THE General Education Department of the University of Cebu-Maritime Education and Training Center in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, conducted a speech festival that featured the speaking and acting talents of maritime students at its campus auditorium last October 14.
With the theme “Unleashing Seafarers’ Word Power,” the half-day event ran a series of public speaking performances by the marine transportation and marine engineering students of UC-METC.
Declamation, oration, impromptu speaking and storytelling contests showcased the communicative competence and confidence levels of the future maritime professionals.
Organized by speech guru Gianne Rensen Antonio, the “battle of tongues” also featured jazz chant and chorale contests using as springboard literary classics such as Henley’s Invictus and Dr. Jose Rizal’s El Canto del Viajero (The Song of the Traveller).
Highly esteemed educators Rouel Longinos, Leo Bajuyo and Frances Amor Pestaño adjudicated the various academic-literary competitions and rendered valuable insights to help aspiring maritime professionals improve their public speaking skills.
The annual speech festival was the culminating activity of the English and Rizal classes of Antonio. /PR