I was invited as a judge by Bulacan Private Schools Association (BULPRISA)-District 2 for their extemporaneous speech competition. How grateful and excited I was for the opportunity. There was no hesitation when I accepted the invitation for doing so presents a chance to get reunited with friends in the academe that I have not seen for a long time, having been in South Korea for more than a decade now working as a teacher and honing my skills as a writer and researcher. Accepting the invitation also allowed me to, like a kid, return to my old playground.

Yes, BULPRISA was my playground. Seeing those nervous and excited teachers, parents, and contestants in a huddle reminded me of the days I trained and coached students for declamation, oration, extemporaneous speech, poetry, essay writing, tula, talumpati, and sanaysay.

In the numerous editions of BULPRISA competitions we joined, sometimes, we brought home the “bacon.” There were also times we got “egg” instead. But both “bacon” and “egg” are delicious. The experience the students I trained and coached gained is as valuable as the medals they missed winning. The experience may be more important than the medals. Why? Well, while the medals were kept in boxes or cabinets, collecting dust and eventually losing their color, the knowledge the students gained and the skills they developed during their training will remain with them forever. The self-belief I inculcated among the students I coached and trained is more valuable than medals. I remember how vehemently our speech contestants complained when I asked them to have as a final practice before the competition, delivering their piece in a public park where people were roaming around. After the competition, win or lose, most would thank me for making them undergo the ordeal; it made them develop confidence.

My involvement in BULPRISA activities was not limited to training and coaching participants. For some years, I also served as an officer of the association and chairman of cultural and sports events. I was also invited to judge cultural competitions and wrote several declamation pieces that were officially used in BULPRISA competitions.

I became involved not only in cultural contests but in sports competitions as well. I trained and coached basketball teams.

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Below are links to sample declamations I wrote and used by BULPRISA as official contest pieces: