4 Categories of the Competition:

Category A: High School students (English)
Category B: College, Post-graduate students (English)
Category C: High School students (Tagalog & Binisaya)
Category D: College, Post-graduate students (Tagalog & Binisaya)
Category E: Faculty & Staff (English, Tagalog & Binisaya)

Prizes for each category:

First Prize: P5,000
Second Prize: P3,000
Third Prize: 2,000
Finalists (5): P500 (Finalists are the next five entries after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd placers to have top ratings.)
Grand Prize: P10,000

Advisers of students who will win prizes in Categories A & C will also receive recognition awards that will be equivalent to 20% of their mentored students’ prizes.  The advisers are also eligible – and are encouraged – to join the contest, competing in Category E.

Guidelines in submitting your entries:

1. As we are only starting this competition, we are only opening this competition for fiction and narrative-nonfiction.  The writer is free to choose and tackle any topic as long as the entire piece will be relevant to the five thematic goals* of the Research and Social Outreach cluster of Xavier University.
2. Submit your entry in word file (.doc / .docx), typewritten with Calibri 11, 1.5 spacing, and with 1-inch margins.  The filename should be your category and your piece title (eg. Category D – Dear Diary). Minimum number of words for all categories is 500 while maximum is 1,500.
3. The title of the entry should be placed at the top of the page.  Do not place your name anywhere in this document.
4. In the body of your email, write again the title of your entry, your name, the category you are joining, your year level or designation in Xavier University.

Please submit your entries to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Only electronic submissions will be considered.

In the subject heading write the category you are joining and your entry title.
* The Research and Social Outreach units of Xavier University, in fulfilling its role of contributing to the social needs in Mindanao, focuses on five thematic goals: sustainable access to food, reduction of water and sanitation-related diseases and promotion of public health, preservation and protection of the environment, strengthening of local governance, and cultivation of a culture of peace.  In addition to the event themes, papers and activities should also be related to the university’s thematic goals.

The criteria for judging will be as follows:

Creativity and writing style: 50%
Grammar: 30%
Relevance to the RSO themes: 20%

31 Oct 2013 -- Deadline of submission for Annual Competition
XFD 2013 -- Announcement and Awarding of Winners
2nd Week of Jan 2014 -- Publication of Annual Book
1st week of March 2014 -- Launch of Annual Book