University of the Philippines Debate Society

UPDS hosts Fast Forward 2008
May 2008

Forty- two high school debaters were put to the test as they engaged in a battle of wits at the Fast Forward 2008 last May 2 to 3 at the School of Economics in UP Diliman.

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UP Diliman dominates PIDC 2008: The Sun Life Cup rankings
April 2008

Five out of UPDS' six teams placed in the top 16 teams of the Philippine Inter-collegiate Debating Championship 2008: The Sun Life Cup, which qualified them to compete in the Finals Series. With 5 teams, UP Diliman was the institution with the most number of teams in the Finals Series.

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Diliman teams rank in the top half of Worlds 2008
January 2008

All three of the UP Debate Society teams that competed in the 2008 World Universities Debate Championship in Thailand ranked in the top half of the tournament. UPD-A’s Claire Jiao (Journ) and Melissa Sayoc (Bus Econ), UPD-B’s Aaron Chan (Pol Sci) and Anna Arcellana (Bio), and UPD-C’s Kenneth Cardenas (Socio) and Yang Villa (Econ) ranked 70th, 139th, and 173rd respectively out of 396 teams from all over the world.

After a 3-year absence because of financial constraints, UPDS members were able to re-stake a presence in the prestigious international tournament and have come away with people’s renewed recognition of the University’s debating prowess.

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UPDS brings home silver and bronze from the 2007 Nationals
November 2007

The UP Debate Society bagged the first and second runners-up trophies at this year’s National Debate Championships held last October 21 to 27 at the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City. Two Diliman teams bested over 100 other teams from various schools across the country and secured two out of the four slots in the Grand Finals round. UPD Team B composed of Katherine Diaz (IV-Pol Sci) and Joanne Atienza (IV-Nutri) emerged from the deciding round with the silver, while UPD Team C composed of Anna Arcellana (II-Bio) and Aaron Chan (II-Pol Sci) took home the bronze. It was a team from Ateneo de Manila, however, that won the gold by a 5-3-1 split decision from the adjudication panel.

UPDS was one of the contingents with the most number of debate teams in the Top 32. After seven preliminary rounds, 8 of its 13 teams ranked in the roster, including UPD Team A composed of Claire Jiao (III-Journ) and Ma. Theresa Grajo (IV-BA) which ranked as the top qualifier for the Finals Series. They reached the quarterfinals along with another Diliman team composed of Florianne Jimenez (II-Comp Lit) and Alistair Zosa (I-BAA).

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Applicants Batac and Zosa win JDC; new UPDS members proclaimed
September 2007

U.P. Debate Society applicants-turned-new members Mark Batac and Alister Zosa won the 2007 Junior Debate Championship, the culminating debate tournament of the application process, held last September 8 at U.P. Palma Hall.

Debating as Opening Government on a motion on political asylum and extradition, the two bested 30 other applicants including finalists Carla Sia and Dominique Zeta (CO, 2 nd place), Bianca Deslate and Alfie Dulatre (OO, 3rd place) and Carlo Flores and Ana Rodriguez (CG, 4th place). Carla Sia was awarded Best Speaker of the Finals Round, while Alistair Zosa was Over-all Best Speaker.

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Diliman debaters emerge as champions of the UP System-wide Debate Intervarsities
September 2007

The U.P. Debate Society, the official debating organization of Diliman, bagged the championship at the U.P. System-wide Debate Intervarsities held last September 14-16 at U.P. Los Baños. Diliman debaters Richard Beltran (III-Pol Sci) and Ma. Theresa Grajo (IV-Bus Admin) bested the other teams from U.P. Manila, Iloilo, Los Baños, and Baguio. Grajo bagged the Best Speaker of the Finals and Best Over-all Speaker awards.

Diliman also dominated the Grand Finals making up two of the four teams in the deciding round, the other team being made up of Joanne Elizabeth Atienza (III-Nutri) and Claire Jiao (III-Journ).

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