Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) and Accountancy and Business Management (ABM) debate teams clinched the top spots in the high school and college categories, respectively, at the inaugural President Victor C. Cañezo, Jr. Debate Cup. Organized by the An Lantugi Debate Society, the event concluded on November 29 at the university gymnasium, marking the successful comeback of the debate organization.

The dynamic exchange of arguments during the grand finals featured ABM and Junior High School A (JHS A) teams at the secondary level and SAS and School of Teacher Education (STEd) teams at the tertiary level.

In the high school category, ABM triumphed in the opposition team during the championship round, debating the motion, "This House believes that all students of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) like BiPSU should be made to sign a return service agreement as a precondition to their enrollment."

For the college category, SAS, on the opposition side, engaged in a heated discourse on the motion, "It's 2050 and Biliran Province's poverty index is high, environmental issues posed by mining operations and shopping malls continue to threaten the locality. X, a charismatic, young, high-achieving, passionate environmentalist who is also a local chief executive, is being secretly offered 10 billion pesos in exchange for allowing mining operations and factories in pursuit of greater urbanization. X is sure that if he accepts the money, he will be able to use it to significantly boost his existing platforms to alleviate poverty in the province. THBT X should accept the money."

In an interview, Kurt Roy A. Aposaga, the Prime Minister of the SAS debate team, expressed his happiness in their victory, saying, “Very happy and also, very fulfilled.”

He also stated that during the debate, focus was the only thing on his mind, as the competition would challenge one’s mentality. Further, Aposaga shared that he didn’t expect anything, as it would be disappointing if the events were not in his favor.

“I’m the type of person who does not expect because that would be disappointing if you didn’t get the expected outcome. I usually don’t expect anything. But I’m grateful that our hard work paid off. It’s not just me alone. It’s a team effort, and we did it together,” Aposaga said.

Winning coach Mrs. Desiree S. Dela Pena shared their preparation methods, focusing on matter-loading and speaking drills based on the given themes for each round. She stated, “Since themes were given before the preliminary round, matter-loading was really important in preparation for the debate. And also, [we] do speaking drills.”

The Top Best Speaker award for the college category was given to Jay Lawrence E. Pentado from STEd Naval, followed by Frances Negad from the School of Criminal Justice Education (SCJE) and Aposaga. Further, John Jedidia Maas from the School of Engineering (SOE), Crystal Mae L. Demate from the School of Nursing and Health Sciences (SNHS), and Marianne Frances N. Juntilla from SAS finished in a three-way tie for the Top 4. Mark Lee B. Quijano from STEd Naval and Kristian Ed C. Nartea from the School of Agriculture and Fishery (SAF) settled as the Top 7, and another three-way placement for the Top 9 was notched by Sychem Dela Pena from SNHS, Mary Rose M. Mullon, and Larry Anton A. Escalante, both from SAF.

For the high school category, Geuil May T. Lagariza from ABM received the Top Best Speaker award. Athena Alna Sañosa Supremo from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) secured the second position. Ethan Dale Benedict C. Salentes from JHS A and John Jade Francis C. Jadulco from ABM tied for the top 3. Lastly, Frances Cordero placed in the top 5.

The Top Best Adjudicator for the college level was given to Clarisse Quiñones from the School of Agribusiness and Forestry Management (SAbFoRM), followed by Jyle Sabalones from SNHS and Gil A. Irinco from STEd Naval, who placed in the Top 2 and Top 3, respectively. John Rizzan Ecuacion from SCJE and Dexter S. Garcia tied for the 4th spot, while Jansen C. Solayao from the School of Technology and Computer Studies (STCS) settled on the 6th.

As for the high school category, Alistir R. Pacheco from Humanities and Social Studies (HUMS) won Best Adjudicator, followed by Wayne S. Luay, Jr. from JHS A, and Jolo S. Costelo from STEM, relishing the 2nd and 3rd spots, respectively.

Mr. Joedel O. Peñaranda, Director for Institutional Planning and an esteemed alumni of the debate society, expressed his delight in the successful return of the renowned debate society. He stated, “We feel happy because, finally, we are able to formalize our public speaking and critical thinking skills and advocacy. At the same time, we’re also privileged because not everyone is given the chance to do this, and this has remained one of our advocacies, being at a higher education institution, that everyone should stand up, speak up, and be heard.”

The An Lantugi Debate Society is back on its feet, ready to regain its former glory.

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