Thursday, November 13, 2008 9 kids vie for oratorical title
NINE eloquent children speakers will vie for the coveted crown and free trip to Hong Kong as the First Mindanao Children's Games (MCG) Sports for Peace Oratorical Contest unfolds on Saturday at 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the University of Mindanao (UM) Mini Auditorium.
Lawyer Pilariza Racho Baldovino of the Ateneo de Davao University, who was appointed by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William "Butch" Ramirez as chair of the contest, said Wednesday that one entry from the Notre Dame of Midsayap College is out to challenge finalists from the Davao Region.
She said L.T. Villafuerte Elementary School's Sulpicio Villamor Jr., Catalunan Grande Elementary School's Lawrence Deligero, Stella Maris Academy of Davao's Lavesh Dhanwani, Piedad Central Elementary School's Marinel Padilla, Teodoro Palma Gil Elementary School's Renz John Michael Mendoza, AFPLC Elementary School's Joh Rol Alquino, St. Mary's College's Hannah Faye Nardo and Tugbok Central Elementary School's Alexander Unabia are the finalists.
The orators will tackle the importance of sports in the promotion of peace and unity among Christians, Muslims and Lumads of Mindanao using the Davao dialect.
Ramirez, who spearheads the staging of the MCG, said he believes the children are the future leaders of the country.
"Don't miss out the finals of the oratorical contest because you'll see and hear the passion and longing for peace welling from the hearts of these kids as they speak on their own dialect. They understand the value of peace in our community even though they're still young," the PSC chief said.
The oratorical contest is a centerpiece event of the eight-sport, three-day MCG that envisions the United Nations goal of providing children avenues for growth and opportunities to develop their full potentials.
Ed R. Fernandez, executive director of the Sports for Peace Mindanao, Inc., is vice chairperson of the oratorical contest committee. (MLSA)
