RecWeek ‘08 Commonly asked questions about the ADS, answered: So what exactly do you do in the ADS? Just debate? The ADS is a lot more than debate. We have three tracks open to applicants- debate, adjudication (judging) and administration (projects). You can sign up for any combination of the three. Is it hard to join the ADS? I heard you guys were really selective. While yes, there are a limited amount of slots for debate and adjudication, this year, we’re expanding membership and doubling the amount of slots for our debate and adjudication tracks. We like encouraging new talent, and as much as possible, we want to be able to help train each one of you who apply. Slots are not limited for administration track, and the only requirement is a desire to work hard. J Do you have to be a former debater to debate in the ADS? Not at all! All you need to show us is an ability to think logically and an ability to express yourself, and we’ll help you work on the rest. But I heard joining the ADS was like adding on another subject. Don’t you guys train till late at night? Training pool training (which is everyone’s initial entry point into the organization) is once a week, Wednesdays from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm. That’s not so bad isn’t it? So what are the perks of being in the ADS? The ADS promises world-class debate training. We promise to do our best to help turn you guys into the best debaters you can be. Additionally, if you make varsity, you get to compete nationally and internationally, and go against people from all over the world. So join the ADS! It’s a great opportunity and a whole lot of fun.
For the 53 JOURNALISTS murdered For the 58 ACTIVISTS abducted
For the 168 FARMERS left landless
For the 2,461 HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS neglected
For the 100,000 VOTES cheated
For the SIX BILLION PESOS stolen FOR THE LITTLE HOPE EXTINGUISHED For the bottomless APATHY
For the eternal DISILLUSIONMENT
For the absolute SHAME Caused on the future heirs of the Country For what is JUST
For what is RIGHT
For what is DEMOCRATIC FOR WHAT WE DESERVE. Because the Arroyo Administration must be RESPONSIBLE for all these, WE MUST PROTEST.
Regardless of where you're studying
WEAR THE GREEN RIBBON
at your Graduation.
THE GREEN RIBBON PROJECT
FOR CHANGE.
Why We Should Call for Arroyo's Resignation We have achieved moral certainty that there is enough basis to call for resignation. | NBN-ZTE deal | | There is an obvious, deliberate attempt to hide truth from the public about the anomalous circumstances surrounding the ZTE contract. Despite testimonies by Jun Lozada and Joey de Venecia pertaining to direct involvement of the President and by FG, Malacanang's only response was to invoke EO 464 and refuse to disclose records of the ZTE deal. | | Hello Garci | | Comelec officials have not been punished for glaring anomalies in the last presidential elections. Despite evidence showing Arroyo intervening by talking to a Comelec Commissioner, and an admission from Arroyo herself of doing so, justice still has not been served. | | Extrajudicial killings | | The administration has not answered for its involvement and continues to coddle implicated personalities like Gen. Palparan. International institutions, such as Amnesty International, have condemned the administration for, at the least, gross negligence resulting to the deaths of hundreds. | | Other unanswered anomalies | | The Fertilizer Fund scam, perpetrated by Jocjoc Bolante, where funds were diverted to Arroyo's 2004 campaign. The North Rail project, wherein the Philippine government purportedly lost hundreds of millions of pesos on an overpriced contract. The Telecoms Franchise Bill, where FG allegedly asked for a 50-million peso bribe for the President to lift her veto. | Moral certainty is different from legal certainty. | Demanding evidence to meet legal certainty falls prey to the rhetoric of the Arroyo administration. Clearly, the law was framed to enable trust in the government by its people. In this situation, that trust has been breached. Legal certainty is not the absolute barometer for deciding when people should engage in protest action against a specific regime. Moral repugnance justifies a call for new, more credible leadership. | Meaningful reform is impossible under the Arroyo administration. | Efforts to institute reform have been co-opted. The Ombudsman is appointed by the administration and is perceived to be largely pandering to Arroyo's interest. The DOJ is run by Raul Gonzalez, who has proven to be extremely loyal to Arroyo. Laws like the anti-plunder law and institutions like the PAGC have been unable to hold the administration and its officials to task. | | The current corruption problem is not a problem of legislation. While the existing laws are essential, and proposed ones like the Access to Information Bill can empower the citizenry in their desire to improve government accountability, they need to be accompanied by public confidence in the government's commitment and willingness to implement them. Corruption is an issue of leadership. Massive distrust in the highest official signifies that government is no longer perceived as effective in discharging its duties. This negativity only harms the nation in the long-run. | The logic that we should wait for other people to make up their minds or come out with more evidence is erroneous. | This is a chicken and egg argument. If we all take a lead, it becomes easier for institutions, like the CBCP, to heed our call. It also becomes easier for people with pertinent information to come out. | The potential ineptitude of the succeeding administration is not an excuse to allow an illegitimate regime to stay in power. | Should Noli de Castro become the President, the challenge is for the citizenry not to disengage simply because they achieved the goal of Arroyo's resignation, which was civil society's folly post-EDSA 2. | A military takeover will not necessarily follow from a call for resignation. | There was no military takeover when calls were made for Estrada to resign. | | Military adventurism has never worked without popular support, as evidenced by Oakwood and Manila Peninsula. | We believe that the removal of the Arroyo administration presents a crucial opportunity to institute reforms and changes to which this current administration has been deaf. A call for resignation is not only constitutional, but more importantly, moral.
Hello everyone, PSDC just finished and we're still a little high on the experience but before all the jitters fade away, I'd like to thank lots of people who have been commited in working hard to help bring together a great tournament everyone enjoyed. To the Volunteers (varsity/non- var/admin/ friends/friends- of-friends/ etc): Thank you sooooooo much for being there and helping us during rounds, running errands, serving food, herding people, and doing the random things we forget. OrgComm would have fallen apart without you all. *tighthug* To the ADS Varsity and Alumni: Thanks for being around to support, adj, help out, and make the tournament look very ADSy. I'm sure the kids felt the prestige and seriousness of the Tournament. :) To the Adj Core: Thank you soooo much for being the very efficient team that you were. Thank you Miko, for keeping everything together during those 3 crucial days! :) To the Tab Team: Thanks so much for putting up with the freezing room and staying there all day in order to give us fast tabs and for troubleshooting when it got messy. (Jaime/Jonathan/ Anna/Dale) To the OrgComm: Thank you Claude and Jhoanna for being my super heroes. you know why. :) Thank you Steph and Margie for being all around everythings that i cannot live without. Thank you Dani for keeping me calm and for being the geisha represent. Thanks for the support and help in everything. Thanks Ces and Ely for the the beautiful socials. :) Thank you Paula for being so patient and hardworking and dedicated with everything for psdc. Thank you David for doing Tab. I love you forever. Thanks James and Cris for the tarps even if they were on short notice. Thanks Ice for the layouts. Thank you Malien/Darren for being the best photographer ever! Thank you to the hosts of the Social Dinners, Leloy, Berna, and Gica. :) Thank you Bert for swinging forever. Thank you Chars for the support and for pushing us to make the best out of this event. :p I keep saying that i would have died without everyone but its true and I'd like to acknowledge everyone who helped even in the smallest way possible. PSDC wouldnt have turned out the way it did without you all. If i missed anyone, im sorry. you know we love you and we are thankful! :) On behalf of the PSDC OrgComm, thanks to everyone who helped make this possible!!! Missy Ansaldo IV-AB Economics KAF-Philippine Schools Debate Championship Convenor
Hi guys! You're all invited to go to our 2nd semester GA, next wednesday- Nov. 21, 2007, 4:30-6:00. Venue TBA. Things We'll Discuss: - Debate Tryouts
- Varsity Accreditations
- New and Improved Non-Varsity Training
- Admin Superproject (Australs 2008)
Please be there! It is REQUIRED for each member of the ADS. If you cannot make it, please inform Dani or Berna by the 19th. Dani: 09178079314 Berna: 09196265128
ADS WINS ITS 7TH NATIONAL DEBATE TITLE | Beating more than 130 teams from more than 30 colleges and universities from around the country, the ATENEO DEBATE SOCIETY has won its seventh national title in the recently concluded ninth National Debate Championships. The tournament was held in the Philippine Military Academy from October 22 to 28. The final round was a battle between Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines Diliman. ADMU-C and ADMU-A were on the Affirmative side while UPD-B and UPD-C were on the Negative side of the motion This House is Willing to Pay the Price for Relaxing Anti-Terror Laws to Empower Social Activism Against the Arroyo Government. Emerging victorious was ADMU-A, composed of Michael Biscocho (III BS ME) and freshman Angelica Simone Mangahas (I BS Ch-MSE). Biscocho was also proclaimed the best speaker in the final round and for the whole tournament, while Mangahas followed closely at second. In ADMU-C were Pauline Gairanod (II AB PoS) and Stephanie Co (IV BS Psy), who was ranked sixth best speaker in the tournament. Two other ADS teams competed in the finals series. Semi-finalist team ADMU-B was composed of Jasmine Cruz (II BS Mgt) and Eleanor Zosa. A student of cultural anthropology, Zosa tied as sixth best speaker. In the Octo-finals, Vincenzo Tagle (II AB Eco) and Danielle de Castro (III AB PoS) debated for ADMU-D. The rest of the debate teams successfully broke through the elimination rounds. Awarded Best Rookie Team, ADMU-F with Eliza Diaz (IV AB Eu) and Shiveena Parmanand (I AB Psy) ranked 11th . Following closely at 12th was ADMU-G, composed of Joseph James Alcantara (IV AB SoS) and Stephanie Poon (III BS Psy). ADMU-H, composed of Mikhail Errol Albano (I AB Hum) and Cecile Danica Gotamco (I AB PoS), ranked 23rd . At 29th was ADMU-I with Faith Raagas (IV BS Mgt) and Hernando Betita III (IV BS ME). ADMU-E remained potent at 30th with Adrian Clarc Mundin (III BS ME) and Darren Chester Cheng (II BS ME). Other strengths of the contingent were its judges led by the Chief Adjudicator, Sharmila Parmanand (AB PoS '07), who was the tournament's top adjudicator. Beating some members of the tournament's own Adjudication Core, Lisandro Elias Claudio (AB Com '07) and Kip Oebanda (MA Eco) were the first- and second-ranked non-Core adjudicators. Charisse Borromeo (IV BS ME) ranked fourth and went on to judge the quarter-finals. Patricia Hernandez (IV AB Meco) placed ninth, while Bernadette Marie Angangco (III AB PoS) and Gayle de Leon (II BS ES) also broke to judge the Octo-finals. As Ateneo debaters filled all the rooms, the Ateneo adjudicators could not go on to judge the final rounds. Once again, the ATENEO DEBATE SOCIETY demonstrates its dominance in the Philippine debate circuit. With a stellar performance from the entire contingent, the ADS's continues its commitment to being the best, most-awarded debate institution in Asia. To impart excellence to the next generation, the ADS will host the 6th Philippine Schools Debate Championship, the country's largest and most prestigious national high school debate tournament, from the 7th to the 11th of November.
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| More pictures can be found at http://ateneodebatesociety.multiply.com |
November 6, 2007
Check-in of stay-in delegates
November 7, 2007
Registration, adj test, debating seminar and opening dinner
November 8, 2007
Round 1-4 of preliminary rounds
November 9, 2007
Round 5-7 of preliminary rounds, Public Speaking Semifinals, Break Night Party
November 10, 2007
Octos & Quarterfinals, Semifinals & Finals, Public Speaking Finals, Champions Dinner
November 11, 2007
Check-out of stay-in delegates
We're sorry for the inconvenience; ADMU wanted no activities on Sunday to make room for their room cleaning (as school will start on the Monday after PSDC). Thank you!
 | LIFELINE | Aug 12, '07 9:15 PM
for everyone |
Most Filipinos Have No Access To Essential Medicines Costs are 40 - 70% Higher on Average than Other Asian Countries (Ranked 2nd next to Japan) Foreign Drug Companies Control 70 - 80% of the Local Pharmaceutical Market and Dictate Drug Prices in the Country Hear How Our Legislators Aim to Solve This Problem Lifeline: A Debate on the Senate Proposed Cheaper Medicine Bill is the First of a Series of Chamber Debates by the Ateneo Debate Society. Lifeline is in coordination with the Economics Department. August 17, 2007 (Friday) 430 - 600 pm Social Science Case Study Room Loyola Schools, Ateneo de Manila University Discuss. Discern. Decide. Join Us.
| Debaters Tackle Peace Talks with MILF | | By Jesus Llanto | | | Should the government suspend the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front as a result of the beheading of 10 Marine soldiers in Basilan? This timely question was the proposition in the first round of “The Philippine Debating Championship” last night, which featured debaters from the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) for the government or affirmative side and Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) for the opposition or the negative side. WMSU’s Meryl Agudelo and Analy Estores said peace talks should be suspended because it “will give undue legitimacy to the MILF” and “would encourage other groups to use violence.” The affirmative side argued that the involvement of MILF in the beheading of the soldiers who were in Basilan to rescue abducted Italian priest Fr. Giancarlo Bossi is a sign of the group’s insincerity in talking peace. Estores added that continuing the peace talks will give short-term solutions only and the MILF’s threat of violence will give them undue power during the negotiation. Meanwhile, ADMU’s Sharmila Parmarand and Charisse Borromeo said that there is a need for “a more calibrated response” since “there are some factions of the MILF that are open for peace talks.” The negative side said that suspending the peace talks would push the group in the wrong direction and would have serious implications not only on the economy of Mindanao but also on the whole country. Borromeo added that disarmament would take a long process since “you cannot expect the MILF to trust the government immediately and to abandon their secessionist ideology.” ADMU, the negative side, won last night’s round with Borromeo cited as the best speaker. Judges said it is important to recognize the diversity of the MILF as a group and the presence of splinter groups within the organization. ADMU and WMSU are among 16 universities competing to be the Philippine representative to the 2008 World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC) to be held from December 27,2007 to January 5, 2008 at the Assumption University in Thailand. Other participating universities include the University of the Philippines-Diliman, UP-Manila, De La Salle University, College of St. Benilde, University of Santo Tomas, University of Baguio, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Ateneo de Davao University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, San Beda College, UP-Baguio, Xavier University, Mindanao State University and Lyceum of the Philippines. The Philippines has not won the championship in the WUDC. The WUDC is the largest debating tournament in the world. It was first held in 1981 at the University of Glasgow in Scotland and uses the British Parliamentary format.
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The Philippine Debating Championship airs every Wednesday 8-9 p.m, starting August 1 until November 21, at ANC’s Square Off. |
Congratulations to the new admin track members! | Criselle Santiago | Joan Medalla | | Ama Cabason | Jonathan Chu | | Ana Betita | Maridi Dalafu | | Ana Lacanlalay | Mica Pena | | Beryl Li | Mico Rojas | | Biboy Alimangohan | Mira Ramirez | | Camille Rae Lim | Nirvana Sana | | Carlo Agdamag | Paula Atun | | Danica Tan | Peep Warren | | Dongwoo Lee | Pia Pena | | Faith Sta. Anna | Princess Celestino | | Frances Pabilane | Reg Balido | | Ice Lacsamana | Rose Joy Smith | | Jed Gregorio | Seo Young | | | Stephen Seng |
Congratualations to the new batch of ADS debaters! | Airone Vargas | Jason Baltao | | Alex Pablo | Jonathan Chu | | Ana Betita | Katrina Pecson | | Biboy Alimangohan | Kim Buñag | | Camille Rae Lim | Leiron Martija | | Ces Gotamco | Liz Diaz | | Em Cruz | Michael Pasco | | Erika Hoffman | Miguel Bantigue | | Ernesto Sibal | Mikki Albano | | Faye Gonzalez | Nathan Santos | | Gica Mangahas | Patrick Cocabo | | Giovanna Vera | Peep Warren | | Ice Lacsamana | Pico Ruiz | | Irisa Wassmer | Shiveena Parmanand | | Jamina Jugo | Stephanie Sy | | Victor Tañedo |
  Seventeen Magazine in its June issue features the Ateneo Debate Society as Ateneo de Manila University's best.
| ATENEO DEBATE SOCIETY 6-TIME ASIAN DEBATE CHAMPIONS
| | May 17, 2007 – Ateneo Debate Society (ADS) celebrates its sixth consecutive Asian title as this year's winners of the Asian Universities Debating Championships. The tournament, which ran from May 9 to 17, was hosted by the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) in Bandung, Indonesia. Thirty institutions sixty debating teams, one hundred eighty three debaters, and seventy one adjudicators from all across Asia participated in the event. |  AdMU-A wins AUDC ‘07
| | It was in the hurried bus ride to Jakarta Soekarno Hatta International Airport that the champion team of AdMU – A, composed of Sharmila Parmanand (AB PoS '07),Lisandro Elias Claudio (AB Com '07), and Roland Glenn Tuazon (AB Com '07), received the news of their victory. On the Grand Finals motion This House Believes That the West should respect the personal laws of its minorities, the team won against the team B of the National University of Singapore (NUS) in a unanimous decision from the finals adjudication panel. Claudio was proclaimed best speaker of the round. Tuazon was named overall Best Speaker of the tournament. Parmanand was tied at third with the semifinalist speakers of AdMU – B, composed of Kip Oebanda (MA Eco), Danielle Siegfried Corpuz (AB PoS '06), and Michael Biscocho (III BS ME). Claudio placed tenth on the list. AdMU – A and AdMU – B broke first and second respectively into the octo-finals. AdMU – C, composed of Pauline Marie Gairanod (II AB PoS), Danielle de Castro (III AB PoS), and Jasmine Cruz (II BS ME), ranked at seventeen, AdMU – D, composed of Michael Victoriano (II AB Com), Vincenzo Tagle, Jr. (II AB EcoH), and Joseph James Alcantara (IV AB SoS), at twenty two, and AdMU – D, composed of Alyza May Taguilaso (II BS Bio), Claude Lorenz Gomez (III BS ME), and Dan Nicholas Le Blanc (III BS ME), at thirty two. | | 
| | The adjudicators likewise contributed to the success of the ADS contingent. Stephanie Co (IV BS Psy), a Deputy Chief Adjudicator, was awarded second best adjudicator of the tournament and judged the quarterfinals and the E-for-L (English as a Foreign Language) finals. Jessica Cocabo (II BS MAC) ranked sixth and judged the quarterfinals as well as the E-for-L finals. Patricia Andrea Hernandez (IV BS MEco) ranked eighteenth and was qualified to judge the quarterfinals. Faith Marie Therese Raagas (IV BS Mgt) and Bernadette Marie Angangco (III PoS) also went on to judge the E-for-L semifinals and finals respectively. This victory serves as the continued recognition in the Asian region of Ateneo Debate Society's the tradition of excellence. Currently, preparations are underway for the July 2007 AustralAsian Debate Championships (Australs) in Malaysia. The ADS will also be bidding to host this tournament in 2008, inviting institutions from around Asia, Australia, and New Zealand to experience Filipino hospitality at its finest on the Ateneo de Manila University grounds.
The Ateneo Debate Society is proudly supported by
the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co.
and the Ateneo de Manila University.
For more pictures of ADS in Bandung, Indonesia for AUDC, click here.
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| Why we should still care | | 
| by Leloy Claudio Ateneo Debate Society (ADS)
Ateneo de Manila University Batch 2007 Valedictorian | | I dislike a lot of things in Ang Kapatiran's platform and a lot of what they stand for. For one, I think their conservative insistence on imposing Natural Family Planning on everyone is abhorrent – a blanket imposition of questionable religious beliefs (many Christian theologians approve of artificial family planning) to a secular public. I'm also not very impressed with the way they talk about issues. They moralize instead of analyze and abstract instead of engage. To be fair, there are issues they talk about with precision and clarity (i.e. when Dr. Martin Bautista talks about our debt problem), but, by and large, they have the tendency to sound like the trapos they love to criticize. In a debate which my organization, the Ateneo Debate Society, hosted, I saw the Kapatiran members get outshined by the intelligence and precision of Rep. Alan Cayetano (someone people should definitely vote for). Despite all my misgivings, however, I don't think it would be wrong to vote for Kapatiran. In fact, they might actually be good for the Senate. They seem honest, well-intentioned, and selfless. They've achieved a bare minimum that people like Mike Defensor, Butch Pichay, Richard Gomez, Tito Sotto, or Chavit Singson haven't. Voting for people based on a bare minimum standard is something we do in a country like the Philippines. This is simply because, as everybody knows, most politicians suck. One of the reasons why it's so hard to focus on platforms is because, half the time, we're trying to make sure the candidate we're considering is not a jueteng lord. Certainly, there's something wrong. And we get a greater sense of how wrong things are when we compare ourselves to other countries. Many times, I entertain a sense of colonial mentality and compare the Philippine political system to the one in the U.S. In America, there are two parties, and it is easy to differentiate them based on issues. The Democrats are more socially liberal and more predisposed to a welfare/nanny economics, while the Republicans are more socially conservative and tend to love the free market more. If one were to place Kapatiran in the American political spectrum, they'd probably be Republican. And if I were an American, I'd be a card-carrying Democrat and would never dream of voting in Republicans. But, since I'm in the Philippines, I'm willing to vote for people on the other side of the political spectrum simply because they're honest. No wonder many of us become jaded and decide to withdraw. We don't pick up the papers, we don't lobby, we don't vote, etc. We just stop caring. Or, we care, but we care in other ways. At the end of the day, however, I think our frustration with the way things are should not get in the way of the bigger picture. National politics is important, and we cannot give up on it no matter how bad it gets. We have the power to change things, so it is incumbent upon us to respond. The system is not bad because there are stupid poor voters who don't know what's best for the country. This bigotry must be ended in favor a view that recognizes our (the middle and upper classes) complicity in the creation and maintenance of this system. Upon recognizing this complicity, we should also recognize that it is within our capacity to reverse what we have done. Trapos are trapos because our own families, schools, fraternities, etc. have bred them. If we seek culture changes in these institutions and if we ourselves imbibe these changes, the system will give. Trapos are also trapos because we have let them get away with pillaging the country, and, at times, even benefited from their pilferage. If we are vigilant against them and if we communicate this vigilance, they will eventually give. Trapos are trapos because some of us opt to join their ranks. If we are vigilant about ourselves, we will also give. Change can happen, and change is already happening. People like our own Danton Remoto, parties like Kapatiran, and civil society networks like Volunteers for Clean Elections (VforCE) are evidence of this. They are part of a broader process of reworking the system. The change in this system is happening through a large-scale culture change. Culture changes, however, accrue gradually and one can neither directly see nor measure these changes. This is very different from the wonderful community work which a lot of us have been used to. Building houses for poor people, for instance, is immediate gratification because you get to see how communities get uplifted rather quickly. Changing the political system, however, is a different ball game. But this doesn't mean it won't have effects. A more transparent national government, for example, would be one which people could more easily hold accountable for acts of corruption (this is why the ADS, for example, will lobby for a freedom of information act). And, as many of you know, the Philippines would be a lot richer if our money didn't go to our “public servants.” To rephrase this in the form of a challenge: people are stealing your money, are we just going to sit there and let them? Hopefully we don't. So what can you do? Allow me to close with a couple of concrete suggestions: 1) Vote. 2) Inform yourselves about candidates and tell people about those who you think should make it and should not make it to office. As I mentioned, I'm a Cayetano fan (please write his complete name, Alan Cayetano, on the ballot). 3) Find ways to guard yours and other people's votes. Join VforCE (http://vforce.multiply.com). 4) Know about political issues even when it's not election time. Just because it's not voting time, doesn't mean you can't lobby. 5) Demand that television networks educate people about political issues through writing them. Watch and support the smart ones; boycott and complain about the dumb ones. 6) Love your country. Okay, that's not concrete, but it's what's most important. Leloy, representing the Ateneo Debate Society (ADS), is a two-time Asians champion, two-time National Debate Championships (NDC) champion, Australasians Intervarsity Debating Championships (Australs) Finalist, 5th Best Speaker in Australasia, and World Universities Debating Championships (WUDC) Quarterfinalist. On May 10-17, 2007, he and the rest of the ADS contingent will defend the organization's title as Asian Champions for the sixth consecutive year at the Asian Universities Debating Championships in Bandung, Indonesia. |
April 25, 2007;
9:00am-12nn - The Ateneo Debate Society, in collaboration with the
Junior Chamber International Senate Metro Manila and UP Debate Society,
hosted the DB8 '07: The Senatorial Debate for First Time Voters in the
Henry Lee Irwin, S.J. Theater, Ateneo de Manila University.
Senatorial
candidates from the full Philippine political spectrum were invited to
discuss four key issues: environment, peace and order, socio-economic
policy, and each of their future legislative agenda. Martin D.
Bautista, Zosimo Jesus M. Paredes II and Adrian O. Sison represented
Ang Kapatiran. Sonia C. Malasarte-Roco of Aksyon Demokratiko and Alan
Peter S. Cayetano of Nacionalista Party represented the coalition of
the Genuine Oppositon. Other invited candidates were unable to be
present that morning.
A panel of
moderators was also invited to engage the candidates. There were Atty.
Michael T. Toledo, a TV news anchor for ABC 5 and former Presidential
Spokesman; Ms. Rina Jimenez-David, a columnist for the Philippine Daily
Inquirer and president of ABANSE! Pinay;Mr. Guillermo M. Luz, executive
vice-president of the Ayala Foundation and secretary-general of the National Movement for
Free Elections; Ms. Maria Theresa A. Grajo from the UP Debate Society;
and ADS's very own Sharmila A. Parmanand (AB/MA PoS '07), former
Vice-president for training and president of Ateneo Harvard Project for
Asia and International Relations Union. |
Cayetano responds to the issue he chose.
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| The
discussion that morning served to provide an important insight into the
senatorial candidates present. In the debate proper, each candidate was
given particular questions regarding topics presented. Afterwards,
through the panelists, additional inquiries were made to clarify their
stances and motivations with respect to their plans as legislators. |
With
first time voters in mind, the audience was also treated to the
different primary experiences of both candidates and panelist to
national elections. Encouragement was given to the importance of
participation and the value inherent in every citizen who is given that
ability to vote. Likewise, reminders were given as regards to
individual attitudes and the security of one's vote in the coming
election.
For the Ateneo Debate
Society, this event is an essential step in nurturing members of
society, particularly the youth, the culture of political maturity,
critical thinking, and active participation. All these, the
organization believes, are primary components in building a stronger
democracy for the country. More pictures from the said event. Click here.
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 Organizers and participants pose for a group photograph
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A Capstone to the School Year that Ended
|
The
Ateneo Debate Society (ADS) ends the school year feted with different
accolades. The Loyola Schools (LS) Awards gave the coveted plum of
being the Most Outstanding Student Group to the
organization. With the expansion of the Debate Education Program and
constantly winning tournaments both locally and internationally, the
award serves as “icing on the cake,” says Roland Glenn Tuazon (AB Com
'07), ADS president, “as it is recognition of the ADS's consistency and
its constant effort to expand the spheres of its advocacies.”
But
apart from such successes, the end of the year marks, as well, the
graduation of six of its varsity members – Lisandro Claudio (AB Com
‘07), Ramon Fuentebella (AB MEco ‘07), Marcia Czarina Medina (AB SoS
‘07), Sharmila Parmanand (AB/MA PoS ‘07), Kristel Francine Tiu (AB Psy
‘07) and Roland Glenn Tuazon. The ADS takes pride in the achievement of
these individuals who have made their mark not just within the
organization but in their different endeavors.
Academic Excellence
True to ADS's reputation of being a hotbed of some of the brilliant
minds in the Ateneo de Manila University, this year's graduates are no
different. Among the seven short-listed candidates for valedictorian,
four were members of the ADS – Claudio, Fuentebella, Medina and Tuazon.
In the end, Claudio was proclaimed valedictorian.
Apart
from this, Medina and Fuentebella were honored with Departmental Awards
by the Sociology and Anthropology and Economics Department
respectively. Likewise, Tuazon won the Best Research Thesis award from
the Communication Department.
Debate Excellence
Academics
aside, these six have contributed to the success of ADS in the years
they competed for the organization. Ranging from local competitions
such as the National Debate Championships to the most prestigious, the
World Universities Debating Championships, these individuals have given
ADS much to be proud of with strong showings in various debate
championships.
These six individuals are only testaments to the excellence that has been the heritage of the Ateneo Debate Society.
|
Did you know? |
Lisandro Claudio |
Two-time Asians champion, Two-time NDC champion, Australs Finalist, Worlds Quarterfinalist, 5th Best Speaker in Australasia |
Ramon Fuentebella |
Two-time NDC Octofinalist, JPES Debates Grand Finalist |
Marcia Czarina Medina |
AUDC
Semifinalist, University of Sto. Tomas Intervarsity Debates
Semifinalist, National Ombudsman Debate Championships Semifinalist,
IIDC Quarterfinalist, Ombudsman Regional (NCR) Debates Champion, 7 th
NDC Quarterfinalist, 6th NDC Octofinalist |
Sharmila Parmanand |
Two
-time Asians Champion, Two-time NDC Champion, Two-time Best Debater in
the Philippines, Austral-asian Finalist, UST and DLSU IVs Champion,
Worlds Octofinalist, Chief Adjudicator of upcoming NDC, Chief
Adjudicator of European-Commission-Office of Ombudsman National
Championships ‘06 |
Kristel Francine Tiu |
NDC 2004 Quarterfinalist, Asians 2004 Octofinalist, CSB IV Semifinalist |
Roland Glenn Tuazon |
Asians
Grand-finalist, third best speaker in Asia, Best Speaker in the
Philippines (2005), three-time NDC finalist, Worlds Octofinalist, ESL
Semi-finalist, Five-time Debate Intervarsity Champion, ESU Public
Speaking Championships Runner-up (Philippines) |
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ADS Wins the Philippine Intercollegiate Debate Championship
– The Ninoy Aquino Cup |
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April 16, 2007 – The Ateneo Debate Society is the Grand Champion of the Philippine Intercollegiate Debate Championship – the Ninoy Aquino Cup. Hosted by the University of the Philippines-Diliman Debate Society, it was held on April 13-16, 2007 in Tarlac.
The Champion Team AdMU-A is composed of Sharmila Parmanand (MA/AB PoS '07) , Michael Biscocho (3 BS ME) and Lisandro Elias Claudio (AB Com '07) . Debating as the opposition on the motion This house believes that the youth's political maturity is ill-served by their generation's representatives in the print media , the team convincingly defeated UPD-A in the final round with a 5-2 vote of the adjudication panel. Claudio was proclaimed the Best Speaker of the Tournament with Parmanand (3 rd ) and Biscocho (4 th ) closely following suit. Biscocho was also named |
AdMU-A (L-R: Lisandro Elias Claudio, Michael Biscocho, Sharmila Parmanand) wins PIDC 2007.
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the Best Speaker of the Final Round.Teams AdMU-B, composed of Danielle de Castro (3 AB PoS), Pauline Marie Gairanod (2 AB PoS) and Jasmine Cruz (2 BS ME) , and AdMU-C, composed of Vincenzo Tagle (2 AB EcoH) , Adrian Clarc Mundin (3 BS ME) and Joseph James Alcantara (3 AB SoS) , broke to compete in the octo-finals. AdMU-D, composed of Kip Oebanda (MA Eco) , Chester Darren Cheng (2 BS ME) and Alyza May Taguilaso (2 BS Bio) , were ranked as the 20th team.
For the adjudicators, Stephanie Co (4 BS Psy) , a Deputy Chief Adjudicator, ranked third with Jess Lopez (AB PoS '05) at sixth and Wyndale Wong (4 BS CS) at ninth. With AdMU-A's Finals slot preventing their participation in the Finals, Co, Wong and Patricia Andrea Hernandez (4 AB MEco) adjudicated up to the semifinals, and Faith Raagas (4 BS Mgt) and Lopez up to the quarterfinals.
This particular accomplishment in the local debate scene is an important stepping stone towards the Asian Universities Debate Championships this coming May in Bandung, Indonesia. In keeping with its tradition of excellence, the ADS has already begun rigorous training in preparation to defend its title for the sixth consecutive year in the said international tournament. |
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From L-R: Chester Darren Cheng, Jess Lopez, Wyndale Wong, Lisandro Elias Claudio, Michael Biscocho, Sharmila Parmanand, Kip Oebanda, Patricia Hernandez, Stephanie Co, Faith Raagas, Alyza May Taguilaso, James Alcantara, Pauline Marie Gairanod, Jasmine Cruz, Danielle De Castro, Adrian Clarc Mundin and Vincenzo Tagle
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Senior Varsity Member Leloy Claudio (AB COM 2007) is ADMU Batch 2007 Valedictorian.
Fellow ADS varsity members Czarina Medina (AB SocSci 2007), Glenn Tuazon (AB COM 2007), and Ramon Fuentebella (AB MEco 2007) were also finalists for this award.
ADS Wins as Most Outstanding Student Group in 2007 LS Awards
ADMU A Leloy Claudio, Glenn Tuazon, and Jasmine Cruz (1 BS Mgt-H) are the DLSU-CSB Intervarsity Debate Championships Grand Champions in a successful title defense.
Leloy Claudio is the Best Speaker of the Tournament.
ADMU A Leloy Claudio, Sharms Parmanand (AB POS 2007), and Miko Biscocho (2 BS ME) win the Philippine Intercollegiate Debate Championship
The tournament was held at the Ninoy Aquino Convention Center in another successful national title defense. Leloy Claudio is the Best Speaker of the Tournament. Miko Biscocho is the Best Speaker of the Final Round. Wyndale Wong is the 3rd Best Adjudicator.
Snaps to everyone for a job well done, and a big thank you to everyone who helped make these achievements possible! Here's to another excellent year!
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