The Filcomites Dazzle Online!

"If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull” as quoted by W.C Fields. As the contest season begins, so does the preparation  behind the scenes, within the scene and beyond it. Filcom is no exception and dazzles in every single aspect of the contest prep. However, contest preparations during the current term were relatively easier to prepare for.  Filcom held the first-ever Club Contest online. Although, what was missing was the absolute stage experience where the contestants, role-players and the audience could have enjoyed a live stage experience in person.  However, the experience that never left the contest was a moment, a microphone and a spotlight to shine! The thirst for this shining moment, became the theme of Filcom’s club contest – DAZZLE. Dazzle Part 1 and Part 2 took place on 12^th and 19^th of December respectively.

Reins of the club contests were in the able hands of Filcom’ s ever enthusiastic and dazzling – TM Dennis Mujana, Immediate Past President and TM Michelle Macaraig, Club Treasurer during the Part 1 and Part 2 of the contest, respectively. The were supported by ebullient role players. TM Philp Cherian and Pavithra Philip, DTM to the helm of the Chief Judge during the Part 1 and Part 2 of the contest, respectively. Kit Barritt, DTM served as the Zoom Master who guaranteed the ultimate online contest experience.

The Part 1 of the contest has given us many heart-warming and inspirational stories, and, made us realize the power of Feedback i.e., the International Speech and Speech Evaluation Contest, respectively. The Contest Manager – TM Dennis Mujana, opened the Contest and TM Michelle Macaraig took the virtual screen as the Master of Ceremonies. Along with her were the International Speech Contest Chair – Grace Moran, DTM and Evaluation Contest Chair – TM Alaa Afify.

Six Dazzling Filcomites competed in the International Speech Contest – Joseph Amande, CJ Rojas, Leo Ortega, Diana May Tangente, Hieu Huynh and Rinku Saha. These Filcomites bedazzled us through their inspirational stories. In the end, Joseph emerged as a winner followed by CJ as the first runner up and Diana as the second runner up.

Following the International Speech Contest was Speech Evaluation Contest. Eleven enthusiastic Filcomites competed in this segment – Joseph Amande, CJ Rojas, Leo Ortega, Diana May Tangente, Hieu Huynh, Fouad Al Fares, Deepti Potnis, Shyam Sundar, Swetha Raghuraman, Stella Sabangan and Nadim Bitar. The test speaker presented an informative speech and all the contestants reminded us about the importance of Feedback. It was Joseph who bagged the first place, followed by Swetha and CJ as the second and third place winners, respectively.

The Part 2 of the contest gave the audience lots of laughs and tested our quick-thinking skills i.e., Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contest.  TM Michelle Macaraig filled in the shoes of a Contest Manager and the entire show was run by TM Vidal Bagas as the Master of Ceremonies. Vidal was supported by two vibrant Filcomites :  TM Ginalyn Garcia as the Humorous Speech Contest Chair and TM Dennis Mujana as the Table Topics Contest Chair.

Six funny-boned Filcomites contested for the Humorous contest – Joseph Amande, Leo Ortega, Diana May Tangente, Hieu Huynh, Rinku Saha and Deepti Potnis. All the contestants made us gag and proved that laughter is indeed a best medicine.  Joseph triumphed once again, followed by Rinku and Deepti.

The final segment of our club contest was the Table Topics Contest and this time seven spontaneous Filcomites contested – Joseph Amande, Leo Ortega, Diana May Tangente, Hieu Huynh, Deepti Potnis, Swetha Raghuraman and Stella Sabangan, and tested their wits on the topic – “ Less is more, or more is less. What is your choice? All the contestants were spontaneous and articulate in this session. Once again, Joseph waltzed to victory by being placed first, Stella as the first runner up  and Diana becoming the third runner up. All is well that ends well! Both Part 1 and Part 2 was as galvanizing as the other. All the contestants, role-players and many who worked behind the scenes have Dazzles and Bedazzled everyone! So what’s next? The area contest/ division contest or the District. Wherever it is and Whatever we do. The Filcomites are all set the Dazzle again!