An Analysis of Ateneo Debate Union's Standing Through the Years

An Analysis of Ateneo Debate Union’s

Standing Through the Years

An Appeal to the Administration for Subsidy Increase

Edited by:

CULAJARA, Kelvin J., ADU President

CALLETOR, Ruby Jane, Internal Vice President

ALCALA, Glenn William S., Finance Officer

Submitted to the following offices:

Dr. REBECCA V. FERNANDEZ, PhD

The Office of the Academic Vice President

Engr. STEVAN S. DIMAGUILA

The Office of Student’s Affairs

May 27, 2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS___________________________________

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Introduction 1 Finances 4 ADU through the years 6 Advocacy and Nation Building 15 ADU in the National Debate Arena 17 Union Debate Education Program 18 Platforms for the School year 2013-2014 19

ATENEO DEBATE UNION School Year 2013-2014

KELVIN J. CULAJARA President

RUBY JANE CALLETOR Internal Vice President

SHEENA MAE S. ALCALA

Union Secretary

KIM ARNOLD SENEREZ External Vice President

PJEY FIDEL

UDEP Coordinator

GLENN WILLIAM S. ALCALA Finance Officer

STEPHANIE TORIBIO Assistant Union Secretary

LAURENCE TORRES

Deputy UDEP Coordinator

Dr. REY REMOTIN, PhD Moderator

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A statement of petition jointly approved and signed by all permanent members

of the Ateneo Debate Union on May 27, 2013

RUBY JANE CALLETOR Internal Vice President, Permanent Status

PJEY FIDEL UDEP Coordinator, Permanent Status

STEPHANIE TORIBIO Assistant UDEP Secretary, Permanent Status

IBN KHALID LOZANO Permanent Status

ANGELICA MARIA FIDELIS CAMINS Permanent Status

SARAH GAIL C. GALVAN Permanent Status

ADRIEL EARL A. TORIBIO Permanent Status

SHEENA MAE S. ALCALA Union Secretary, Permanent Status

KIM ARNOLD SENEREZ External Vice President, Permanent Status

GLENN WILLIAM S. ALCALA Finance Officer, Permanent Status

LAURENCE TORRES Deputy UDEP Coordinator, Permanent Status

MILAROSE BARRACA Permanent Status

JUDEAN GRACE GALVEZ Permanent Status

FITZ VARIAN CAMAJALAN Permanent Status

KELVIN J. CULAJARA President, Permanent Status

Dr. REY REMOTIN, PhD Moderator

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_______________________________________________INTRODUCTION

he Ateneo de Zamboanga University has become a force to be reckoned in the field of Visayas and Mindanao debating. This claim can be proven by ADU’s consistent presence in the grand fi-

nals, and in the top ten debaters and top adjudicators slate in the Visayas-Mindanao Debate Cham-pionship (VMDC) and Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship (MPDC) and other notable re-gional and local competitions. Moreover, recent trends show that many debaters and adjudicators in their first to second years in ADU garner accomplishments and recognitions in the above-mentioned competitions which many contingents from other rival institutions strive for even as long as their fourth and fifth years in college. This shows that the Union never loses people within its helm who are of championship quality at relatively younger ages, and that there is sustainability in keeping this championship qual-ity through the years. Among some of the legends ADU produced within six years are the following individuals:

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Henry Segovia Champion, best speaker of the tournament and best speaker of the grand finals in the 2nd VMDC; Champion, best speaker of the tourna-ment and finals best speaker in MPDC; Grand finalist and best speaker in the 1st and 3rd VMDC, and was 2nd best speaker in the 4th VMDC; Grand finalist and second best speaker of the Philippines in the Square Off: The Philippine Debate Championship back in 2007.

Al-Zhoheir Hajim Champion, and one of the best speakers of the tournament in MPDC; Grand finalist, and was one of the best speakers of the tour-nament in several MPDCs; Grand finalist and was one of the best speakers in the 1st VMDC; Grand finalist and texters’ choice for best speaker in the Square Off: The Philippine Debate Championship back in 2007.

Espiridion Atilano One of the top ten best speakers in MPDC; Best adjudicator of Min-danao during the 23rd MPDC.

Marion Guerrero Five-time consecutive Public Speaking Champion in five MPDCs; 8th best speaker in MPDC.

Keeshia Alyanna Alix Grand-finalist and second placer in MPDC just during her second year in ADU; She was also one of the top ten best speakers in sev-eral VMDCs and MPDCs during her college years.

Myser Neil Sarigumba Champion and 4th best speaker of 2nd VMDC during his second year in ADU; Grand-finalist in the 4th VMDC; He was also a grand-finalist in the 22nd and 23rd MPDCs, respectively, and was renowned as one of the top ten best speakers of Mindanao in the 22nd MPDC.

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Adrian Uro Grand-finalist in the 22nd and 23rd MPDC, and was one of the top ten best debaters in both tournaments;

5th best speaker in the 21st MPDC;

Best adjudicator of the 6th VMDC;

Deputy Chief Adjudicator in the 26th MPDC.

Leyson N. San Juan Champion and 8th best speaker of Mindanao during the 24th MPDC;

He was also a grand-finalist during the 5th VMDC;

Furthermore, he was 5th best speaker in the 21st MPDC during his second year in ADU.

Kelvin J. Culajara Champion, 9th best speaker of Mindanao and best speaker of the grand finals in the 24th MPDC;

Grand-finalist in 4th VMDC;

Grand-finalist in 23rd MPDC.

Glenn William Alcala Champion and 9th best speaker of Mindanao during the 27th MPDC.

Sarah Gail Galvan Champion and 9th best speaker of Mindanao during the 27th MPDC.

Adriel Earl Toribio Grand finalist in the 5th VMDC;

9th best speaker of Mindanao in the 24th MPDC.

Ruby Jane Calletor Champion, 3rd best speaker, and best speaker of the grand finals in the 27th MPDC;

5th best speaker in the 26th MPDC;

One of the top five best adjudicators in the 2nd Zamboanga Debate Open.

Ridzanna Abdulgafur Best adjudicator of Visayas and Mindanao during the 5th VMDC;

2nd best adjudicator during the 1st Zamboanga Debate Open;

4th best adjudicator in the 24th MPDC.

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Furthermore, the Union is proud to present that many of its incumbent members are already established names in the local, Visayas and Mindanao debates. Of the nineteen (19) current mem-bers, the following are deemed to be most-notable in the field:

Glenn William Alcala

Champion and 9th best speaker of Mindanao, 27th MPDC;

Grand-finalist, 1st Zamboanga Debate Open;

One of the top ten best speakers in the 2nd Zamboanga Debate Open;

Semi-finalist in the 26th MPDC;

Quarter-finalist in the 5th and 6th VMDC.

Milarose Barraca

Quarter-finalist in 26th MPDC, and was 5th best speaker of the same tournament; Quarter-finalist in the 5th VMDC.

Ruby Jane Calletor

Champion, 3rd best speaker of Mindanao, best speaker of the grand finals, 27th MPDC;

Champion, best speaker of the tournament, best speaker of the grand finals, 1st Rookie Debate Cup;

5th best speaker of Mindanao, 26th MPDC;

One of the top five best adjudicators in 2nd Zamboanga Debate Open.

Angelica Camins

Semi-finalist in 26th MPDC;

Quarter-finalist in 6th VMDC.

Kelvin J. Culajara

Champion, 9th best speaker of Mindanao, best speaker of the grand finals, 24th MPDC;

Champion, best speaker of the tournament, 1st AdZU Intravarsities Debates;

Grand-finalist, 2nd VMDC;

Grand-finalist, 23rd MPDC;

Grand-finalist, best speaker of the tournament, best speaker of the grand finals, 1st WMSU Intravarsities Debates.

Pjey Fidel

Quarter-finalist in 5th VMDC and 26th MPDC;

Pre-Quarter-finalist in 26th MPDC;

One of the top five best adjudicators in 24th MPDC.

Sarah Gail Galvan

Champion and 9th best speaker of Mindanao, 27th MPDC;

Octo-finalist, 23rd MPDC;

Best adjudicator of the tournament, 1st WMSU Intravarsities De-bates.

Judean Grace Galvez

8th best adjudicator in the 6th VMDC.

Khalid Lozano

Grand finalist in 1st and 2nd Zamboanga Debate Open, respectively;

One of the top ten best speakers in the 2nd and 3rd Zamboanga De-bate Open, respectively;

Semi-finalist in 26th MPDC;

Quarter-finalist in 24th and 27th MPDC;

Quarter-finalist in 6th VMDC.

Kim Arnold Senerez

Quarter-finalist in 5th VMDC;

Pre-Quarter-finalist in 26th MPDC.

Earl Toribio

Grand-finalist, 5th VMDC;

Semi-finalist in 24th and 26th MPDC;

9th best speaker of Mindanao in 26th MPDC.

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The credentials prove that members of the Ateneo Debate Union remain to be some of the brightest and most feared contingents in competitive debating, and that the bid for championship for every competition is always possible.

________________________________________________THE FINANCES

t is important to note, however, that the Union has been unable to ensure consistent appear-ances of some of its top-caliber contingents in MPDC and VMDC because of insufficient registra-

tion and transportation subsidies every competition. Currently, ADU enjoys fifty thousand pesos (Php50,000) annual subsidy from the Office of Student’s Affairs. This means that per semester, we are allotted with twenty five thousand pesos (Php25,000) for our tournaments in each semester. However, the said budget barely meets substantially each debater and adjudicator’s needs to be able to afford to compete in a competition, especially when there are several out-of-town compe-titions per semester. Enumerated below are the competitions regularly attended by ADU each se-mester:

Each tournament, ADU aims to send at least four (4) teams, usually equivalent to sixteen in-dividuals composed of twelve (12) competing debaters and four (4) competing adjudicators. The ra-tionale behind this target is to increase chances of winning, because the number of teams can be a determinant of that winning leverage in any tournament. However, based on the ADU Constitution, only permanent members can avail of the privilege to be subsidized. Permanent members are those who have attained the highest form of membership in ADU by passing tests, interviews and mid-year evaluations from senior members. Among their rights and privileges are voting, issuing motions, enjoying financial subsidies, and many more. Other types of members in the Union are the entrant members (trainees) and auxiliary members (specially-invited member to join the Union in trainings). These other types do not enjoy the privileges and rights that are exclusively available to permanent members. They need to pass the same tests, re-quirements and other processes before they become permanent members in the Union. Out of sixteen (16) individuals sent by the Union, normally eight (or less) of them are perma-nent members. Given the Php50,000 annual budget, there is approximately Php16,667 allotted for each tournament and Php2,083 for each permanent member per tournament. The computation is presented below:

First Semester Second Semester

Visayas—Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship

Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Champion-ship—British Parliamentary Format

Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Champion-ship—Asian Parliamentary Format

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Annual budget from Office of Student’s Affairs Php50,000 Divide by number of regularly-attended tournaments:

VMDC MPDC-British Parliamentary Format MPDC-Asian Parliamentary Format ________3

Approximate budget per tournament Php16,667 Approximate budget per tournament Php16,667 Divide by normal number of permanent members per tournament 8 Approximate subsidy per permanent member per tournament Php2,083 It is important to note that tournament registration fees have been currently pegging to at least Php3,500 per competing debater and adjudicator, and that transportation costs amount to at least Php4,000 (roundtrip plane fare) per person. These estimated costs, along with the approxi-mate budget per permanent member leaves him with approximately Php5,417 to bear. The compu-tation is presented below: Estimated transportation cost (round trip) Php4,000 Estimated registration fee per tournament __ 3,500 Total estimated costs per competing debater or adjudicator Php7,500 Less approximate subsidy per permanent member per tournament __ 2,083 Expense to be personally incurred by each competing member Php5,417 With all honestly, paying Php5,417 from personal pockets per tournament is quite steep and financially draining as well. This is the very reason why ADU’s top-caliber debaters do not attend all tournaments per semester. In most cases, the decision to attend and compete per tournament is almost always a tough decision and sadly, many are forced to withdraw sometimes few days before the actual tournament because of financial constraints and sudden pressures to keep up with other needs like tuition fee payments, utilities and other bill payments, and many more. ADU believes that this case prevents its members to have constant exposure in these tourna-ments not only for personal improvement, but also to keep up with the trend and constantly-changing standards in parliamentary debating. We must say that constant exposure to tournaments is also essential not only to the members, but also to the high schools and colleges in Region 9 who are our clients in our social outreach program: The Union Debate Education Program. ADU believes that quality debate education needs experience and vast knowledge by its member-lecturers, and this can be possible when members are freer to join competitions with less financial hassles. Furthermore, ADU believes that the more competitions become inaccessible to many mem-bers, and the less teams and adjudication contingents it sends in each tournament, the less chances are there for ADU to place in the grand finals in each tournament. In a quick interrogation conducted to all members of the Ateneo Debate Union, they unani-mously agree that the greatest hindrance for them are keeping up with the financial demands in joining tournaments, and that they agree that if only there was enough subsidy to cover substantial proportion of the expense, they would agree to consistently participate in competitions.

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______________________________________ADU THROUGH THE YEARS

he Union understands that we have to establish credibility in order for our claims to hold water and the university to consider our request. Hence, we present this section to answer questions

that the university administration may have about our standing in the debate community and what have we done for the betterment of our community.

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Event Achievement

1996

1st Mindanao Invitationals

CHAMPION (Ateneo Debate Varsity)

1997

2nd Mindanao Invitationals

CHAMPION (Ateneo Debate Varsity)

4th All-Asians Debate Singapore

Best Rookie Team

Austral-Asians Debate

Highest Ranked Non-Metro Manila Team

2001

3rd Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship Father Saturnino Urios University, Butuan City

Quarterfinalist Felicia Agnetha Fernandez Joan Mae Saballero Magdy Abdullah Quarterfinalist Jefrey Blanza Jesus Siason, Jr. Austine Lim

4th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City

Grand Finalist Felicia Agnetha Fernandez Jefrey Blanza Grand Finalist Jesus Siason, Jr. Jenilee Awichen Semifinalist – Unrecorded 3 ADZU Teams

Ateneo Parliamentary Debate Challenge 2001

2nd Runner-up Felicia Agnetha Fernandez – 2nd Best Speaker Rossini Abbie Pasanting Joey Neil Canaya – 3rd Best Speaker

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2002

5th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City

Quarterfinalist Jesus Siason, Jr. Joan Mae Saballero Jenilee Awichen Breaking Adjudicator Magdy Abdullah

6th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship Dadiangas College, General Santos City

Semifinalist Joey Neil Canaya Jenilee Awichen Quarterfinalist Felicia Agnetha Fernandez Jefrey Blanza Quarterfinalist Gerardo Aniano Dimaguila Rossini Abbie Pasanting Quarterfinalist Ellery Ivan Apolinario Mark Bon Yu Non-competing Quarterfinalist Jesus Siason Austine Lim


CHAMPION Jesus Siason, Jr. Jefrey Blanza Joan Mae Saballero 6th Best Speaker Gerardo Aniano Dimaguila

2003

7th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship Iligan City

Quarterfinalist Venus Yu Omar Sana <unverified third person>

8th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship Marawi City

CHAMPION Joey Neil Canaya – Finals Best Speaker Mark Bon Yu Quarterfinalist Omar Sana – 7th Best Speaker Ian Clarito – 8th Best Speaker Top 5 Best Adjudicators Ruth Tabuniar

Worlds University Debating Championship 2003 Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Breaking Adjudicator Omar Sana

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2004

9th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship Surigao City

Semifinalist Joey Neil Canaya Mashod Gerardo Aniano Dimaguila

10th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Champion-

ship Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City

Finalist Gerardo Aniano Dimaguila – 2nd Best Speaker Joey Neil Canaya – 5th Best Speaker Quarterfinalist Alain Kris Jardin Al-Zhoheir Hajim Breaking Adjudicator Nur-warith Caluang


Best Speaker Gerardo Aniano Dimaguila

2005


ship Cagayan de Oro City

Semifinalist Henry Segovia – 8th Best Speaker Al-Zhoheir Hajim Quarterfinalist Ellery Ivan Apolinario Ador Morados Quarterfinalist Carmela Stephanie Hau Jerne Kaz Paber Quarterfinalist Paulo Joel Caperig Alain Kris Jardin Breaking Adjudicators Jenilee Awichen Joey Neil Canaya Jem Jamolod Juan Carlos Peña Jenny Rae Bernardo

2006


ship Davao City

Grand Finalist Henry Segovia – Best Speaker of the Tournament Alain Kris Jardin Ellery Ivan Jardin Best Adjudicator Felicia Agnetha Fernandez

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ship Butuan City

Grand Finalist Henry Segovia Alain Kris Jardin Grand Finalist Emillene Jean Torres Al Zhoheir Hajim Breaking Adjudicators Felicia Agnetha Fernandez Jamel Indasan

2007


ship

CHAMPION Henry Segovia – Best Speaker of the Tournament, Best Speaker of the Finals Emillene Jean Torres – 3rd Best Speaker Al Zhoheir Hajim – 7th Best Speaker Deputy Chief Adjudicator Felicia Agnetha Fernandez

2010 – 2011

22nd Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Champion-

ship Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City

ADZU A – Grand Finalists Myser Neil Sarigumba – 8th Best Speaker Adrian Uro – 6th Best Speaker ADZU B – Quarterfinalists Leyson San Juan Rey David Lim

4th Visayas-Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Cham-

pionship Siliman University, Dumaguete City

ADZU A – Grand Finalists Myser Neil Sarigumba Kelvin Culajara ADZU B – Quarterfinalists Leyson San Juan Adrian Uro ADZU C – Octofinalists Khalid Lozano Angelica Maria Fidelis Camins

1st Zamboanga Debate Open Brent Hospital and Colleges, Inc., Zamboanga City

3rd Best Speakers Adrian Uro Leyson San Juan 4th Best Speakers Joey Neil Canaya (alumnus) Espiridion Atilano, Jr. (alumnus) 5th Best Speaker Elery Ivan Apolinario (alumnus) Adriel Earl Toribio Best Adjudicator Ruth Tabuniar (Moderator)

2nd Best Adjudicator Ridzanna Abdulgafur 4th Best Adjudicator Rey David Lim Deputy Chief Adjudicator Myser Neil Sarigumba

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1st Ateneo de Zamboanga University Intervarisities Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City

ADZU A – Champion Myser Neil Sarigumba – Best Speaker Kelvin Culajara – Best Speaker ADZU B – Grand Finalist Leyson San Juan – 3rd Best Speaker Adrian Uro – 2nd Best Speaker ADZU C – Grand Finalist Ryan Joseph Murcia Glenn William Alcala – 2nd Best Speaker 4th Best Speakers Adriel Earl Toribio Sarah Gail Galvan

Ateneo de Zamboanga University Recognition Day Most Outstanding Organization Community Service Award Recipient

2011 – 2012

5th Visayas-Mindanao Debate Championship Brent Colleges, Inc., Zamboanga City

ADZU A – Grand Finalist Leyson San Juan Adriel Earl Toribio ADZU B – Quarterfinalist Kelvin Culajara Glenn William Alcala 1st Best Adjudicator Ruth Tabuniar 2nd Best Adjudicator Ridzanna Abdulgafur

1st Rookie Debate Cup Brent Colleges, Inc., Zamboanga City (hosted by Ateneo Debate Union)

ADZU E – CHAMPION Ruby Jane Calletor – Best Speaker of the Tournament and Best Speaker of the Finals Donna Gemperoso ADZU C – Grand Finalist Irvin Hermosa Kim Arnold Señerez – 5th Best Speaker 2nd Best Speaker Pjey Fidel 4th Best Speaker Marcelle Collado 6th Best Speaker Judean Grace Galvez

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ship Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City

ADZU A – CHAMPION Leyson San Juan – 8th Best Speaker Kelvin Culajara – 9th Best Speaker ADZU B – Semifinalist Rey David Lim Adriel Earl Toribio – 9th Best Speaker ADZU E – Quarterfinalist Khalid Lozano Angelica Maria Fidelis Camins 3rd Best Adjudicator Ridzanna Abdulgafur 4th Best Adjudicator Pjey Fidel

13th National Debate Championship Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City

ADZU A – Octofinalist Leyson San Juan Milarose Barraca

2nd Zamboanga Debate Open Western Mindanao State University, Zamboanga City

7th Best Speaker Leyson San Juan 8th Best Speaker Glenn William Alcala 10th Best Speakers Khalid Lozano Angelica Maria Fidelis Camins Mel Cleohope Carballo


ship Father Saturnino Urios University, Butuan City

ADZU A – Quarterfinalist Leyson San Juan Kelvin Culajara Adriel Earl Toribio

1st WMSU Intervarsities Western Mindanao State University, Zamboanga City

ADZU A – Grand Finalist Kelvin Culajara – Best Speaker of the Tournament Angelica Maria Fidelis Camins – 4th Best Speaker Glenn William Alcala Best Adjudicator Sarah Gail Galvan

Ateneo de Zamboanga University Recognition Day Most Outstanding Organization Club Management Award Recipient

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2012 – 2013

6th Visayas-Mindanao Debate Championship Cebu Normal University, Cebu City

ADZU A – Quarterfinalist Glenn William Alcala Ruby Jane Calletor ADZU B – Quarterfinalist Kim Arnold Señerez Pjey Fidel ADZU C – Octofinalist Khalid Lozano Milarose Barraca 1st Best Adjudicator Adrian Uro 8th Best Adjudicator Judean Grace Galvez


ship Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City

ADZU A – Semifinalist Glenn William Alcala Adriel Earl Toribio ADZU B – Semifinalist Khalid Lozano Angelica Maria Fidelis Camins ADZU C – Quarterfinalist Ruby Jane Calletor – 6th Best Speaker Kim Arnold Señerez ADZU D – Quarterfinalist Milarose Barraca – 6

th Best Speaker

Salman Abdulsabur Deputy Chief Adjudicator Adrian Uro

2nd Rookie Debate Cup Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City

ADZU A – Grand Finalist Kassandra Krisville Aguilar Nicole Adrienne Damiles 2nd Best Speaker Fathima Ahamed Kabeer 4th Best Speaker Christian Kim Soriño 5th Best Speaker Herzen Dave Wee Chief Adjudicator Adrian Uro Deputy Chief Adjudicator Sanjeev Parmanand Tournament Director Glenn William Alcala

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3rd Zamboanga Debate Open Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City

4th Best Speaker Milarose Barraca 6th Best Speaker Salman Abdulsabur Adrian Uro (alumnus) 7th Best Speaker Myser Neil Sarigumba (alumnus) 8th Best Speaker Keeshia Alyanna Alix (alumnus) Khalid Lozano 1st Best Adjudicator Angelica Maria Fidelis Camins 2nd Best Adjudicator Sheena Mae Alcala Deputy Chief Adjudicator Kelvin Culajara Tournament Director Glenn William Alcala


ship Capitol University, Cagayan de Oro City

ADZU B – CHAMPION Ruby Jane Calletor – 3rd Best Speaker, Best Speaker of the Finals Sarah Gail Galvan – 9th Best Speaker Glenn William Alcala – 9th Best Speaker ADZU A – Quarterfinalist Salman Abdulsabur Milarose Barraca Khalid Lozano ADZU C – Pre-quarter Finalist Pjey Fidel Kim Arnold Señerez Judean Grace Galvez

Ateneo de Zamboanga University Recognition Day Most Outstanding Organization Club Management Award Recipient

A quick look at the achievements of the Union throughout the years will give the impression that the Union is one of the established debating varsities in the region and Visayas-Mindanao Cir-cuit. Indeed, the Union has lived up to the fact that it was one of the founders and foundation of Mindanao parliamentary debating. In order to surpass those who have come before us and bring greater excellence to debating in the region and greater recognition for the university, the Union undertakes a rigorous training and tryout regimen – rigorous like never before.

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Just this May, the Union has commenced a new tryout system to ensure that the most com-petent debaters and adjudicators are really the ones who will actually represent the university in competitions. Only successful members from the tryouts will be allowed to represent the university. This is a new and better tryout scheme than before on two counts: (a) it has been expanded to last for a duration of little less than a month and consists of at least seven rounds, a great improvement from the 1-day tryouts which only has four rounds maximum; and, (b) will involve another level of screening which focuses on team dynamics, different from the month-long preliminary screening and definitely not present in the old tryout scheme. This new tryout scheme was adopted and im-provised by alumni based on the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) Debate Varsity scheme, perhaps one of the most successful tryouts schemes if we were to base UPD’s track record in na-tional debating. Additionally, the Union remains strong to its commitment to disciplined training as it has en-shrined among its policies the policy to debate at least six rounds in one week come the regular se-mesters. Additionally, adjudication-pool-specific training has been revived this year for higher stakes of Ateneo de Zamboanga University dominating both categories –debating and adjudicating – in competitions and for an attempt to induce improvements in the adjudication pool problems of Min-danao debating.

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_______________________________ADVOCACY AND NATION-BUILDING

Event/Partner Type of Engagement

2010 - 2011

18th Ateneo Senior Summer Program Basic Debate Seminar and Workshop, Modified Novice

Debate Tournament

Claret College of Isabela

Basic Debate Seminar and Workshop

Claret School of Lamitan


AdZU International Studies Freshmen


Basilan National High School


Western Mindanao Statistics Camp 2011


Claret School of Zamboanga City

Intermediate Debate Seminar and Workshop

August Public Debate This house believes that Belgium should continue to exist

Organizer and Resource Speakers

September Public Debate This house believes that an Atenean should not give money to street children


November Public Debate This house believes that Ateneo should support the RH Bill


December Public Debate This house regrets the extravagant Christmas celebrations of elected public officials in a country submerged in pov-

erty


January Public Debate This house believes that universities should never restrict access to any website


DU also has its advocacy program: The Union Debate Education Program (UDEP). UDEP is a so-cial awareness and advocacy program of the Union in which we reach out to different high

schools and colleges in the Zamboanga Peninsula to teach them about the rudiments and art of de-bate. Aside from seminars, we also host public debate inside the Ateneo campus as we bring into the Ateneans’ consciousness certain issues that are pressing but may not be known to them.

A

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2011 - 2012


Debate Tournament

1st Convention of Youth Student Leaders


Zamboanga City Chong Hua High School


Marian College (Ipil)




Col. Salipsip Debate Championship 2011

Tournament Organizing

AtFest Debates 2011


Public Debates (various dates) Giving alms to beggars Complete transparency of public officials Rizal being the national hero (conducted during the

celebration of Rizal@150)


2012 - 2013


Debate Tournament

AdZU International Studies Students


Claret School of Zamboanga

Intermediate Training

Col. Salipsip Debate Championship 2012




AtFest Debates 2012


Public Debates Allowing divorce in the Philippines


2013 - 2014

21st Ateneo Senior Summer Program Basic Debate Seminar and Workshop, Modified Novice

Debate Tournament

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_____________________________ADU IN THE NATIONAL DEBATE ARENA

n an inspirational speech given by ADU alumnus Ariel Clarito during one of our Union trainings, he urged us to seek for larger and greater ponds and to prevent from ―becoming big fish in a

small pond‖. Through the years, we believe that ADU has become a big fish in MPDC and VMDC. Our long line of achievements in these competitions is a testament to this claim. ADU has bagged countless trophies in these competitions, and many of its members have been renowned as the best speakers and adjudicators in these tournaments. While we find pride and glory at having established AdZU in these fields, but then again we believe that there is more to debate than the Visayas and Mindanao contingents—exactly why we would like to explore the national debating arena this year. Two of the most renowned national debate tournaments are the National Debate Champion-ship (NDC) and the Philippine Intercollegiate Debate Championship (PIDC). Because of high registra-tion and transportation costs in these tournaments, ADU has not been able to send some of its con-tingents to compete in these tournaments for quite a long time now. The last time ADU sent a rep-resentative to NDC was two years ago with Leyson San Juan and Milarose Barraca qualifying to the octo-finals in the tournament. San Juan and Barraca both had to spend from their own pockets to join the tournament. Meanwhile, ADU has not sent contingents to PIDC for almost seven years now because of high registration and transportation costs as well. Normally, the registration fee per NDC or PIDC is Php5,000, while the transportation cost (round trip fare) is about Php4,000. This gives each competitor to shell out at least Php9,000 from his or her personal pocket to just afford joining in the tournament. By the time that these tourna-ments are being announced publicly by the host institution, the Php50,000 annual budget of ADU is already committed to the three main tournaments stated previously (VMDC, MPDC—British Parlia-mentary Format and MPDC—Asian Parliamentary Format). Therefore, there is barely enough subsidy to afford to send even at least one team in these national tournaments. In the vision of excellence and Magis, we believe that an increase in our subsidy will help us afford our involvement in these national tournaments. Our involvement will not only help us estab-lish AdZU in the national debating arena, but it will also help in refining the caliber of ADU debaters and adjudicators as they grasp richer opportunities in competing with or against debate and adjudi-cation legends who are mostly based in Manila. Realistically, though, ADU cannot promise that we would automatically excel in NDC and PIDC immediately after we would send our contingents there. We believe that progress does not happen overnight, but rather a continuous process. But what we can assure is that we will train at our best capacity in order to deliver and bring the name of AdZU in the national scene, just like how we worked our hardest until we have finally won and succeeded in numerous VMDCs and MPDCs. Ateneo de Zamboanga University has become one of the strongest contingents in the debat-ing arena, and is currently at par with its strongest rivals this season such as the Ateneo de Davao University, Xavier University—Ateneo de Cagayan, University of the Philippines—Cebu, Siliman Uni-versity, and many others. With all the long list of achievements and the countless heights ADU has been to, we believe that we have not ended our journey yet—rather we are still aiming for greater platforms, for bigger ponds and for more challenging seas in which we could bring and establish AdZU’s name.

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_____________________________UNION DEBATE EDUCATION PROGRAM

e believe that our involvement to debates has given us the spirit to re-echo our learnings to the Ateneo community and to the high schools and colleges sanctioned by our Union Debate Edu-

cation Program. According to our UDEP Code of 2011, ―UDEP spearheads Ateneo Debate Union’s efforts in educating and empowering the youth of the Zamboanga Peninsula through public speak-ing and debate education, and spreading the culture of organized and critical discussions relevant to the immediate locality, the nation, and the world. UDEP is geared towards the formation of strong debate and public speaking clubs in high schools in the Zamboanga Peninsula. For this end, it shall provide student-debaters throughout the Peninsula quality debate trainings, initiate debate opportu-nities through UDEP organized competitions, and create and maintain a database of matter that can be accessed freely by members of its network.‖ In line with its UDEP, ADU hosts public debates inside the Ateneo community. In our public debates we discuss and talk about local, national and international issues and bring these to the awareness of the rest of the Ateneo studentry. Among our popular motions through the years in-clude the regretting of the uniform policy in the Ateneo, legitimizing sex education in the Ateneo, legalization of divorce in the Philippines and even the support of the division of Belgium. We also partner annually with the Languages Department of the School of Liberal Arts to aid in giving debate seminars to students taking English 211: Public Speaking and Parliamentary De-bate. More than that, we also host debate competitions that are available only to neophytes in the art of debating. Among these competitions are the Rookie Debate Cup, Colonel Salipsip Debate Championship and Ateneo Fiesta Debate Championship. These competitions we have been able to accomplish through the Zamboanga Parliamentary Debate Union (ZPDU) and the Languages Depart-ment of the School of Liberal Arts. Furthermore, we also conduct debate seminars outside the school premises. Aside from the high schools and colleges in the city (such as St. Joseph School, Chong Hua High School, Don Pablo Lorenzo High School, Arturo Eustaqio Memorial Science High School, etc.), our clients also range as far as Basilan (Claret School of Lamitan and Basilan National High School), Ipil (Marian College), and Pagadian (Notre Dame of Pagadian). We believe that we have achieved these not only because of our initiative to conduct these activities, but also because of the experiences we have gained in joining tournaments inside and outside the city. Our vast knowledge in debate that is harnessed from our experience is what en-ables us to deliver quality discussions in public debates, and also quality hostings of in-school and local debate tournaments and seminars. In fact, our UDEP clients are among the best performing schools in high school tournaments such as the Crimson Debate Cup (hosted by WMSU’s League of Debaters) and Rookie Debate Cup, placing in the top four slots of the grand finals. Furthermore, we do believe that these activities for the Ateneo and for our UDEP clients have been possible through our active participation and experiences in debate competitions. We truly be-lieve that this would be possible only if there are sufficient financial resources to afford our partici-pation in every tournament we go.

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_________________________PLATFORMS FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2013-2014

he Ateneo Debate Union is more than speaking prowess and excellent logic. We are a Union that is geared towards promoting a culture of critical thinking and social awareness. We do this

by exciting the youth’s interest in different social issues of the day. We do this by advocating for healthy and educated discourse. By all these efforts, ADU strives to embody the Ignatian values of excellence, spirituality, and citizenship. The Ateneo Debate Union shall seek to achieve and to con-tinuously raise the bar of excellence.

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1. Union Debate Education Program The Union Debate Education Program (UDEP) is the core community service program of the Ateneo Debate Union. It has provided quality debate and public speaking seminars and workshops to various secondary schools and colleges in Zamboanga Peninsula. Our clientele included Zambo-anga City high schools like Zamboanga Chong Hua High School, Pilar College, Claret School of Zam-boanga City, St. Joseph School, Ferndale International School, and Universidad de Zamboanga. We also had clients from outside the city such as Basilan National High School and other schools in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay. Our work in our Debate Education Program not only provided our students with a fundamen-tal grasp and understanding of the artistic science of debating; it also honed their skills in presenting themselves and in thinking critically. We are more than proud to say that our UDEP helped students throughout the years become not only good public speakers but also leaders in their schools and communities, equipped with the skill that is expressing their plans and ideas eloquently and ration-ally. For the Ateneo Debate Union and for these students, the UDEP emblazons the path for criti-cal thinkers of the city. Through this program, the Union does the other thing that it does best—to embolden the youth to speak up and to speak well. For the following school year, the Ateneo Debate Union is taking the challenge of expanding the arms of our UDEP. This school year shall see the Union striving not only to bring excellent train-ing to clients in Zamboanga City but also to create a stronger clientele base in Basilan, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga del Sur. The Union is notably the only debate organization in the Peninsula that has an established and formal debate education program. We believe that increasing the breadth of our mission is par-allel not only to the Union’s ideals but moreover to the ideals and identity of the Ateneo de Zambo-anga whom we shall represent—education beyond the classroom, an education that is mechanized towards societal relevance. UDEP for S.Y.2013-2014 will jumpstart a newer legacy of debate education and community awareness. More intensive promotions are underway for the first semester. We plan to coordinate more closely through personal invites and through the growing UDEP Network with our partner schools. Our members, headed by our Vice President for Debate Education, have planned and are preparing to contact and to even travel to these schools to promote debate. We plan to conduct efficient and effective seminars for our clients by batches so that we could incorporate better a mini-debate tournament. We create our own debate materials, suited for and tailored from the needs and abilities of our students, and we are planning to distribute them free through social media. These efforts have already begun last May 2-5 during the 21st Ateneo Senior Summer Program Debates. We were more than inspired by the positive feedbacks of the par-ticipants.

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Moreover, the UDEP is also aiming to help establish and build debate organizations in various high schools in the region. Support for and supervision of these budding debate clubs is all for pre-paring our Zamboangueño students as they try to make a mark on the debating sphere locally, re-gionally, and even nationally. Joint trainings, more debate materials, and workshops are all in the aim of nurturing the region’s bright minds to be more competitive in the Mindanao and the Philip-pine debating circle. In the past, the Union has helped hone debate organizations in schools like Ateneo de Zamboanga High School and encourage schools like Ferndale and Chong Hua to join local debate competitions for high school students. Through our UDEP, we are planting the seeds of de-bate excellence in the city. Furthermore, ADU tries to personify one of the advocacies of the Ateneo community: social awareness and participation. Like the Ateneo de Zamboanga University who believes in success as a continuous journey rather than as a goal, the Ateneo Debate Union is also in pursuit of constantly improving our Debate Education Program. Not only do we believe in the importance of public speak-ing skills in these students’ education and future careers, we have strong convictions and faith in the youth’s capacity to bring about guided opinions, novel ideas, and innovative solutions if we can only hone their interest and awareness early on. Not only do we believe in their potentials as debaters; we strongly see them a 45s leaders in their own communities. The Union is trying to contribute to their growth by creating a culture of academic discourse through our Union Debate Education Pro-gram.

2. Union Debate Camp In conjunction with the Union Debate Education Program, ADU is set on organizing a Union Debate Camp. The Union Debate Camp will primarily cater, though not limited to, our UDEP clientele as a toast to the camaraderie amongst the schools and to the promising future of debate in the Zamboanga Peninsula. Set to happen during the second semester of the school year, this Camp tries to tie a ribbon on the efforts of the students for the first semester. Patterned after the IDEA Youth Forum, the ADU will be bringing high-caliber learning to our kids. We are planning to include lectures on pressing issues such as environment and sustainability, politics and governance, and human rights to be given by esteemed professors and authorities in these issues. Analysis or synthesis of these issues and how the students could form and express their views will be given by both alumni and current members of the Union. Issues such as these, rarely discussed inside the classroom, are instrumental to the shaping of young leaders. We believe that this truly is the Ateneo ideal of excellence in the flesh. We also plan to include discussions of specific issues that are plaguing Mindanao such as the energy crisis and peace and security. This Mindanao flavor tries to inculcate the identity of a Min-danaon—one that has a mind to conceive and a heart to act. Such effort is in line with smoldering the Ateneo de Zamboanga’s brand of excellence on the region. The Camp is also set to culminate during the beginning of the Ateneo Fiesta, offering the Ateneo hospitality as well as the Ateneo ex-cellence. Rarely do we see an organization in the city or in the Ateneo campus strive to give students a taste of an internationally-acclaimed program such as the IDEA Youth Forum. We believe that not only should the University be able to be a witness to the Camp but it should also be able to continu-ously fuel its students’ initiatives to always try to challenge themselves and to reach greater and only even greater heights. However ambitious the challenge may be, the Ateneo Debate Union shall be prepared to give the best Debate Camp it can give—doing more in service of our Ateneo and Zamboanga communities.

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3. Rookie Debate Cup

A brainchild of the Ateneo Debate Union, in partnership with the Zamboanga Debate Parlia-mentary Union, the Rookie Debate Cup is on its third year. Scheduled to be held on September, the RDC gathers aspiring debaters from high schools and colleges in the city to engage in two days of fun and friendly debate competition. Our adjudication core, rest assured, shall be composed of credible judges who shall well represent the different participating schools. Our judges, who are the core of ensuring high-caliber debate experience, will be selected only from the best individuals who have already proven themselves in the Zamboanga, Mindanao, Visayas-Mindanao, Philippine, and even Asian debating spheres. Truly, an experience our rookie debaters will never want to miss. The RDC has seen growing participation for the past two years. But, as a child of the Ignatian community, the ADU is never comfortable with success—we can only endeavor for more. This year, we aim to invite and to have schools from outside the city participate in the said tournament. The ADU, along with the ZPDU, sees it fit that we host such tournaments for new debaters to usher them to the debating lifestyle. Indeed, aside from the RDC giving them a taste of how pleasurable it is to engage in academic discussions, the tournament has been a key tool in discovering talents. We have seen RDC pioneers and champions bring home glory to their respective institutions both on the local, regional, and national level. The ADU seeks to continue this legacy of discovering and polishing talent. While our rookies have already become champions in their own right, it is high time that we keep the machine grind-ing because we have more champions to find. This is the ADU and the Ateneo kind of legacy—through time and through generations.

4. Ateneo Debate Union Intervarsities Cup

A prestigious dream of the Union is the Ateneo Intervarsities. The Ateneo IVs will seek to gather the debaters from different Zamboanga collegiate institutions and even from other Ateneo schools in the country. Aside from a celebration of how debate has bridged these institutions, the Ateneo IVs seeks to fuel more competitive debating in the city. Among the many universities and colleges in the city, only two debate organizations have es-tablished a reputation in the regional and national sphere. The Ateneo Debate Union, through host-ing a more friendly debate tournament in the Ateneo IVs, wants to encourage other tertiary schools to form their own debate societies. Ateneo IVs, we believe, will be a great avenue for the Zamboanga Parliamentary Debate Un-ion to advertise for better and more active membership. Also, we have seen lesser participation in debate tournaments from our fellow ZPDU members and the ADU wished to reconnect with their love for debating so that the Zamboanga contingent, as a whole, is a stronger and fiercer force to reckon with. This is in line with one of the many dreams of the Ateneo Debate Union—to be a part of and to have a stronger debating sphere in the city which will also be victorious when it treads re-gional and national waters. The Ateneo IVs is that—bonding the different Zamboanga debate or-ganization with camaraderie and a unified goal of making this city a hub for debate and for dis-course.

5. Public Debates and Joint Statements

The Ateneo Debate Union would like to encourage the students of Ateneo de Zamboanga to understand and to make informed stances on certain important issues and concerns in the society. The university has been trying to combat apathy and to have her students engage on issues of lo-cal, regional, national, and even global importance. We believe and are one with the university in the belief that truly holistically-formed individuals must transcend comfortable academic excellence and seek to be a part of the ripples of change in the country.

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It has been observed by the Union and by the university that apathy has now become in-grained in the lifestyle of the students. And, when they do participate, the quality of participation is compromised by irrelevant and nonsensical mockery of individuals or a faulty understanding of what the issue really is. The ADU wants to contribute, as part of its social responsibility and a fulfillment of its ideal, to the campaign for enriching community awareness in the school. This is why for the coming school year the Ateneo Debate Union will be hosting more regular public debates. Public debates are not only a showcase of the debate but are a way to get people engrossed in issues. For the past years, we have done public debates on divorce, on employment, and even on the historical narrative of Rizal’s rise to the status of a National Hero. The debates have been tailored to cater to the needs of the times. This year, we plan to hold public debates with stu-dents and faculty members of the different schools and colleges of the Ateneo. Public debates with the different schools and colleges are expected to elicit more attention from the students. Seeing their colleagues and professors speak on issues gives a face to the activ-ity because now they can relate better to the speakers. It also tries to make the students under-stand that you do not need to be a part of an organization such as the Union for you to know that issues, for example, on the environment, human rights, and government transparency would affect you and your closest social groups. The effort is aimed towards making discourse an activity that everybody can take part of. Moreover, these public debates will be using the 2-on-2 format. The format was chosen on the basis of its compatibility with the goal of the public debates. With this format, we give more fo-cus on the discussion of differing views and perspectives on a certain topic or issue rather than giv-ing highlight to the rudiments of the common format of debate. With this format, we can also have more time to have an after-debate forum where a host shall ask members of the audience their opinions on the issue and takes on the debate. Aside from the public debate, ADU is also planning to start issuing joint statements. The joint statements will necessarily be brought about by an issue or conflict that the members of the Union feel are of urgent concern to the Ateneo community. These joint statements, researched on and dis-cussed among the Union members, seek to challenge otherwise apathetic students to make their own stance. Whether or not they agree with these joint statements is not the ends that we want to achieve but rather the awakening of a questioning and critically-thinking mindset in the students. These joint statements are far from an effort of homogenizing opinion; in fact, we are trying to have our students put their opinions on the table and discuss about them. We think that pushing for ad-vocacies and having a discourse on controversial yet relevant issues are a way to raise socially aware and intellectually disciplined individuals. We believe that all these efforts promote the Ateneo kind of personal growth—a growth that changes you and changes your society. This herculean task can nonetheless begin by having our students ask questions, and creating and defending opinions. We further believe that genuine de-mocracy, as a building block of the Filipino nation-building, is founded upon diversity of opinion, re-spect, and compromise. Our efforts in our public debates and joint statements are all geared towards these things. The Ateneo Debate Union firmly believes that our duty is beyond helping our members maximize their intellectual, social, and moral capacities. The Union takes upon itself the challenge of helping shape our fellow Ateneans to grow and become Filipinos who have a voice and who take the right course of action for the greater social good.

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6. Ten Accomplished Youth Organization

For more than a decade now, the Ten Accomplished Youth Organization (TAYO) Awards Foundation has given recognition to the contribution of youth organizations to the society. TAYO tries to harness the Filipino youth’s innovation and initiative in promoting a sense of volunteerism, nationalism, and sustainability through projects and programs. This award has become an aspiration for hundreds or thousands of youth organizations, sparking more enthusiasm and participation in socio-civic activities for their communities, schools, or work places. For the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, having an organization join and gain recognition from TAYO is a symbol of triumph for the university’s advocacy of promoting the ideal of citizenship. It will be another success for the University on a whole new level since TAYO applicants undergo meticulous screening and scrutiny. More than excellence, TAYO is a validation of our contribution to nation-building and societal formation. A TAYO recognition specifically galvanizes the attainment of the Ignatian ideal of caring for and giving back to the country—of being men and women for others. ADU is no stranger to this. More than seeking glory for itself, the Ateneo Debate Union is in a quest to seek for more honor for the Ateneo community as a way of us paying back everything that the University has done for us. The University has allowed us to chase our passion, and that is de-bate, through its continuous and ever-present support in our trainings and tournaments. More than that, we are cognizant and ever-grateful to the Ateneo de Zamboanga for allowing us and for push-ing us to always do more, to fulfill our inherent social responsibilities as members of the Ateneo and Filipino community. The University has always stirred our longing to do more and to achieve more; it has spurred the Union’s new vision that begins this 2013. We have asked ourselves what more we can do to ever repay the magnanimity of Ateneo de Zamboanga; we found our answer in TAYO. Our application for TAYO and if ever we get recognized, is our ode to the Ateneo de Zamboanga. Always, in every step of the way, we shall be the children of the University, exhibiting the Ateneo heart and spirit. It is but a dream but we are already thank-ful that we can be able to dream of such dream. It is now but a dream but in dreaming, there is that seed to acting upon a dream. It is now a dream and a dream that we believe is also shared by the University. The mere application is a testament to how our University has raised us, the Ateneo Debate Union. And, whatever the outcome, we hope to inspire other AdZU organizations as well to take that Ateneo dream of doing and achieving more for the University and for others. ADU sees TAYO not as compensation but more of as an instrument in being able to share more and do more. In this en-deavor and in whatever we do, the Ateneo Debate Union will always have the Ateneo with us. In our quest for TAYO, we quest for the Ateneo.

7. The Union and the Ateneo We, the Ateneo Debate Union, are out to prove that we have and always will be more than debating excellence. This school year and in the years to come, we will desire not only for recogni-tion in the debating sphere but we will also desire and act upon that desire to contribute to the Ig-natian ideals of excellence, nationalism, and youth empowerment. We, the Ateneo Debate Union, are out to stretch ourselves more for the Ateneo community. We will venture into greater heights to bring back more pride and honor to our beloved Ateneo de Zamboanga. We believe that our goals are in unison—the Union and our Ateneo. We believe that we dream the same aspiration—the Union and the Ateneo. We strive for better student participation in the community, social awareness, and moral and intellectual formation in the school. We wish for a better Zamboanga community and a stronger Mindanao community.

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This school year 2013-2014 shall be the first step of many more to come as the Union journeys through the Ignatian path—lead by the thirst for excellence, guided by the beacon of citizenship, and in search of holistic growth. This school year, we shall humbly aim and work to achieve our goals, knowing that the Ateneo will always and unceasingly be with us every step of the way.

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An Analysis of Ateneo Debate Union's Standing Through the Years

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