Pioneering Rector’s Cup aims to promote ‘academic debate’

The Aquinas University Debate Society (AUDS) successfully conducted the first Rector’s Cup Finals debate at the Daragang Magayon Hall, August 28, in a pioneering move which the organizers vow to continue in the following years.

The event was organized by AUDS’ Aaron Marc Dimaano, Roger Abitria IV, and Fritzie Monilla. It was sponsored by the Office of the Rector and President, Student Affairs, and the Department of Languages, Literature, and Humanities of the College of Arts, Sciences and Education (CASE).

“We wish to spread the culture of intellectual discussion through academic debating,” said AUDS Vice Premiere Roger Abitria IV.

The preliminaries were conducted earlier in August with teams coming from different colleges of the University. The selected teams subsequently advanced to the Finals.

“We want to send the message that debate is for everyone, not just for liberal arts or CASE students,” Abitria added.

The Finals, using the British Parliamentary debate format, was contested by four teams. The issue resolved was that a strict one-language policy be implemented in schools in the provinces. There were two teams for each side.

The Twin Towers team (Phoebe Kris Sison and Carmela Diane Doma) won the first place in the Finals. Team Four Eyes (Erika Pereña and Jay Patrick Cañezo), Non-Believing Pata Team (Charina Robles and Alfed Babasoro), and the Not-So-Great Blood team (Louie Belgica and Luis Villanueva) won the second, third, and fourth places, respectively.

Phoebe Kris Sison (Twin Towers) was judged as the best debater, her teammate Carmela Diane Doma was second. The third best debater spot was shared by Charina Robles (Non Believing Pata Team) and Jay Patrick Cañezo (Team Four Eyes).

Abitria said the winners will be screened further before being part of the AUL Debate Team.

The debate was judged by College of Business Management and Accountancy Student Activity Coordinator Prof. Milagros Atutubo; CASE Prof. Leila Aboga’ Secretary-General Engr. Virgilio S. Perdigon, Jr.; AUDS Minister of Education Fritzie Monilla; and AUL Phoenix Editor-in-Chief Roger Abitria IV.

Posted on: 08.28.2012