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Happy, happy, happy birthday Mikee. I knew, even when you were in third grade, with your wide eyes and enthusiasm, that you would go on to do great things. You were always so eager and so involved, and it was inspiring to see someone so excited to learn, such as yourself. I have always been your fan, Mikee. From your grade school days, to Delta Chi, to winning the NASHDC with the Harry Potter themed Grand Finals, which honestly, I really insisted on, to processing your enrollment, just so I could make sure you'd come to DLSU, to you finally becoming a LaSallian debater, to your presidency of LSDS, to winning WUDC, to today, to every day, Mikee. I'd do everything again for you. I may not be showy with you, or physically present for you most of the time, but I am always here for you, always, in the still and silence of your victory, know I am your #1 fan.

Shakespeare said, "Though she be little, she is fierce." And that's us, Mikee. That's you. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise.

Love you, little sister. Love you to the ends of the earth, and back.

Love,
Ate Crystal

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Happy birthday po Ate Mikee!!! First of all thank you po talaga sa pag initiate as a collective ng Samantha Tornilla Fund because without it, me and Bai won't make it to nationals.

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Happy birthday po Ate Mikee!!! First of all thank you po talaga sa pag initiate as a collective ng Samantha Tornilla Fund because without it, me and Bai won't make it to nationals.

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Even if you didn't get the championship this yr, forever in our hearts champion po kayo because of your skills and humility as a debater. God bless po! :)

Dale Lota, MSU IIT

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You are hands down one of the most chill people in the community. Whether it may be a random conversation in the convening to hanging out  in some food place in a different country or a series of messages on facebook looking for Jason  ( Lol).

I am proud I met you while you are still debating. I am proud to belong in the same era as you do. You are definitely what people call a living legend but despite all of that you still remain humble.

Happy Birthday Mikee, may all of your wishes come true. Many many more birthdays to come and good luck in the future. Keep the dream alive, may the force be with you!

Julian Franco "Jico"  Farinas
San Beda Debate Society

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or Ate Mikee, i should say :))

Thank you for being the most understanding coach ever in high school. At some point i do remember being scared to turn us over to you but eventually i learned how much you love the society and how much you want to give back. I still remember the argument you ran in the first ever round we went against each other in high school training. That's how much you inspire me. I may not show it often or you may not feel it at all, but seeing you and all the things you have achieved gives me, even a smallest hope, to keep debating and to keep fighting.

I hope you get all the love and the awards and all the good juju the world has to offer you. You're the best one out there and you have the kindest heart. Also, i hope everyone will always remember your december birthday <3

Love lots,
Banana

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Happy Birthday ate mikee 💜

im super thankful for having you as a coach and as an inspiration, even outside debate. Thank you for all the hard work that you've invested in us even if we dont deliver as much. Thank you for believing in us and in what we can do, for pushing us to be better, and for showing us the importance of exceeding the expectations people have about us and what we can do. But mostly i thank you for being a big part of the reason why i've come to love(ish hehe) debate and for influencing me to be courageous and determined enough to continue it. I wish you all the happiness in life bc u deserve every bit of it! Happy birthday to the debate jesus (jk hehe) and may all ur wishes come true 💜 delta loves u hehe

-tonie, delta chi

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Hi Ate Mikee!

Merry Christmas and a Happy Birthday to you!! I immensely thank you for all the effort, all the patience, all the time you've spent towards making us kids better. I'm sorry as well if there are times(tbh all the time ata) we aren't able to give back to you. It may not be completely obvious but we try to live up to your name and sometimes it's hard but we'll never stop trying. I don't know if there are words that could be able to measure the amount of gratitude I have and we have for you. And I hope you keep in mind that even if the world has it against you winning a championship, your kids(and probably a whole lot of other people) are fully aware of the fact that you deserve one and I hope that makes a difference. I hope this day treats you well! I love you Ate Mikee!!!

-Marga (Delta Chi)

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Hi ate! I can't tell you enough how proud and inspired you have made me. You've become so influential in my life and a lot of things have changed about me ever since I met you. You've shown me what it's like to be brave and what it's like to completely surpass the expectations people have had of you. You've shown me grit and determination. You've shown me hope and faith. Most of all, you've shown me what it's like to live life with purpose and to put a little bit of myself into everything I do, not just in debate but in my everyday life. I have never been confronted with such strong admiration for someone. I don't particularly live up to your standards that often and I know that the world has been hard on you. But I promise that I'll do everything I can to make you proud of me too. And truthfully, it doesn't really matter to me or to any of your St. Scho kids that you're the "perennial quarterfinalist" because no one has shown us a more accurate image of a champion than you. We love you Ate Mikee!!

-Yvonne, Delta Chi

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I know that we're not that close, but despite that, you never failed to coach me or extend a hand when I need it, and for that, I'm grateful. You're always there for all of us, be it in debate, in adjudication, in EB and/or OrgCom duties. The society wouldn't be where it is now if not for your hard work and effort. I want you to know that you always have been and always will be an inspiration to me (and to the rest, I'm sure) in and outside of debate, and you honestly never cease to amaze me at how great you are as a person. I wish you the very best in everything because you definitely deserve it!

Love,
Chinchan

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Merry Birthday. May Santa give you four gifts this year. One cause it's Christmas, one cause it's your birthday, one cause 2016 was a total bitch and one cause you're an ok human being. If the end of the world was coming you might just make it to heaven. (idk...) Hope you have more birthdays
-Kitty

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Haha just joking (but not really). Happy Birthday to you Ate Mikee! I'll never forget one of the most important lessons you've taught me: You've got to win big! I hope this next year of your life has a lot of big wins in store for you. Continue to fight the good fight as you always do.

- Crissy

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Happy birthday Mikee! I'm more than proud to know you, but proud to say that you have inspired me as well. I've seen you work your hardest, but more than ever, I've seen your more vulnerable moments, and as a friend, it is an honor to be allowed to witness your  growth. The sky is waiting to be grasped, Mikee, and the world does not end at quarterfinals. ;) You have so much in store for you, and even I am excited to see what hurdles you are going to cross next. Happy birthday, and keep being relentless. Love you!

-Shanice

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Ever deafening (yet adorable) Mikee de Vega!!!!

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Ever deafening (yet adorable) Mikee de Vega!!!!

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You were the president when I first joined in debate, and now the best speaker in the country (back to back). From that,  I  saw how you can be extremely accommodating and even, courageously palaban. I love the dedication you give not just to the society, but also to debate. It's inspiring how you always give your best, not just in training for yourself, even in training others. Your sincerity in improving and helping the people around you just shows how deserving you are of the respect you are given (i.e. standing ovation from the debate community). Mikee, don't ever change. Keep on living with integrity. Regardless of whatever, you are one person I believe deserves all the respect you've gotten, (even more than the people with status symbols) I know my opinion might not matter, but I'm glad that God gave the world someone as inspiring as you. Keep calling out on your team mates fashion sense, weird acts etc. (w/ caution at times though HAHA). Your honesty (again sincerity) to help others be their bests is admiring. Every person deserves a Mikee in their lives. So glad to have met you. Hope to know you more Mikee. HAPPY BIRTHDAY <3

- Input Girl, Jodel

P.S. I think you deserve more credit than you give yourself :)

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Feel ko ako lang tumatawag sa'yo nyan. Thank you for the words of wisdom, shoulders to cry on, and the stories you share (well, chu-chu naman kasi ako HAHAHA). I entered LSDS fearing you. But then as I got to know you more, I realized how wonderful you are and how you paint everyone's lives with colors we never knew existed. For that, I say thank you. You always joke about how I got your (and tatay's) emotional side. I suppose that will always be the case. And I'm glad to have it. The world is not worthy of your presence. You make it a much, much better place. Happy Birthday!!!!!

-KC

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY ❤️

yun lang!

JK. We all love you, Mikee!!! Thanks for being the great person you are. Despite everything under your belt, you always remain humble and it is truly inspiring for little kids like me. I will always be thankful that you welcoming me to LSDS (I say this all the time, and I mean it).

The world hasn't been fair to you and you deserve more than what you got, but you've gotten through those times, I hope you will be able to this time, I believe you will. I cannot say for sure that there will be better things ahead but I believe that God wouldn't allow you to go through so much all for nothing. So this Christmas (slash your birthday), my wish for you is that you get what your heart wishes for and that God would be so gracious to grant it to you.

With lots of love, YAAAS-es, logic, truth, and possibility,

Papat 😘

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I will forever be a fan. Through all the memories, I have learned a lot from your journey as a La Salle debater, and it's one that truly inspires. Merry Christmas, and happy birthday! :)

Dino

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I have and will always look up to you. Your ability to juggle so many things (acads, org, PDU, Tapat, fashion sense) and excel in all of them at the same time is something I've always idolized you for. But more than that, it is your sensitivity and ability to read and adjust to the climate around you that makes you such an exceptional human being. I'm still sad that I won't see you for the next 10 days ahuhu. Your presence has truly made a significant impact on my life and i'm happy i got to know you. Happy Birthday again!!

Lyssa Ajero

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Mabuhay kang nilalang ka. Isa kang ehemplo sa sambayanang madla. Congrats at goodluck, dahil ang buhay ay magsisimula lang after debate. Ang mahalaga ay ang magandang asal na iyong dala dala.

Haberdie!

- higher than pinakapogi sa balat ng lupa

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I'm always going to be grateful to have had you coach me for that period of time I was absolutely clueless about debate. Though I arrived a little bit later than most, you didn't give up on me. You always came back and would always support the team.

I'm so proud of what you have accomplished. You were always one of my inspirations and will continue to be so.

I wish you all the best in life.

-Nina Tomas

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Happy Birthday fam! Sending all the good jujus your way

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Happy Birthday :))) Thank you for being such an amazing mentor to us. I think that ever since you've started coaching us, I've grown a lot not just as a debater but also as a person. Thank you for opening my eyes to a world beyond school and grades. Thank you for teaching us to expect more from ourselves and believing that we can achieve more, even when others don't expect anything from us. Thank you for simply being someone who inspires me and someone who I aspire to be. Sorry for the (many) times I've disappointed you. We'll all do our best to become a contingent you can be proud of! Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday, Ate Mikee :)) - Kay Sison

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For being one of my inspirations as a debater and as a person, thank you very much! I know that I don't really produce the results you expect and I'm sorry for that but I hope you know how much I don't want to disappoint you. I have learned a lot of things (even outside debate) from you and I'm grateful to have been given the chance to have you as our coach. You deserve all the happiness :) Enjoy the holidays, Ate Mikee!
-Charpao

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Or should I say Angel Locsin hahaha. :) You are one of the kindest, charismatic, and passionate debaters I know and I'm honored to be in the community at the same time as you. Whether it's one of your jaw-dropping whip speeches or you faciliating council meetings,  you always radiate an aura that's just magnetic.  I wish you all the best in your future endeavors and wish you many more happy birthdays to come. Happy Holidays and Happy Birthday Mikee!

-Mort Bresnan (UPM) -

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From judging your speeches in high school, to seeing you struggle and succeed in the college debate scene. It's been amazing seeing you continue to inspire more people, including an old fart like myself! Haha you are genuinely one of the nicest and most amazing people in the community. Have a great time today, merry Christmas and a very happy birthday
- Giano

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Before I joined La Salle Debate Society, I was able to see  your Opp Whip speech in Worlds. And in all honesty, that was the speech that made me join debate. Meeting you in person, a nice and funny and smart and amazing person just cements my willingness to stay in LSDS alongside other resons. You're an inspiration to a lot of people, especially to the rest of us in LSDS and I hope you enjoy the bright road that's ahead of you. Go olivia pope!

Hannah Solayao
DLSU

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Sa bawat panahon na nakikita kita, nakikita ko ang kabutihan at karangalan na nasa iyong puso. Kumikinang ka, Mikee, at tanaw ito ng lahat ng mga taong nakakasalimuha mo --ang debate community, ang mga kapwa mong La Salyano, at iba mo pang mga kaibigan at kamaganak.

Dahil dito, isa ka sa mga taong pinagkukuhanan ko ng inspirasyon. Palagi kang handang tumulong sa mga tao, kahit man ito ay sa munting pamamaraan, o sa pamamagitan ng pagbago ng buong mundo. Hinahangaan ko rin ang iyong pagiging responsable at masipag. Isa ka sa mga dahilan kung bakit ang debate community ay may husay at galing.

At maswerte ang mga kaibigan mo sa iyo. Hindi man tayo madalas nagkikita o naguusap, hindi ko kailanman inisip na tayo'y magiging dayuhan sa isa't isa.

Ang layo pa ng mararating mo. Nakakapanabik. Maging masaya at mapalad ka sa mga susunod na taon. (???)

Hindi ko na ma-take. I love you. Mabuhay ka.

Jari (Gianica lel)
SSC Delta Chi &
UP Manila Debate Circle

P.S. See you soon??? I have my gifts ready!