Two senior high school Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics (STEAM) students ranked first and second placers during the Talumpati ng Taon 2016 held last Aug. 14 at Luce Auditorium.
Julmar Misa, 17 years old, was declared champion of Talumpati ng Taon defeating nine other orators.
“Ang wikang Filipino ay ang ating wikang totoo.” Misa mentioned in his 6-minute speech that focused on this year Buwan ng Wika’s theme, “Filipino: Wika ng Karunungan.”
The STEAM student from Tagbilaran city, Bohol said that everyone must speak Filipino language, our national language.
Grabbing second place is also a STEAM student- Kris Jypson Esturas.
Esturas, 16 years old from Dumaguete City, made a connection with the audience because of this line in his speech- “Iba ang marunong sa may alam!”
This line was repeatedly mentioned during his speech which, according to him, means “iba ang Pilipinong marunong gumamit ng sariling wika kaysa Pilipinong alam lang ang paggamit nito.”
Third place is Alven Marie Timtim, 18 years old from Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental.
Timtim, a junior mass communication student, said in her speech that we should not be ashamed of using our own language.
On the other hand, during the competition, Agiripino Phyns Patalinghug, founder of Talumpati ng Taon, together with Ang Sandigan founders and members, faculty of Filipino Department, SUSG President Gil Buenavista, presented a bronze tablet which contains the history of the competition.
This year, Talumpati ng Taon is celebrating its 20th year anniversary.
Other orators of the competition were: Adrian Jay Alforque, Micah Edem, Sommer Buyante, Carlisle Caroro, Wendell Arqiuo, Raul Eguia II and Dezella Faye Gonzales.
