Mt. Carmel's Cano wins 2025 Attorney General's Cup 

05/05/2025—With a compelling and deeply personal speech on birthright citizenship in the Northern Mariana Islands, Mount Carmel School junior William Matthew B. Cano topped the 38th Attorney General's Cup Speech Competition held last May 2 in the CNMI Supreme Court courtroom.

Cano's speech tackled the complex legal and human dimensions of birthright citizenship, drawing on the Fourteenth Amendment, the landmark Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark, and Section 303 of the Covenant. He argued that the constitutional guarantee of citizenship by birth is fundamental, especially in a diverse community like the CNMI.

He started his speech by stereotypes often related to outsiders.

“They're poisoning the blood of our country. They're not humans. They're animals. They're eating the dogs. They're eating the cats. These are, of course, words from our president directed at migrants, but we hear them in the CNMI too. Go back to where you came from. You don't belong here. Go home.”

Cano said as a Filipino and an American citizen, these insults cut to his core because this is where he was born, raised, and absolutely belong.

"Birthright citizenship is not a political favor—it is a constitutional promise," Cano told the audience and judges. "It ensures that no child born in the CNMI is left uncertain of their identity or rights as an American."

Cano even gave the issue a personal touch, sharing how his own parents, once contract workers, endured years of uncertainty, making sacrifices to raise him in the CNMI. "I didn't understand until recently how each renewal of my father's work contract felt like a gamble," he said. "It made me realize how citizenship is more than legal status—it's security, dignity, and belonging."

He then ended his speech with aplomb. 

“And for me, I want a home where birthright citizenship is upheld, not just because it's good for society, or because it is supported by legal precedents, or because it's politically convenient. I want to uphold birthright citizenship because it has helped me and helped us people like me call these islands home. And no matter what anyone says on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or on Beach Road, nothing can take that away from me. This is where I was born. This is where I was raised. This is where I belong. As the opening verse of the CNMI anthem so perfectly captures, in the middle of the sea is where my home is. Thank you. I ask that you return to your seat properly after the break.”

Cano earned the judges’ nod for his articulate delivery, strong legal foundation, and emotional resonance. His performance was a product of nearly two months of preparation, starting in late March, with the support of Mount Carmel's speech team and coaches.

"I'm just really glad all the practice paid off," Cano said after the win. "I was praying the rosary before I got here, and I feel like my prayers were answered. I owe so much to my coaches—they helped shape my skills into a speech that could really connect."

He added that he planned to celebrate by resting—with an SAT exam and prom lined up the next day.

Mount Carmel's speech program has dominated the AG's Cup in recent years, led by coach Zeno C. Deleon Guerrero Jr. and supported by former MCS president Dr. Galvin DeLeon Guerrero.

"There's no secret," said Dr. DeLeon Guerrero. "It's a team approach. Our students research together, draft together, and support each other to make the speech reflect both the topic and the speaker. That's what makes the difference."

Tae Hee Kim of Grace Christian Academy finished runner-up to Cano with Eianne Miel M. Ladao of Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Jr./Sr. High School coming in third.

Other participant of this year’s AG’s Cup were Jeffrey John M. Atalig of Kagman High School, Aubrey Tabenas of Saipan Southern High School, Ainsely P. Ancheta of Tinian Middle and High School, and Julia Lin Taitano of Marianas High School.

The competition opened with welcoming remarks from Attorney General Edward Manibusan, who encouraged all student participants to use their voices for civic engagement and community service. "This event continues to be a powerful reminder that the youth of the CNMI are intelligent, informed, and committed to the future of our islands," said Manibusan. "Each of you is a reflection of the best values of public discourse and leadership."

During the ceremony, U.S. District Court of the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona was also recognized for her longstanding support of the Attorney General's Cup. Manglona helped establish the competition and has served as a champion of youth advocacy and civic literacy in the Commonwealth.

"This competition is one of the most meaningful events I look forward to each year," said Manglona. "It gives our students a chance to explore important legal issues that affect our islands—and to discover their own power as speakers and future leaders."

She praised all the participants for their hard work and reminded them that the ability to express ideas with conviction and clarity is one of the most powerful tools of democracy.

Story by Mark Rabago