Filipino high school students will be given a chance to shine internationally in an impromptu speaking contest in English that also aims to develop the public- speaking skills of local students.

The First Voice of Asia Speech Contest will start its selection of contestants from November 15 to 23, 2012 at the school level and will culminate in the international finals on March 20,2013.

The contest is being launched by the Department of Education in cooperation with The Manila Times, The Manila Times College, Emilio Aguinaldo College and the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA).

Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro FSC said the contest will highlight the capability of Filipino high school students to discuss a relevant issue that is exemplary in form and content. “By content, we mean thought organization, logic, appropriateness of examples, and accuracy of data and delivery means, correctness of grammar and syntax, level of language, posture and eye contact with the audience,” said Luistro.

Contestants should speak in English all throughout, thus, words used during the speech other than English will mean point deduction.

Each regional office of DepEd is entitled to send two contestants, one each from the public and private school enrolled in Grade 9 or 10. The selection of contestants from the division level is from November 26 to December 7, 2012 while the selection in the regional level is from January 21 to 25, 2013. The national finals is on February 15, 2013.

The national winner who will receive P50,000 will represent the country in the international finals, wherein the winning prize is US$5,000.