Santiago bags first place
in BSP speech contest
By Jezel Christine Nolasco Quevada

“I KNEW THAT I did my best, and I made sure that my best would be enough.”

Thus said Ryan Trinidad Santiago of IV-Madame Marie Curie after winning first place in the 2008 Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas–Department of Education (BSP–DepEd) Annual Oratorical Contest in observance of the 19th National Statistics Month at the BSP Assembly Hall, Roxas Boulevard, City of Manila, Oct. 28.

Competing with the theme “Demand-driven Statistics: Key to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development,” Santiago bested 15 other finalists representing 14 divisions and one regional science high school in the National Capital Region.

“It was really an amazing experience for me. I never thought that I could excel in oration because I used to compete in science and mathematics contests. I would say that there have been transformations and that a new door of opportunity has been opened for me,” Santiago said in an interview with The Makati Science Vision.

Santiago received a PhP20 000 cash prize and a trophy, while Mrs Ellen May Badillo-Laurente, his trainer and Basic English IV teacher, received a PhP5 000 cash prize and a trophy.

Santiago represented the Division of City Schools of Makati in the regional finals after winning first place in the BSP-DepEd-Makati finals, Sept.16.

Earlier, Santiago bagged first place in the Ninoy Month: Public Speaking Competition, including the essay writing category, sponsored by the Upsilon Sigma Phi Fraternity with the theme “The Filipino is Worth Dying For, Living for the Filipino in the Twenty-first Century” at the Claro M Recto Hall, University of the Philippines–Diliman, Quezon City, Aug. 23.