Speaking & Listening

Cable & Wireless Panama organises the National Oratory contest together with the Ministry of Education. In 2009 the competition was won by a 16-year-old schoolboy.

When you’re in the communications business, it’s a real pleasure to have created an event that encourages young people to make speaking an art form.

The final of the Cable & Wireless Panama – Ministry of Education National Oratory Contest 2009, saw ten young students battle it out with prepared and improvised speeches. They’d fought their way through the rounds of regional finals, which are attended by thousands of schoolchildren.

Jorge Nicolau, CEO of Cable & Wireless Panama, said “We feel great pride in celebrating National Oratory contest together with the Ministry of Education and other companies committed with education and the future of the country. Developing education is important to us”

We go beyond sponsorship and organisation. If finalists from rural areas need somewhere to stay in Panama City, we open our homes to them.

Carlos Virgilio Saldaña, a 16-year-old schoolboy from the region of Chiriqui, wowed the audience at the final, including the Minister of Education and the First Lady of Panama, and scooped first place. It was televised across a number of channels during prime time and drew more viewers than pretty much any other programme in the year.

When victorious Carlos returned to David, the capital city of Chiriqui, the people gave him a hero’s welcome. The honours didn’t stop there. On Panama’s National Flag Day, Carlos was presented with the Panamanian flag by the President and led the day’s procession.