MCS wins AG Cup for 18th time

Zeno Deleon Guerrero Jr., center, shakes the hand of Attorney General Edward Manibusan as Chief Justice Alexandro, left, holds the trophy while posing for a picture after the announcement of the Attorney General’s Cup speech competition winners last Friday.(Erwin Encinares)

Mount Carmel School won the 33rd Annual Attorney General’s Cup speech competition last Friday for the 18th time since the competition began in 1984, which was also won by a student of the same school.

The first ever winner of the AG’s Cup speech competition was Norma Ada of Mount Carmel School back in 1984. The latest winner, Zeno Deleon Guerrero Jr., is also from Mount Carmel School.

Saipan International School’s Shea Kennedy Hartig placed second, Marianas High School’s Yukii Nishida placed third, and Grace Christian Academy’s Yujin Lee placed fourth.

Additional awards included Rev. Ray Kinsella’s participation in all AG’s Cup competitions since 1984.

This year, participating schools included Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior/Senior High School, Mount Carmel High School, Saipan Southern High School, Grace Christian Academy, Saipan International School, Marianas Baptist Academy, Marianas High School, and Kagman High School.

Participants were expected to write and deliver a speech based on their point of view on the balance of power between the federal government and the CNMI, and whether the federal government has infringed on the sovereignty of the CNMI. To be specific, the competition required participants to take a stand on the management of natural resources for the benefit of the public and focus on whether local or federal control is the more effective approach.

Deleon Guerrero, a senior and student council officer at MCS, cited iconic people in his speech, such as Marshallese poet Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner and ancient Chamorro folklore’s House of Taga.

“We must work through the challenges of federalism in order to protect our natural resources,” said Deleon Guerrero.

Deleon Guerrero was all for cooperating with the federal government for the betterment of the CNMI.

“Instead of arguing about power and authority over our natural resources, the federal government and our Commonwealth should share responsibility for those natural resources,” said Deleon Guerrero.

He argued that cooperating with the federal government would enable the CNMI to achieve great feats which would otherwise be difficult or even impossible.

“Rather than dividing power or competing for jurisdiction, federal and local officials should collaborate to achieve shared goals that benefit everyone,” he said.

Deleon Guerrero went on to point out that during Typhoon Soudelor, thanks to efforts by numerous federal and local agencies, the CNMI was able to get back on its feet.

“As a result of those efforts, in a few short months food and shelter were made available to all in need; basic utilities were restored and the islands began the steady path toward recovery,” he said.

“That level of collaboration was a testament to what we can do together, especially in response to a crisis. And the crisis of our environment demands that same level of collaboration,” he added.

According to Deleon Guerrero, both local and federal government had faults when it came to the environment, so instead of pointing fingers and fighting over power, he suggests a collaborative effort between the two for the benefit of the CNMI, an argument that may have won the judges over.

Attorney General Edward Manibusan, Chief Justice Alexandro Castro, assistant AG Lillian Tenorio, Tinian Mayor Joey San Nicolas, and lawyers Matthew Gregory, Gil Birnbirch, Rexford Kosack, and Matthew Pugh served as judges.

MCS president Galvin Deleon Guerrero said the AG’s Cup serves as a good platform for insight of the younger generation on local issues.

“Every year the speeches get better—better research, better argumentation—and it is an honor to go up against really good speakers from other schools and best them,” he said.

Manibusan believes the perspective of high school students on the issue may provide the government ideas on how to approach certain subjects.

“I hope that our elected leaders that listened take [some of their suggestions] with them and provide us with some things that we should do,” said Manibusan.

“[Deleon Guerrero] suggested that we should be collaborative in our efforts as opposed to merely expanding one’s power, and I think that is what we need to do,” he added.