Ortizo topped the senior division while Hopwood Junior High’s Jasmin Espina emerged as the champion in the junior division.
Ortizo’s poem titled “Take Me Back Home” and Espina’s “Proud To Be Me” got the judges’ nod in the competition.
Both bested six other contestants in their respective categories. Ortizo was the champion in the Sengebau poetry competiton when he was in the 8th and 9th grade. He placed second when he was in 10th grade.
The poetry competition, held at American Memorial Park’s Visitors Center on Thursday night, had a good turnout, despite the reduced number of participants — 14 compared to last year’s 22, according to NMI Council for the Humanities program officer Scott Russell.
“There were fewer contestants this year but the performances and delivery of the contestants were amazing,” Russell said.
He said there could be a lot of factors involved in the reduced number of participants, including the accreditation visits which kept the schools busy for the past weeks, but he is hoping for better participation in the future.
“We will continue to hold competitions like this because this is one way of fulfilling our commitment to reading and writing literacy,” he said.
Russell said the poems submitted this year covered topics about culture, identity, and change.
Humanities Council Executive Director Antonio V. Deleon Guerrero said “the transformative power of poetry can help students build effective public speaking skills and stronger self-confidence.”
This year the judges for the poetry content were Marianas Variety editor Zaldy Dandan, CNMI Museum Executive Director Robert Hunter and Saipan International School teacher Katharyn Tuten-Puckett.
The judges for the recital were former KMCV-7 reporter Catherine P. Anderson, local scholar and author Lino M. Olopai and Commonwealth Elections Commission Chairwoman Frances M. Sablan.
The second placer in the senior division was Joseph Kumangai of Kagman High School. Honorable mentions went to Gorgiana Paulino of Tinian High School, Diana Quinata of Marianas High School and Christian Yamada of Kagman High School.
Second placer in the junior division was Delfina Jose Biz of Tinian Jr. High School. Honorable mentions went to Raymelyn Sakisat of Rota Junior High School, Lucas Nutting and Susanne Park, both of Saipan International School.
The Sengebau Poetry Competition, first started in 2000, is an annual event sponsored by the NMI Council for the Humanities.
