AHS Debaters Win Back-To-Back Championships At Econvergence Competition, Sweep Trophies
Last 8 February 2014, the Ateneo Debaters swept the top awards and distinctions at the Econvergence Intellectual Encounter Debate Competition for the second year in a row. The back-to-back championship win is the first time any school has won the debate competition in consecutive years. The event was held at the UP Los Baños Campus, hosted by the UPLB Economics Society.
Team AHS A, comprised of Jim Bulan (4N) and Rafa Lapira (3A), remained undefeated throughout the tournament, without dropping a single point. They won the Grand Finals on a unanimous 5-0 decision as the Opening Government team on the motion, “This House Believes That The Philippines Should Leave The ASEAN Economic Community.” Bulan was the Best Speaker Of The Tournament and Of The Finals. Bulan also won Econvergence last year with former captain, Kiko Santos (4A 2013).
For the second year in a row also, three out of the four finalist teams came from the AHS. Coming in 2nd place was Team AHS B, comprised of Tres Yap (3B) and Josiah Encinas (3F). Coming in 3rd place was Team AHS C, represented by JJ Sagcal (3A) and Derrick Ampil (3L).
The team would like to specially recognize Mr. Noel Miranda and the CLE Department for sponsoring the team for the Econvergence Competition. Without the generosity and support of the CLE Department, the participation and success of the team would not have been made possible.
Ateneo Debaters Are First Runner-Up At Econ-No-Mix Debate Competition
For the second year in a row also, the Ateneo Debaters finished as the First Runners-Up at the UP Diliman Econ-No-Mix Debate Competition, hosted by the UP OBEM society in partnership with the UP Diliman Debate Society. The event was hosted on February 3 and 10 at Encarnacion Hall in UP Diliman.
Team AHS A, consisting of Isaac Lee (4D), Jim Bulan, and Rafa Lapira, lost to Immaculate Conception Academy A in the finals, but AHS A was also given medals at the end of the competition to recognize their feat. The team also wishes to recognize the tournament Octofinalists, Mon Asuncion (3G), Miguel Dela Cruz (3G), and Derrick Ampil (3L). Luigi Alcaneses (1A) participated in the Essay Writing segment of the competition while Paulo Valencia participated in the Poster-Making segment.
Ateneo Debaters Clinch Semifinal Birth At Major College Intervarsity
Alongside former captain and alumnus Bas Claudio (4M 2011), Luigi Alcaneses and Isaac Lee reached the Semifinals of a major College Intervarsity hosted by the UP Manila Debate Circle, known as the Manila Intervarsity (MINT). The tournament was attended mostly by college students, but also attended by college debate alumni who have graduated as early as 2004. Lee and Alcaneses were the only high school students in the tournament of around two hundred debaters.
The team impressed several others, after reaching the Semifinals of the entire competition, being one of the final four teams standing out of over sixty teams. The team was knocked out by a UP Diliman team featuring a former college national champion who has also advanced to the elimination rounds of the most prestigious university-level debate competition in the world, the World Universities Debate Championship. Similarly, however, the team of Claudio, Alcaneses, and Lee defeated and eliminated several college debaters and alumni along their way to reaching the Semifinal round of the tournament.
The Ateneo Debaters are moderated by Mrs. Fe U. De Jesus of the English Department, and were prepared by Mahar Abrera Mangahas, Henry Fernando, Javier Pablo, Ryan Abis, Nick Fortuna, and Matt San Pedro for the events. The team wishes to thank the Ateneo HS community for their support and well-wishes for the team.
