Hernandez, Valerio Clinch 2nd Place in Oratory Speech Competitions

With confidence taking center stage, Jeanne Andrew Valerio of Grade 11 – St. Augustine of Hippo and Jude Miguel Hernandez of 10 – Our Lady of Holy Rosary both secured second place in their respective Oration categories during the Baliwag City Private Schools Association (BaCiPriSA) competition.

The competition was held at Saint Jean Baptiste Academy (S.J.B.A.) on Wednesday, Oct. 7, where Mr. Hernandez competed against eight other contestants in the Junior High School (J.H.S.) category, while Mr. Valerio faced 15 other participants in the Senior High School (S.H.S.) level.

Joining BaCiPriSA’s Oration competition for the first time, Mr. Hernandez delivered “The Soul of a Great Nation” before a field of nine J.H.S. contestants.

For Mr. Hernandez, the competition taught him that effective oration goes beyond memorizing a piece, as understanding its message and establishing a connection with the audience are equally important.

“I learned that both practice and personal flair can create an impactful oratory speech,” Mr. Hernandez said. “Oration is not just about memorizing the piece but rather understanding it and connecting with the audience.”

He added that his preparation and understanding of the piece helped him deliver the speech with greater purpose, while the support of his fellow BaCiPriSA participants and coach gave him additional confidence during the competition.

As a first-time BaCiPriSA participant, Mr. Hernandez said the experience helped him become more confident in public speaking, particularly in delivering his thoughts and message before an audience.

Meanwhile, Mr. Valerio, in his second year, competing in the S.H.S. category with the piece titled “The New Filipino: A Paradigm Shift,” shared that learning to manage nervousness was one of the most important lessons he gained from the competition.

“Being my 2nd year, I’ve learned to not let the nervousness consume you and just perform to the best you can,” Mr. Valerio said, emphasizing that successfully delivering the entire piece, gaining experience, and building friendships with other contestants were among the most meaningful parts of the competition.

He also credited his fellow contestants for helping him become more confident during his performance, noting that having them as part of the audience made the setting feel less pressuring than delivering the piece solely in front of the judges.

The experience further strengthened Mr. Valerio’s confidence and his ability to properly enunciate and articulate words while speaking, skills he considers valuable in public speaking.

Both contestants credited their coach, The Marynette’s School Paper Adviser (S.P.A.) Mr. Christian Gonzales, for guiding them throughout their preparations and helping them improve through feedback and corrections.

Mr. Valerio expressed his gratitude to Mr. Gonzales for “believing in my abilities,” while also thanking his friends for the encouragement and support they provided during his preparation.

Mr. Hernandez likewise thanked Mr. Gonzales for his advice and guidance, as well as his fellow BaCiPriSA participants for their compassion and encouragement throughout the competition.

Beyond their second-place finishes, the two contestants highlighted the confidence, articulation, preparation, and connection with audiences that they gained through their participation in the BaCiPriSA Oration competition.