𝐈𝐂𝐘𝐌𝐈 | 𝐒𝐏𝐂 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐨 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐩

San Pedro College (SPC) Speech Society garnered awards at the 1st Davao Novice Cup, a regional debate tournament hosted online by Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) on Oct. 18-19.

Following the British Parliamentary Debate format, the tournament featured participants from 25 institutions across Mindanao, other regions of the Philippines, and independent international delegations.

Among 80 teams, SPC Team A debaters Niño Robert Maravillosa and Veriana Issa Janducayan, both from BSN-3, ranked as the top breaking team after winning all four wpreliminary rounds and advancing to the semifinals. Janducayan was also named the Sixth Best Speaker among 160 debaters.

Meanwhile, SPC Team C debaters Ryan Christopher Beltran from BSMLS-2 and Christine Kate Sira from BSN-2 were hailed as the 12th breaking team and finished as octofinalists. Ernest Michael Polinar from BSN-2 and Angel Faith Parba from BSPsych-2 also represented SPC as Team B.

Serving as adjudicators were Prince Lechant Omo from BSN-1, Cedrick Andrei Lunay from BSPsych-3, and Xandrine Sarina Degroot from BSPsych-2. Among 50 judges, Omo and Lunay broke and advanced to the outrounds.

Asked about the challenges they encountered, they admitted that mentoring was not easy, as the debaters do not yet consider themselves fully established in the scene.

“The process came with challenges, particularly guiding the new members through a full tournament while helping them navigate their own nervousness,” Maravillosa stated.

“But when we faced those hardships together, it only made the journey more meaningful,” he added.

To strengthen their skills, the SPC Speech Society spent a month preparing for the tournament by recruiting new members, forming teams, and holding training sessions internally and with other debate institutions.

“Going back to the basics… and teach[ing] it to our new recruits really demands patience, discipline, and determination, reminding us that debate is always a learning curve, as what we have always emphasized,” Maravillosa said.

He added, “This experience strengthened our dedication to actively engage in the Mindanao debate circuit, cultivate emerging talents, and uphold the pride and excellence of San Pedro College.”

As SPC Speech Society aims to build on their debate momentum, their next goal is the 50th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship (MPDC) at AdDU next year onsite, preparing with new members, improved training, and continued guidance from their trainers.

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