17th Thought: Speak Sense Season 2

The APC Speaks in partnership with the APC Student Services (and the whole APC itself) held its second inter-high school public speaking competition namely Speak Sense Season 2. This competition was a morning event held last November 27, 2015, Friday at the APC Auditorium. From the background itself, Speak Sense Season 2 is a public speaking competition of students from the different high school institutions around Makati.

This competition aims to hone the public speaking skills of the high school student participants. Also, it aims for the participants to overcome their fear of public speaking gradually if not wholly. It focused on the theme "Whether it's the best of times or the worst of times, it's the only time we've got."

The competition did not only help the high school student participants but also the SoM students of APC who are currently taking up their English term. The event had some mini contests like the informal debate and the speed speech for the SoM students to participate in. Somehow, some SoM students participated either by will or by force (primarily from their block mates). They may be mini contests, but they are actually fun especially if there is a participant from our block. Because our block suddenly goes wild.

 

This was the first public speaking contest I ever attended in my life. What's more surprising for me is that I was very attentive of the speakers and their speeches. Not only because it would be rude to the speaker but also... I want to learn more about public speaking. I personally admit that some of the participants are better than us college students. Well, both the high school students and the college students have a long way to go anyway.
 

Of all the speakers, this girl from Pasay Science High School is my favorite. She was not afraid nor shy to share her dark experiences in her life. Also, she evoked her feelings to the audience as she spoke. I learned a lot from her speech, and she touched my heart. Because as of those days, I was facing difficult problems in my life; and it has been my mindset to keep my problems to myself and solve them alone. Her speech is inspiring, really inspiring (I'm not sarcastic).

At that moment, I hoped that this girl would be the champion. Why? Because she was the one that suited to be the champion for me for her speech in both delivery and content. And she did! Congratulations!

It was a wonderful day. I enjoyed the event so much because (a) we had no discussions and (b) the event was worthwhile. I'm grateful that the ERC required us to attend the event. I won't regret that moment.