New Lifers Recognized for Academic Achievement in MUN Conferences
New Lifers achieved commendable results at the 1st German European School Manila Model United Nations (GESMUN) and Model United Nations (MUN) LOCALs held at the British School Manila (BSM) last September 20 to 22 and September 27 to 28, respectively.
During the GESMUN conference, Olive student Bianca Iyesha Sy garnered the Best Advocate as the second advocate of Malaysia in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), while Damascus student Justine Kimberly Tan was named the Best Judge in the same committee. The delegates tackled the territorial dispute between Singapore and Malaysia regarding ownership of the Pedra Branca.
Pauline Isabel Takai of batch Olive received a verbal commendation as the delegate of Vietnam in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which discussed ways to combat racism and promote equality.
“I wasn’t very hopeful about getting an award, especially since there were experienced MUN delegates in the committee,” shared first-year varsity member Takai, “but in the end, I felt quite accomplished and I praise God for allowing me to come home with one.”
Meanwhile, during the BSM-held MUN LOCALs conference, Olive student Zachary Caleb Yap won the Best Speaker award as the delegate of Vietnam in the First United Nations General Assembly (GA1), while Sophia Jadrine Sy from Damascus received an Honorable Mention as the delegate of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) in the same committee. Olive student Lauren Mielle Wong acted as the Deputy Chair of GA1.
Gabrielle Ruth Hablero from Olive was also given an Honorable Mention as the delegate of Australia in the Fourth United Nations General Assembly (GA4). On the other hand, Bryce William Co of batch Olive and Christian Lucas Garcia of batch Patmos snatched the Best Speaker awards as the delegates of the DPRK and Maldives in the Third United Nations General Assembly (GA3) and the UNHRC, respectively.
Finally, Zion’s Nathan Gabriel Hao bagged the Most Diplomatic award as the delegate of the United States of America in the Historical Crisis Committee that covered the Suez Crisis of 1956.
New Lifers were also recognized for their participation and performance in the Press Corps of the MUN LOCALs, with Zion student Aidan Riley Kho receiving the Best Article award for his Scientific American article entitled, “Programming the Ethics of AI—Who Decides Who Lives or Who Dies?” Bianca Sy joined as a press editor for the Press Corps news agency The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and Zion’s Teanna Ang was a Creative Director of the Press Corps.
The 1st GESMUN was held in the German European School Manila campus, while MUN LOCALs is alternately held and organized by the International School Manila (ISM) and BSM, with BSM taking the helm this year.
