BSP, DepEd hold oratorical contest

MANILA,Philippines — Shawn Kelly Lizardo from the Augustinian Abbey School in Las Piñas topped the 24th oratorical contest organized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd) as part of the celebration of the 30th National Statistics Month.

Lizardo was awarded a cash prize of P25,000 and a trophy by BSP Monetary Board member Felipe Medalla and DepEd director John Arnold Siena. Izah Riza San Francisco was Lizardo’s oratorical coach.

Paul Resty Arcega from Rizal High School in Pasig came in second, while Sofia Marie Marquito from Navotas National High School came in third in the competition.

Other finalists were Judgeon Haendel Boniel, Caloocan National Science and Technology High School; Merry Joy Tablanda, Benigno Aquino High School; Dinelin Love Demdam, Malabon National High School; lannah Chelsea Belonia, Mataas na Paaralang Neptali A. Gonzales; Chenelle Ashley Palileo, Lakan Dula High School; Julian Miguel Tecson, Marikina Heights High School; Rona Joy Tomondong, Muntinlupa National High School; Sharlla Mae Cerilles, Parañaque National High School; Ezra Andrei Ezpañola, Pasay City West High School; Althea Pableo, San Bartolome High School; Shirbert Villanueva, San Juan National High School; Jumar Pata, Taguig Science High School, and Ma. Loraine Labrador, Malanday National High School.

For more than two decades, the oratorical contest has been a platform for instilling greater awareness and appreciation of the crucial role of statistics in the country’s development, especially among the youth.