For 17 years, the Model United Nations (MUN) Club has stood out among Southville’s extracurricular activities. Over the course of this year, the MUN Club has seen an increase of members—known as delegates—with this year’s online schooling. The community has widened despite the ongoing quarantine, with delegates longing for the pre-pandemic experience of research and speech. Conferences have to push through regardless of the virtual setup, and that setting—where occasions with other private schools have become near impossible—provided an opportunity for an event that instead unites the Southville Global Education Network (SGEN).
Last November 21-22, 184 delegates from Southville International School and Colleges (SISC), South Mansfield College (SMC), Stonyhurst Southville International School-Batangas (SSIS-B), Stonyhurst Southville International School-Malarayat (SSIS-M), and Asian SEED Academy of Technology (ASAT) gathered for the very first inter-SGEN MUN Pre-Conference. Delegates from Grades 7-12 spent two days learning the essential MUN skills within a single Zoom video meeting, also making it the first virtually-hosted MUN conference held by Southville.
Planned by SGEN’s SLGE teachers and executed by the SISC MUN Secretariat, this event marks a milestone in Southville’s MUN history. The SLGE departments had already envisioned assembling all SGEN schools for a single MUN conference for some time according to Sir Jude Cuntapay, Director-General of SISC MUN. This Pre-Conference was organized to prepare students for the actual SGEN MUN Main Conference to be held February 20-21, 2021 which will have increased focus regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic.
“We really wanted to give everyone an opportunity to learn the MUN basics and what are the things they should essentially know prior. It’s very significant to organize this . . . for delegates to meet each other beforehand, create friendships, collaborate with one another, and learn with one another,” explains Sir Jude. He added, “When this academic year began and all SGEN schools collaborated in different activities, we’ve also decided why not try to have an MUN exclusive for these schools.”
Learning how to learn
The day began with Welcome Remarks from Southville’s Basic Ed Principal Ms. Marie Vic ‘Avic’ Suarez followed by a message from current Secretary-General Dong-Hyun ‘Diego’ Kim, setting the tone of what’s to come, giving a sense of anticipation for both veteran and rookie delegates
“As we try our best to equip you students with the 21st-century skills, it is important for learners like you to realize that the most important skill you should have is learning how to learn. To our future movers of society . . . learn from this exercise, learn from each other, learn how to learn,” says Ms. Avic.
“Model United Nations is not just about spicy and serious debates; rather, it is an exciting moment of your lives to broaden your perspectives in different social issues and collaboratively work with each other,” emphasizes Secretary-General Kim.
All SGEN Delegates proceeded to different breakout rooms within the call that specialized their different levels in school and in MUN, with Secretariats guiding them throughout the weekend. This catered to all kinds of delegates, making sure that each learned the things that were useful for them. With everyone staying indoors, technology allowed all delegates to take part no matter where they were.
Day one tackled the need-to-know topics before a delegate could engage in debate. These were the foundations and committees of the UN, steps to research for your delegation, and creation of differentiated speeches. The Secretariat facilitators tutored those lessons to Monarchs, Royals, Valiant Knights, Kings, and ASAT Seniors alike. Delegates focused on their writing about their assigned country. SSIS-B delegate in MUN03 Raymond Valdez recalls how leadership and hard work were displayed during discussions no matter the online setting. He also says, “[Other SGEN students] taught me to be sure of myself and my abilities; that I shouldn't hesitate to ask questions once I'm having a hard time.”
On its second day, resolution writing and debating were at its focal point, and they focused on solving the issue of carbon emissions and climate change. As various teams, delegates created and drafted solutions to this worldwide problem, cooperating and orating as they did. The SISC Secretariats found that those from other SGEN schools had some unique qualities that allowed them to excel right away.
Deputy Secretary-General David Ramos goes on to remark on their good foundation for public speaking. He says, “I have nothing but praises to give when I was teaching delegates from other schools.”
For Secretariat and facilitator of MUN01 Jun Yeong ‘Andy’ Park, it was their compassion to understand that impressed him. He remarks, “Lectures about speeches and different criteria could be quite confusing . . . but every time there was a difficult topic to understand all delegates were able to bring it up and were willing to follow up things they needed for the incoming conference.”
Background skills other than research, writing, speaking, and global awareness were honed by some delegates. SISC’s Geon ‘Eric’ Kim of MUN03 says that building connections was ideal in attending this MUN conference, as making new acquaintances will surely help in the future. Fellow Monarch delegate Si-hyun ‘Sisi’ Park of MUN01 says, “MUN and as well as this pre-conference continues to feed my flames for being able to speak out and place my foot down for the things I put great importance to.”
Overcoming online obstacles
There were indeed challenges in this online video call event. Secretary-General Kim mentioned that there were more delegates than expected, which led to the creation of another breakout room where he chaired over a dozen mix-leveled students. Cuit Cerbito, a Secretariat handling MUN02, mentioned that one of their dilemmas in this event was communicating with delegates. She shares, “Building that spirit where everyone is friends and [have the] diplomacy to talk to each other is really hard with the barriers of internet connections and being shy to chat.”
Secretariat and facilitator in MUN03 Neel Sharma remarked on how socializing was put on the back-burner for this online conference. He admits, “It was quite difficult because I think because we are not able to socialize in a normal way and we are not able to strive as much as in a normal class setting.”
Regardless of the challenges, the Secretariats were able to surpass these complications through hard work and background communication with each other.
MUN isn’t all about seriousness. The icebreakers provided by the Secretariats gave a thrill and energy to the sessions, allowing delegates to refresh after MUN lessons. Though practicing formality was necessary for the actual event, the camaraderie on both sides made delegates comfortable working with each other. In contrast with the anxiety and worry associated with public speaking events, there was a surge of cheerfulness among the delegates. Even beginner delegates got to enjoy the sessions despite the new experience.
SGEN is amazing
The success and memorability of this event were evident among its participants. When asked how to describe this event in a couple of words or a phrase, the responses varied, yet they all carried the same messages of praise.
Sir Jude describes that this pre-conference goes to show that “SGEN is amazing . . . because we have so much talent. If we just tap our students and empower them to create something that will build student engagement, I think it will be a success. The participation of SGEN and the event organization of SISC MUN putting up all the schools in one MUN conference is actually a very historic step to more conferences like this—either face-to-face or online—in the future; this is a cornerstone. You will always be surprised at what SGEN can give to our community.”
Secretary-General Kim says that it was a “first step, it was the first step of the SGEN MUN collaboration, it was the first step to the new delegates of their MUN life journey, and the first step for young delegates’ public speaking.“
Deputy Secretary-General Ramos overlooks the difficulty of arranging this event, and focuses on its silver lining, sharing, “During the conference, I would describe it as rewarding because I got to see that a lot of people from SGEN schools that have never even heard of MUN start to enjoy it; they start to actually invest their time and effort into something the SISC chairs teach them.“
The delegates themselves say how memorable it was to bring student speakers together, especially in these hard times. They also commend the organizers and facilitators for their performance, organization, and collaboration. Above all, they praise each other and each other’s abilities and talents.
The Pre-Conference ended with the regathering of all participants, final remarks from the SISC Secretariat, awarding of recognition certificates, and a closing message from the Deputy Secretary-General. Reflections were made, memories were shared, and students temporarily bid farewell. Those two days of learning paved the way for both more assertive speakers and more aware global citizens. With their newfound skills, SGEN’s MUN delegates were now ready for February’s event and all future events to come.
The MUN Club is continually looking for new delegates to join the community. The group meets every Thursday from 5:00-6:30 PM. For Inquiries, contact siscmun@southville.edu.ph or Sir Jude Cuntapay via email at jude_cuntapay@southville.edu.ph.
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