UPDS brings home silver and bronze from the 2007 Nationals Jessica Hermosa | 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).
Not content with these achievements, UPDS members garnered individual awards as well. Jeross Aguilar (III-Public Ad) won 2nd in the impromptu public speaking category. In debate speaker scores, meanwhile, Grajo ranked as 2nd Best Speaker in the Philippines, Jiao as 5th Best Speaker, and Arcellana as 6th Best Speaker out of 264 debaters in the tournament.
UPDS dominated the judging roster as well with 9 of its adjudicators qualifying for the finals series: Tinka Herrera (III-Bus Econ), Mahonri Andaca (I-Polsci), Princess Jane Estacio (I-Econ), Ana Rodriguez (II-Philo), Nicolo Cabrera (alumnus), Joseph Nash (III-Econ), Paolo Bernardo (I-Philo), Alyanna Gonzales (II-BAA), and Nina Alquiroz (III-Econ). Gonzales emerged as the 6th Best adjudicator while Alquiroz ranked as the 9th Best Adjudicator, besting 100 other adjudicators.
After Nationals, UPDS is setting its sights on the upcoming Worlds Universities Debating Championships to be held in Thailand this December.
