Quezon student NFOT win opens doors to South Korea

By Rowena Cruz Alyzabeth accepts the first-place award for the 2024 NFOT Lingo Stars (Foreign Language Writing Skills Contest – Korean), mar...

By Rowena Cruz

Alyzabeth accepts the first-place award for the 2024 NFOT Lingo Stars (Foreign Language Writing Skills Contest – Korean), marking a significant step in her journey to South Korea. (DepEd)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon – One high school student from Quezon National High School (QNHS) in Lucena City, Quezon, has proven that dreams can cross borders. She journeyed to South Korea and captured international acclaim, demonstrating the power of talent and opportunity.

Earlier this year, Alyzabeth Kiersten Gutlay, a student at Quezon National High School (QNHS), achieved a remarkable feat, winning first place in the 2024 National Festival of Talents (NFOT) – Lingo Stars (Foreign Language Writing Skills Contest – Korean) under the tutelage of her teacher-coach, Ms. Eloisa Joy Ramento.



The Lingo Stars competition, a key event within the NFOT, assesses students' proficiency in foreign language writing skills. For the Korean language category, participants are typically challenged with tasks that test their understanding of grammar, vocabulary, and cultural nuances, often requiring them to compose essays, translate texts, or respond creatively to prompts in Korean.

This victory served as a launchpad for her international journey. This win earned her the distinct honor of representing the Philippines at the 2024 International Korean Education Youth Camp held at Hana Global Campus in Incheon, South Korea. Gutlay's success story exemplifies how NFOT empowers young Filipino talents and provides a platform for them to shine on a global stage.

"It was an unforgettable experience," shared Izsha, as she is known. "Just participating in NFOT is already a significant achievement, and I'm truly grateful because it opened so many doors and opportunities for me."

At the camp, Izsha competed against nine other international contestants and continued to excel. She won first place in the K-Pop Song and Dance Contest with a compelling performance of "Superwoman" by UNIS. She also demonstrated her writing skills, becoming a finalist in the Korean Poem Contest.

Izsha credits NFOT with helping her realize dreams she once thought unattainable. "NFOT helped me achieve dreams that once seemed out of reach," she explained. "I have many goals, and NFOT has been instrumental in helping me pursue them."

Her journey is an inspiration, demonstrating that NFOT is more than a national competition; it's a platform for young Filipinos to showcase their talents and gain international recognition. Izsha hopes her story encourages other students to dream big and embrace every opportunity to display their skills, as one chance can lead to extraordinary achievements.