FILIPINO writers, students and professionals still have until March 31, 2006 to submit their entries to the 100 Years of Filipino Migration to Hawaii Literary Contest.

The Commission on Filipino Overseas and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts extended the contest deadline to ensure wider public participation and in response to the request of interested Filipino writers from the provinces, as well as abroad.

Launched on the theme “100 years: The Filipino Legacy in Hawaii”, the literary contest is divided into three categories: poetry, essay and one-act play. Winners have the chance to win P15,000, P10,000, and P7,500 for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize respectively for each category.

For the poetry writing competition, entries must be a collections of 5 to 10 poems and may be rhymed or in free verse. Essay writing entries must be 2,000 to 3,000 words in length. Entries to the one-act play category should translate to 30 to 45 minutes in actual performance and must be accompanied by a one-page synopsis and a list of the cast of characters.

All entries must be original.

The literary contest is part of the series of activities scheduled from December 2005 to December 2006 to celebrate the 100 years of Filipino friendship with the island-state of Hawaii.

More information on the Literary Contest, may be obtained from Golda Myra Roma or Mr. Frencel Louie Tingga at 561-8329 or 5618321, locals 600-604, or through websites www.cfo.gov.ph and www.ncca.gov.ph.