First Year BS Education English Major Ms. Hershey Jean L. Clavite claimed the Mutya ng RMC title during the virtual beauty and brains pageant held on April 12, 2022 as part of the activities of the 74^th Founding Anniversary celebrations of The Rizal Memorial Colleges, Inc.  The anniversary theme is “Rizalian Education in the New Normal:  Transforming Challenges into Opportunities.”

This 19-year-old future educator from the College of Arts, Sciences and Teacher Education (CASED) bagged the crown after getting top scores in the second and final round of the Question and Answer Competition. The question asked of the Top 3 Finalists was “What challenges in your life have you turned into an opportunity?”  Ms. Clavite  replied that even though it had been a long journey for her, she  survived the challenges and hardships of the pandemic, especially with the change from traditional to digital platform, by adjusting and adapting through self-flexibility.

The new Mutya ng RMC is the daughter of Eduardo A. Clavite Jr. and Josephine L. Clavite. She has two siblings, Khizzy and EJ. She lives in Madapo Hills, Barangay 8-A (near Poblacion), Davao City.

 The coaches of Mutya ng RMC 2022 were  Mr.  Mark Reponte and Ms. Helen Castaneda. The beaming CASED Dean, Dr. Annbeth B. Calla, commended her team for their hard work. She declared that they are already starting to scout their candidate for next year’s pageant.

The Board of Judges declared First Runner-Up  Ms. Meg Beatrice S. Guablas, a Junior High School student at the Rizal Special Education Learning Center (RSELC), which is now fully owned by RMC.  Ms. Guablas’s coach was Ms. Marty Avancena.  The Second Runner-Up position was awarded to Ms. Chizia Mhae A. Sabado a Senior High School student at RMC Palayan City Branch in Nueva Ecija.  Ms. Sabado’s coach was Dr. Reynaldo S. Rojo.

The two other finalists in the Top 5 were Ms. Carla Jane Bantay of the College of Business Administration (Coaches: Ms. Carla Dalisay and Ms. Jeanne Annuarie Amatong) and Ms. Nashel C. Tumabang, a Junior High School student at  the Integrated Basic Education Department (Coach: Mr. Orland Jae C. Jerusalem).

Three RMC alumni composed the Board of Judges.  They were Ms. Joann A. Carman (High School Batch 1971, residing in New York City, USA), Mr. Geraldo B. Jumawan (High School Batch 1983, residing in Quezon City, Philippines), and Ms. Charito M. Aranda (High School Batch 1978, residing in Davao City, Philippines). the virtual nature of the event allowed them to judge the candidates from their own locations.

These were the winners of other awards during the competition: 

1. Best in Talent, Ms. Hershey L. Clavite (CASED)
2. Best in Fashion Walk, Ms. Neljoy Garciano (Technical-Vocational Department; Coach: Mr. Earl Sumilhig)
3. Best in Jean’s Wear, Ms. Meg Beatrice S. Guablas (RSELC-JHS)
4. Best in Casual Wear,  Ms. Meg Beatrice S. Guablas (RSELC-JHS)
5. Best in Long Gown, Ms. Rechill Mae B. Moreno (College of Agriculture; Coach: COA Student Council)

The Ms. Photogenic Award was won by Ms. Neljoy Garciano of the Technical-Vocational Department.  The panel that decided on this award was composed of OSSA/Alumni Director Amado S. Ancla, Supreme Student Government (SSG) Adviser Cristina C. Ariate, SSG President Mark Joshua C. Salmorin, SSG VP-Internal Cris Ann S. Sawangan, and SSG VP-External Jenny Ruth B. Modo.

The People’s Choice Award was won by Ms. Sittie Aznairah T. Pandi-in, a Senior High School Student at the Integrated Basic Education Department (Coach: Mr. Julius Jonathan M. Ypon). The People’s Choice Award was determined by the highest number of reactions to the photos of each  candidate posted in the official Facebook page of RMC.

The College of Criminal Justice Education Department was represented by Ms. Ellen Marie Retuya.  Her coach was Ms. Claudine Binulang.

Before the virtual program officially started at 1:00 PM, RMC’s Kalinangang Banwa Dance Troupe regaled the audience with a Moro-inspired dance.

The opening prayer was an original composition of Mr. Amado S. Ancla.  It was followed by the RMC-produced Lupang Hinirang music video, featuring RMC President Dr. Evelyn A. Magno and RMC administrative and academic officials and personnel.

Dr. Lourdes C. Cabintoy, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, delivered the inspirational message.

One unique feature of this virtual pageant was the set of video greetings coming from the RMC alumni.  These alumni responded to the invitation to start building the RMC Alumni Scholarship Fund and contributed money to earn a slot in the 74^th anniversary video greetings.  These generous alumni were:

1. High School Class of 1957
2. Mr. Salvador Shigyo Limsiaco, High School 1960 and College 1965
3. High School Class of 1969
4. High School Class of 1971
5. High School Class of 1978
6. High School Class of 1982
7. High School Class of 1983 (2 groups)
8. High School Class of 1985
9. High School Class of 1986
10. Dr. Caesar C. Cabading (HS 1987) and Dr. Celine Arat-Cabading (Law School)
11. Children of the late RMC Teacher Pilar C. Flandez:  Bienna May, Amay, and Neil
12. The RMC Band and Majorettes
13. The Palima Family (of Cesar’s Portrait fame)
14. Former RMC Dean and current City Councilor Pilar C. Braga

This is the You Tube link to this video of greetings: https://youtu.be/VWWZR-VZqOs

A brief presentation of the academic achievers was also held.. Recognized were  the Principal’s Listers from the RMC Main IBED, RMC Palayan and RSELC as well as the Dean’s Listers from the college department.

The closing remarks were delivered by OSSA/Alumni Director Amado S. Ancla. The program hosts were Mr. Mark Joshua C. Salmorin and  Ms. Jenny Ruth B. Modo

The program ended with the playing/singing of the 74^th Anniversary version of the RMC Hymn which featured the college graduates of Academic Year 2020-2021 who had a virtual graduation wherein they recorded their investiture ceremony in their various residences and locations. This was a way of showcasing how RMC has enfleshed this year’s 74^th anniversary theme.

In the morning of April 12, 2022, RMC personnel and students offered Holy Mass at St. Jude Parish on Malvar Street, Davao City. The liturgy was presided by the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Roy Mejias.

On April 11, 2022, several RMC employees were honored for their lengths of service in RMC in a virtual ceremony called “Gawad Rizal.”  The activity was spearheaded by the Human Resource Department.