Redemption

Four years ago, a tall but rather skinny member of my robotics team stepped into the playing arena to compete in the finals of the 2nd National Robotics Olympiad which was held at the Alabang Town Center. It took the boy a couple of hours to assemble his lego robot. His robot will compete in the finals of a maze event.And now it’s crunch time! It was a tense moment for all of us. It was the first time for us to join in the Robotics Olympiad. We didn’t even expect to reach the finals and yet here we are. The winner will represent the country in the World Robotics Olympiad in Korea that year. All hopes of the team were on this skinny lad now. It became so quite all of a sudden as our brave grade 6 Claretian student prepares to switch on his robot. We heard the beeping sound as he pressed the green button to turn on the RCX, the brain of the Lego robot. It was a relief for us as it signified that he had placed good batteries. Gently he placed the robot on the playing field, just as his robot was about 6 inches away from the ground, a yellow brick from his robot fell-off and hit the ground first. It was as if time stood still! He attempted to put it back, but another part fell. Based on the rules all parts should be intact, any part from the robot that would fall could mean a deduction much worse a disqualification. The next few seconds was immortalized in the annals of Claret Robotics history and was retold countless of times to old and new robotics team members. The young boy out of frustration threw the robot into the judges’ feet. A loud crash was heard and all the lego pieces went flying in different directions. All three judges were in a state of shock. The young boy went out of the playing arena and cried like a baby. It took several minutes for me and other people including the judges to calm him down.That experience did not deter the young boy from doing greater things in his life. It drove him to strive harder to be the best that he can be in all other aspects of his life. He went on to become the valedictorian in grade 6, joined the Kilyawan boys choir and passed the entrance test at the Philippine Science high School. When he transferred, I have never heard of him since then.A couple of weeks ago, I saw a boy on television which looks very familiar. Yes it’s him alright. He became even more taller and good looking but still skinny. The boy’s name was flashed on television, his name: Gian Karlo Rosales Gapul, sixteen years old, Champion in the International Public Speaking Competition conducted in London by the English Speaking Union held last May 9, 2008. Gian bested more than 50 other contestants from 35 countries most of whom are college students who were members in the English Speaking Union in his speech curiously entitled Fish Mucus and Foot Fungus. This time he was very relaxed and added humor to his speech. Finally, Gian had redeemed himself bigtime! In November Gian will be presented with a certificate at the ESU Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace by his Royal Highness Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh. Most likely, the Queen herself will be present as well, since the English Speaking Union will make its 90th anniversary this year.Here is the winning speech of Gian Dapul:

FISH MUCUS AND FOOT FUNGUS
by Gian Dapul