BONTOC, Mountain Province – Dr. Josephine Magkachi-Ngodcho, 66, of Bontoc Ili, Bontoc, Mountain Province was the winner of the Ut-utan School (US) Hymn contest held at the school last February 14. She won the prize of P5,000 with Certificate of Recognition. Judging was based on the hymn contest guidelines with criteria published in the Mountain Province Exponent on December 18, 2016. The Board of Judges were: this writer, Chairperson; Wilbur T. Comafay and Rafael S. Fokleg, Members.
As published in the said newspaper, the Ut-utan School would be conducting a school hymn contest on the last week of December 2016 to the first week of January 2017, with deadline of submission of entries and judging on January 5 and 6, respectively. As later announced, the deadline of submission of entries and judging were extended to February 13 and 14, 2017, respectively, to give more time for composer-contestants to compose.
Dr. Magkachi-Ngodcho is an alumna of the said school, having finished her first four grades in Ut-utan School. Because there were no grades V and VI then, she had to continue her intermediate grades at the Bontoc Central School. After finishing her elementary education, she moved on to the Mountain Provincial High School (now Mountain Province General Comprehensive High School) for her secondary education.
As a scholar of the Association of American College Women, she pursued her bachelor’s degree, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, at the University of the East, Manila and graduated Cum Laude. As UE President Francisco T. Dalupan scholar, she took up her academic units in Master of Arts in Education at the University of the East then finished the Master’s course and Doctor of Education at the Baguio Central University, Baguio City.
She taught at the Bontoc Central School for 15 years then transferred to the Mountain Province College (now Mountain Province State Polytechnic College). She is a retired Professor VI and Vice President for Academic Affairs of the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC). She also served as Officer-in-Charge, Office of the President of MPSPC for almost 8 months.
According to Madam Jo, “Composing hymns is time- and energy-consuming but it is satisfying and rewarding. More importantly, it is sharing with others one’s God-given talent. It is a way of praising and thanking the Lord!” Madam Jo has a compilation of her creative works titled “Songs and Poems for MPSPC and Others”. For her creative works, she was awarded as
“Creative Writer of the Year” by MPSPC and “Gantimpala Agad Awardee” by the Civil Service Commission – CAR, both in 2010.
Aside from the Ut-utan School Hymn, she also composed the lyrics and music of the following hymns: XiJEN College of Mountain Province Hymn, Mountain Province-Peace and Order Council Hymn, and MPSPC – Education Department Hymn. With Rev. Fr. Daniel P. Cariño as musician, Dr. Josephine Magkachi-Ngodcho is the lyricist of the MPSPC Hymn.
The composer-winner will teach the hymn to the Ut-utan School administration, teachers and pupils, and parents. The winning piece will be sung by the public, to be led by the first batch of graduating pupils, and to be conducted by the composer-winner, during the first commencement exercises in April 2017.
By GEORGINA M. KUMALAO
