16 advance to Nat’l Speech and Debate tilt in June

Sixteen students will represent the islands in the National Speech and Debate Association competition after bagging gold medals in the four-day regional competition last week at Marianas High School.

The Northern Marianas High School Speech and Debate champions, from left to right, Yuuki Nishida (duo), Jayrald Mercene (duo), Mobtasim Alam (U.S. extemporaneous), Robert Malate (humorous interpretation), Bruce Li (impromptu), Ariane Reyes (poetry), Yujin Lee (prose), Scarlet Chen (expository), Katrina Punzalan (International extemporaneous), Cathryn Javier (commentary), Elizabeth Rose Jones (dramatic interpretation), Thomas Manglona II (Lincoln-Doulgas debate), and Rebekah Kim (original oratory).  (Contributed Photo)

The student champions, from public and private high schools, will vie for national titles against other competitors from 110 school districts in Dallas, Texas, from June 14 to 19.

Saipan Southern High School’s Katrina Punzalan will be vying for the top spot in international extemporaneous speaking, while Mount Carmel School’s Thomas Manglona II and Cathryn Javier will compete in Lincoln-Douglas debate and commentary, respectively.

Elizabeth Rose Jones from Kagman High School will be competing in dramatic interpretation. Grace Christian Academy’s Yujin Lee will represent the islands in the prose category. Northern Marianas Academy’s Rebekah Kim is set to compete in original oratory. Saipan International School’s sole winner, Isaac Jang, will be competing in story telling.

Marianas High School brought fierce competition to the regional event and dominated the winners’ bracket with nine national team representatives: the tandem of Yuuki Nishida and Jayrald Mercene will represent the islands in the duo category. Mobtasim Alam will be competing in United States extemporaneous speaking and Robert Malate will compete in humorous interpretation. Scarlet Chen will be traveling for expository, Ariane Reyes for poetry, and Bruce Li for impromptu speech.

Two students from MHS will also be sent to the national competition for their win in the regional Chamorro categories last week.

Hundreds of students participate in monthly local competitions throughout the year in order to qualify for the regionals. According to NSDA registrar Mary Angela Wheat, a total of 53 students from nine schools competed in the regional tilt.

Student competitor Yujin Lee said she is very honored and thankful for another opportunity to represent the islands. 

“I would not be able to be where I am today if it were not for the support I have received from my parents, coach, and fellow competitors. I truly believe that God has a great path set out for all of us,” she said.

Fellow orator Katrina Punzalan said that she has invested much of her time in the competition because she finds great joy in speaking. “There’s no real guarantee of winning but there’s always the guarantee of learning something new while also having fun.”

Freshman competitor Elizabeth Rose Jones said, “It’s a very good feeling to have won! There was a lot of memorizing and practices. It was a lot of hard work, but it paid off.”

A number of students said they spent countless hours after school and on weekends preparing for competition. Many expressed gratitude to their parents and school speech and debate coaches. 

MHS NSDA assistant coach Dencio V. Manglona told Saipan Tribune that MHS’ success has been an arduous but fun process.

“The students have put in so much effort—we practice at least twice a week, and this doesn’t include the quick edit over Google Docs or ad hoc research session for the perfect novel,” he added. “Over this NSDA season we’ve waxed and waned in our sleep levels and our certainty over whether we’d make it to the national team, but we’re both extremely humbled and excited to represent the CNMI in Dallas this year.”

Filmah Buenaflor, a long time NSDA speech coach for MCS, expressed similar sentiments. She said, “I am grateful for the prints and guardians who are very supportive. It is a pleasure working with our students every year who continue to do great.”

CNMI Speech and Debate Association board chair Harold Easton lauded the student orators for their fear of not speaking in public.

“You guys have the skills and talent. It is time to prepare for the next level of competition at the national event,” he said. “I am confident that you will all do very well.”

The NSDA is the largest academic competition in the world. Finalists compete for college scholarships in the main events. The CNMI last sent students to compete in the National Speech Debate Association competition in Dallas, Texas, in 2011.