hails from Barangay 2, and a Grade 11 STEM student of E. B. Magalona National High School (EBMNHS), received P6,000 cash prize, a plaque, and a certificate from the Negros Occidental Tourism Division, the organizer of the Provincial Tourism Week.

Palabrica and her coach, Raffy Berina, a Contemporary Arts and English teacher of EBMNHS, also earlier received a cash assistance of P6,000 from the municipal government of E. B. Magalona as their allowance for the competition, according to Ma. Teresa Alvarez, designated municipal tourism officer.

Mayor Marvin Malacon congratulated the young winner, saying, “You embody the talent and ideals of the youth of E. B. Magalona who passionately seek excellence in their craft. May your win inspire our young people to dream big and bring honor to our municipality.”

Palabrica is a member of Teatro Laragway, the theater company of EBMNHS, also with Berina as adviser. Last year, Teatro Laragway garnered 13 awards in the National Theater Festival for the play, “Can You See My Screen?”