MCS’ Ocampo wins AG’s Cup

Justin Ocampo, leftmost, the 2019 AG Cup winner, poses for a photo with, from left, Guam Attorney General Leevin Camacho, Chief Justice Alexandro Castro, Gretchen Smith, Attorney General Edward Manibusan, and Mount Carmel School president Galvin Deleon Guerrero. (REICA RAMIREZ)

Justin Gerald Ocampo of Mount Carmel School won the 35th Annual Attorney General’s Cup Speech Competition last Friday, besting six other high schools that participated in the annual competition

Ocampo was particularly proud about bringing home the trophy after the school won second place last year. He said, “The award is not for me. This is for my team, my coach, and my school.”

Grace Christian Academy’s Lanz Jabez Victoria came in second place and Marianas High School’s Shea Kennedy Hartig came in third place.

This year’s topic focused on the legalization of cannabis in the CNMI. The students presented different speeches explaining if Public Law 20-66, also known as the Taulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act of 2018, is a cure or a curse for the CNMI.

In his speech, Ocampo explained the steps that need to be taken to ensure that the marijuana industry is effectively regulated and distributed. “We can take [many steps] to regulate an industry that will honestly be almost impossible to regulate. And while it is unfortunate that this industry was legalized in the first place, the least we can do is minimize its harms on our community,” he said.

Mount Carmel School’s president Galvin Deleon Guerrero was also awarded a “special award” in recognition of his longstanding commitment to the competition.

When asked about the secret behind Mount Carmel’s winning streak in the AG’s Cup, Deleon Guerrero explained that it’s all about caring. Every year, he coaches students that care passionately about what they say. “We need to be less judgmental and more caring for one another because that’s what we need a little more of in this world,” he added.

The other student competitors were Caleb Joshua Yan from Eucon Internation School, Anhkiet Huyn from Kagman High School, Jeremiah Joel C. Fernandez from Saipan Southern High School, and Valeria Myers from Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr./Sr. High School.

Judging the speech competition this year were current and former attorneys general, Guam Attorney General Leevin T. Camacho, Chief Justice Alexandro C. Castro, Presiding Judge Roberto C. Naraja, and Chief Judge for the District Court of the NMI Ramona V. Manglona.

The competition is usually held at the CNMI Supreme Court but was held this year at the Hyatt Regency Saipan ballroom.