Mr. Jonathan Earle, Vice Consul of the American Embassy to the Philippines, delivers the keynote speech in Southville International School and Colleges' annual "Parade of Nations" on October 19, 2009 from 8:00-11:00 A.M. in its main gymnasium.

Vice Consul Earle, who was previously a long-time Peace Corps volunteer and a holder of an MBA in International Business, touched on the theme of the program, "Living and Learning in One World through the 5Cs," in his 20-minute speech in front of a crowd of over a thousand students, teachers, and guests in the Monarchs' Gymnasium of its main campus. The 5Cs, as it is collectively known in Southville, is the school's line-up of values integrated in all its activities, to wit: competence, character, collaboration, creativity, and commitment to achieve.

In his keynote, Vice Consul Earle affirmed his country's support for the promotion of cultural diversity and tolerance and encouraged the students to always be at their best regarding this endeavor.

The Parade of Nations traditionally opens the festivities for the school's International Week, which is timed to coincide with United Nations Day. In it, students dress up in the national costume of their assigned country for a grand parade with cultural presentations representing the 6 inhabited continents following thereafter.

Southville also announced that this year's Parade of Nations is meant to show support to the Millennium Development Goals of the United Nations with particular focus given to the continent of Africa. Students have prepared wishes for the problem-ridden continent which will then be attached to white balloons. These balloons will be released at the end of the program for a symbolic show of support to the disparaged people of Africa.