2015 ASIAN ENGLISH OLYMPICS

An Open Letter

Dear Meridian Family,

From the bottom of our hearts, the entire high school team – most especially the Asian English Olympics participants and training team – would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you for your support and for keeping us in prayer throughout the Asian English Olympics at Binus University in Jakarta, Indonesia from Feb. 9-16, 2015.

The event was a very fitting learning experience for the students. They were able to interact and establish connections with their Asian peers as delegates from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore also participated with much gusto and determination. The students gave everything they’ve got. They were fully aware that they were not only representing themselves and their families, but they were ambassadors of the Meridian and the Philippines as well. It was indeed a very enriching experience for all of us who went there.

One of our Gr. 11 student led the Meridian contingent as he won 3rd place honors in the Storytelling competition. Grade 10 student Meridian representative was also awarded the Best High School Participant for scrabble while another Gr. 11 student representative made it all the way to the grand finals in the spelling bee competition – finishing in the Top 5.

Our speech contestants also showed a lot of promise and potential. Most of their colleagues in the competition were already university students and were also seasoned AEO participants.

The event was also an excellent training ground and international exposure for our debate team. Though our debate team and the Meridian students themselves were relatively quite young compared to the other participants, it was very encouraging to see them debate well ahead of their years.

Nevertheless, I feel that the real treasure in their participation in the AEO lies in their daily experiences while competing – the friendships that they established, their teamwork, and how each contestant gave it their all.

It was also a very maturing experience for them.

I saw how one Grade 11 student participant  would mentor his fellow debater from Grade 9. We know that team dynamics is very important in any debate competition. Debate partners should work well together. Their debating skills and frame of mind should complement one another. His tandem with the relatively younger and novice Grade 9 student was something that has not been tested thoroughly. During their debate matches, it was quite obvious that their tandem was being put to the test. During breaks, the younger debater was very pressured to keep up with the more experienced and older debater and was always apologetic (not always necessary as she was quite good actually) to her older debate partner. Nonetheless, the older participant would always encourage her. There was a clear desire for the older participant to also see the younger participant grow and find her groove in the competition. There were times na “sinasalo niya na talaga ” but he remained collected and very brotherly. The situation called for him to mentor and he was very patient and encouraging. The Grade 9 student participant, on the other hand, was very teachable and moldable. Nakakatuwa po ang dynamics nila kasi parang kuya and bunso ang dating. 🙂

Our Meridian representative, another  Grade 11, prominent placing in the Storytelling competition I believe was something that God ordained to honor him and his family’s journey to make him participate in Jakarta. His genuine determination to join and bring honor to his school and country was something that his family supported all the way – albeit resources were quite limited. I am personally very happy for him, who has grown to become a very responsible and diligent student and a unique leader as well.

Another Grade 11 Meridian student touched everyone in his preliminary piece in the speech competition. He spoke about the “gifts of death” – a very personal tribute to his late mother.

When another Grade 11 student found out that she qualified in the grand finals for spelling, she could not believe it! She has always been one of our top students, but when asked as to why she think she made it, she humbly replied, “Nag-prepare naman po ako but so did the other competitors. They were very good. Lord na lang po siguro talaga yun.”

Two Gr. 8 students were really “Davids” in a lake of “Goliaths”. They competed with college students and debated on topics that were well beyond their age. But among the Meridian team participants, they were probably the most courageous. I’m very excited for them 2-3 years from now. 🙂

In the end, and though not all of them won awards, our Meridian students now have a much firmer resolve to do better in their respective fields. Because of the support of their teachers, families, and the Meridian community, they were not discouraged. They only want to be better. The fire in their hearts are still very much aflame.

All in all, the event was a rewarding experience for all us who were there – students and teachers alike. It was Meridian High School’s first foray in international competitions. God is indeed gracious that He allowed the school to finish prominently – as we were in the Top 5 when all the points in all the competitions were accumulated.

We continue to pray that God may use every competition not only as a learning opportunity for the students but also as bricks that would eventually enable them to build a great wall for their country. They are not perfect students. They will never be perfect. But the fight to win in competitions like this and in life in general for God and country is something that is very much alive in their hearts. Someday, I believe that God will honor this fire in their hearts.

Thank you very much an God bless.

T. Vincent