“Speech is power; speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
As part of the Literary Month celebration last November 2023, all APEC New Manila students from all grade levels and sections competed in a speech choir contest and were given the challenge to incorporate the theme of “Navigating the Era of Fake News Through Media Literacy.”
Literary Month, or English Month, is celebrated every November by all schools in order to enhance language skills and expression among the youth by promoting the importance of reading and literature in our everyday lives. The speech choir competition gave the students the opportunity to put their creativity and English skills to the test as they worked together as a class to write a piece that effectively navigates and articulates the theme in a clever way, while also letting their imagination run wild as they put an entertaining spin to their performances with their choreography, composition, etc.
The preparation also gave the students the chance to practice their teamwork skills as they united to produce a captivating speech choir performance for the judges.
On November 30, 2023, was the day of the competition, and the spotlight gleamed upon the students of APEC New Manila as they gave the judges a performance that demonstrated their hard work for all the weeks that went into the preparation. The blood, sweat, and tears that each grade level and section have shed through numerous hours of practicing and brainstorming in between classes were definitely witnessed in all their performances. It also unveiled the raw talent embedded in these remarkable students, as it not only gave them the opportunity to showcase their artistic prowess but also a deep understanding of the challenges within our society surrounding fake news and media literacy, which emphasized the vital role of language in tackling complex societal issues.
The winners were announced on December 7, 2023. In the AM shift, CO3-Excellence-9-1 took the lead for first place, with CO3-Collaboration-12-ABM-1 earning second place, then CO3-Service-8-1 securing third place. In the PM Shift, CO3-Innovation-11-STEM-2 emerged as the first-place winner, followed by CO3-Collaboration–12-STEM-1 who reigned in second place, and CO3-Collaboration-12-STEM-2, who achieved third place.
A warm applause to all of our Anewmans who participated in the speech choir competition! All of you did amazing and contributed immensely to the vibrant spirit of the Literary Month event because of your dedication and talent. Great job, everyone!
