Debaters, WE ARE...

We can never say that we were not ready, for we've been given enough time to prepare for it -- 1month. The task to work on the teams was left on me, while my very abled head (Raiza), mainly worked on other necessary things to prepare our way to our goal. Originally, I only have one team in mind, Raven, Marie, and I, since we've already debated together before. But under the Speakers' Guild were talents hidden still, w/c sprouted merely from curiosity and interest. That's when another team, a pool of neophytes, 1st years,  w/c goal was primarily to gain experience and not winning, was born (Sheena, Josh, Denn). There were attempts to make a 3rd one, but it didn't happen due to certain reasons. Schedules were given beforehand, with ample time to prepare, but as the days progresses, issues on schedules and academics started to arise. We were eyeing on 2 tournaments, and ambitous enough, we were establishing a higher level of optimism each day to believe that we'll somehow be able to make it. A couple of days before the very first round, more complications came in when one of the members of the 2nd team decided to back out, because she'll have to go home to the province. Right after then, by the recommendations of his friends and classmates, Wekki entered, and eventually headed, team B. With only 3-4days left before the eliminations of the Nationals tournament, team B members had their very first debate in their entire lives. It was, admittedly, so messy that it started to give them doubt of even getting a win, yet, boosted their interest to learn more. All of a sudden, certain changes on the schedule of the competitions made the following week an agonizing one. Originally, the schedule of Tournament1 was Feb. 19 and 26, while Tournament2 was Feb. 24-25. Changes happened and finally, Tournament1 was set on Feb. 20 and 26, while Tournament2 on Feb. 24 and 26. Yes. Final rounds of both tournaments was set on the 26th. We told ourselves that we'll just talk about the conflict after the debate on the 19th. So we went to UST on the 20th, and did our very first debate round outside FEU. :D We ended the day both proud, and unsatisfied. Proud of the newbies who had a record of 1-1 (WIN-LOSS), and unsatisfied teamA for the same standing. The 3rd round result on that day was left hanging, but both teams were already assuming that they'll come back on the 26th both with a 1-2 record. Feb. 21-23, no practice was done. Come the 24th, both teams battled on the intrauniversity tournament. On the first round, team B wasn't able to debate yet, cause one of teamA's member was late, so, teamA borrowed one of team B's player for the meantime. On the 2nd round, both were complete, and both emerged as winners. With the 2rounds that happened that day, teamA got 2-0, while teamB had a 1-1 WIN-LOSS standing. After the 24th was a mentally torturing day. I, as the captain, would want to have both teams enter the competition still, but as the 25th ends, it's really painful to announce that only teamA will be able to debate on the 26th. And not only that, we haven't decided yet how to work on the schedule. I was sent a msg from UST updating us of the round schedules on the 26th. 1st round will start by 8am, 2nd by 10am, semis by 1pm. However, in FEU, the schedule was, 1st round by 10am and 1pm semis. Having no other bases to make a decision, i just thought of going where there'll be a greater chance of winning. We were thinking, since we're assuming that we're at 1-2, if we'll lose the first round, that means there's no chance for us to enter the semis anymore, and so, we'll just try to run back to FEU to catch up with their 1st round by 10am and continue the stint there. Before the 1st round in UST started, the result of the silent round was announced. Shockingly, teamA actually won the 3rd round, contrary to what we expected, w/c made things more confusing. And furthermore, we were supposed to go against JPIA B on that first round, w/c made us win by default, and gave us a 3-1 standing. That time, we were already thinking of dropping the 5th round in UST, w/c will give us 3-2, w/c will still give us a chance of getting in the semis, only, a very slim chance. Overwhelmed, and getting more and more indecisive, we went back to FEU first while other teams were debating in UST. I talked with Marco, and told him what our standing is in UST. And Marco, trying to convince us to just stay in FEU, spilled to us our standing in their tournament. He said, we were currently the #1team. Jaw-dropping it is, really, that's why i talked with Raven and Marie right away. We voted where to debate, and decided to just stay in FEU for the 10am round (both UST and FEU's final eliminations round). We were in very high spirits going into the debate, after informing UST of our decision. Debating on the motion that THBT all product should have free trials, standing on the Gov side, despite of our good cases and structure, we lost (and here's where i get a bit bitter XD) against Opp. After an hour, they announced the semifinalists, and popping out on the screen, JPIA A fell short of only, take note, only 1pt. We ended up 5th. Saddened and downed and however you want to call it, we tried calling UST to ask if we luckily made it to their semis, and what they told us was, if only we attended the 5th round, whether we win or lose, we'd be sure of the semis spot. But since we didn't, we fell down to 6th place. 

I felt broken. No. Powdered. It's like all that I was aiming for the team was burned into ashes. The opportunity to go to Clark, Pampanga, or get the revolving cup (plus cash prize) -- all gone. And so, Marie, Raven, and I stayed at school comforting each other. Until...

I received a text from our dear, super close friends from TIP (fc ako.. haha) saying that i was announced as one of the top 10 speakers. :D yey! "At least!" i said. And when i went back to UST to get my cert and medal, i had a little chat with them, and told me that we could've won more. "Kayang kaya niyo sila," she said. And so, i went back to FEU with a bit of a smile. I walked back (as in) to FEU and came just right on time for the final round of the debate. I was looking at them, and i know Marie and I has the same thing in mind, that we could've been NegLex's opponent, and the debate could've been more exciting (no offense to anyone. :D). So, NegLex won (Super Congratz friends! :D) and even before it was announced, another shocking moment happened. They were to call the top 5 Best Debaters. As they were calling those who tied in the fourth place (four-way tie it was), i still can remember how Marie's eyes widened when they called her name. :D And what's more, when they called the 2nd placer, i was already thinking that the 1st placer must be someone from the semifinalists. BUT NO. It was me! :D And that's enough to erase all bitterness and disappointments the whole day. :D

And so, that's story of the struggles that we, FEU JPIA Speakers' Guild, had overcame the past month. And before i end this note, let me enumerate first all the awards that our members got all through out.

Mark Christian Manuel - Top10 Best Speakers, JPIA NCR Debate Open

Marie Antonette Bobon - 4th Best Debater, Dr. Nicanor Reyes Cup (ORADEC)

Mark Christian Manuel - 1st Best Debater, Dr. Nicanor Reyes Cup (ORADEC)

Raven Gomez - if only was able to debate on the 1st round, could've been part of the top5 best debaters (according to Marco)

Luigi Martin Martino - if only was able to debate on the final round, could've been part of the top5 best debaters (according to Marco)

Joshua Villapando - Punctuality Award, for being punctual and present in all our meetings. :D

Sheena Claravall - Angst Award, for giving the public speakers a good fight, and for being maangas as well sa jpia office.. hehe

Marydenn Obligado - Smiley Award, for the enthusiasm level that you showed the whole training period. :D

Luigi Martin Martino - Pahambol Award, for saying that you're not really that good.. hahaha

Marie Antonette Bobon - Amazona Award, for keeping the angst (grabe!! haha) even if you're sick.

Raven Gomez - Nosig Award, for missing the photo opts looking for signal for you phone. XD

Raiza de Jesus - Kilig Award, (alam mo na yan.. hahahahaha)

I've never experienced this kind of teamwork in my entire stay in FEU. To teamA and teamB, we didnt get the title, that's a fact. But, not only did we gain experience, but most importantly, we were able to gain exposure outside the bounderies of our school, and were able to gain respect. We were able to explore what lies behind the bounderies of our academic lives. I'm really proud of teamB, and i've said that a million times, because you really surprised those who knew how new you guys are in debate. You even surprised yourselves. To teamA, we're still not perfect, but we're getting better and better. I'm not gonna be surprised if we become one of the pillars of deabte in FEU (yeah! haha). 

This will definitely not be the last that we gonna be debating with each other. :D 

NEXT STOP, FEB. 28, 2011, PUP-MANILA, ARTS & LIT FEST

kung gusto niu ko samahan friends, pls do so.. :D

according to a psych test...

Personality Type (MBTI): INFJ (introversion, intuition, feeling, judging), dubbed as the "Counselors"

Definition:

Counselors have an exceptionally strong desire to contribute to the welfare of others, and find great personal fulfillment interacting with people, nurturing their personal development, guiding them to realize their human potential. Although they are happy working at jobs (such as writing) that require solitude and close attention, Counselors do quite well with individuals or groups of people, provided that the personal interactions are not superficial, and that they find some quiet, private time every now and then to recharge their batteries. Counselors are both kind and positive in their handling of others; they are great listeners and seem naturally interested in helping people with their personal problems. Not usually visible leaders, Counselors prefer to work intensely with those close to them, especially on a one-to-one basis, quietly exerting their influence behind the scenes.

Counselors are scarce, little more than one percent of the population, and can be hard to get to know, since they tend not to share their innermost thoughts or their powerful emotional reactions except with their loved ones. They are highly private people, with an unusually rich, complicated inner life. Friends or colleagues who have known them for years may find sides emerging which come as a surprise. Not that Counselors are flighty or scattered; they value their integrity a great deal, but they have mysterious, intricately woven personalities which sometimes puzzle even them.

Counselors tend to work effectively in organizations. They value staff harmony and make every effort to help an organization run smoothly and pleasantly. They understand and use human systems creatively, and are good at consulting and cooperating with others. As employees or employers, Counselors are concerned with people's feelings and are able to act as a barometer of the feelings within the organization.

Blessed with vivid imaginations, Counselors are often seen as the most poetical of all the types, and in fact they use a lot of poetic imagery in their everyday language. Their great talent for language-both written and spoken-is usually directed toward communicating with people in a personalized way. Counselors are highly intuitive and can recognize another's emotions or intentions - good or evil - even before that person is aware of them. Counselors themselves can seldom tell how they came to read others' feelings so keenly. This extreme sensitivity to others could very well be the basis of the Counselor's remarkable ability to experience a whole array of psychic phenomena.

a Valentine thought

"It's not the thing; not the situation. It's the eye and how it sees the physical and the intangible. Where it chooses to look at -- on what angle. Thing is, there will always be a million ways to view things, but looking at it through His love and grace, always makes the most perfect image. Christian, look at everything that way, and you will know, and see, what you really are looking for..."

They call it the day of Love. If that is so, then it is the day to celebrate Jesus, for He is Love. A couple of days ago, an agonizing feeling of loneliness hit me, and it dwelt w/in for sometime. But just like in any other situations, He timely revealed to me something that started to change my way of thinking. One thing I'm sure of now, is that He never wanted me to be alone. He created my family, my friends, my workmates, my classmates -- EVERYONE. A partner? Not YET. But I know that that person's gonna come. Things is, He already set my blue print, and the perfection of it has its timings. I know that right now, at this very moment, the strongest foundation planned on that blue print is being constructed. What to do then? Indulge myself in the privileges of waiting.

I just want to say...

Listening to Your songs never failed to make me feel your presence. But today, I can feel it deep w/in me so much that it makes me want to say, "I love you Jesus..."

5mins after midnight

Who made me what I am today?

Whenever nostalgia hits me, I tend to ask myself a question, to which whenever I give an answer, it paints a smile on my face. The question is, “How did I become what I am today?”. It usually makes me imagine pictures of how well or bad I’ve done the past years; what were my achievements, if there was any, and my downfalls. And with all of those pictures in my mind, a face is created -- the face of the Person who clearly and patiently guided me through the best and the toughest times of my journey. He, no doubt, is the best person that I ever met. He loves unconditionally. And when I say unconditionally, that means even if I don’t give Him back the favor, He still does. He perfectly forgives, and never remembers. I have, unquestionably, done really bad things, but He never put that on my account. He provides for me even if I don’t deserve it. He taught me how to be patient and nice. He is beautiful, and wonderful, and powerful. He never let go even if most time it’s me who is pushing Him away. He just happened to be so loving and perfect. I am half empty because of all the horror that I’ve done, that’s a fact, but I wouldn’t even be half full if it’s not because of Him. By the way, His name is Jesus.



"Actually, that's all you need to live with. The knowledge of His love for you. Know each and every corners of His love and you'll know how to live life, Christian... :D"