Atenean bests 100 others to win Asian public speaking competition

A Filipino junior high school student bested 100 others from various countries to become the second Filipino to ever win the top prize at an inter-Asian public speaking competition.
Matti Tan, an Ateneo Junior High School student from the class of 10A, took home the top prize in the public speaking competition of the Asian Schools Debate Championship (ASDC) held on June 11 in Malaysia.

Tan became the first Atenean to ever win in the public speaking portion of ASDC, a debate tournament founded by the La Salle Debate Society of De La Salle University in 2009.
He was one of 20 public speakers allowed to advance to the semifinal out of a 100 participants from junior and senior high school and college.
Tan was joined by Ateneo Senior High students JC Cruz, Hans Gonzales, Phil Javellana, and Luigi Alcañeses, who placed third in the competition, in the semifinals.
Alcañeses, Gonzales, and fellow Ateneo student Renz Reyes, also topped the debate tournament proper.
Speeches, according to a release by Ateneo on Wednesday, were scored on "content, substantial purpose, social relevance, organization, clarity, vocabulary, and delivery."
This was the first year college students were allowed to join the public speaking competition.
"Tan has received the respect and admiration of peers and adults alike for the skill and wit he displayed throughout the many rounds of public speaking. He is humbled and thankful for the experience and opportunity to represent and bring pride to the Philippines," the Ateneo said. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

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