The 10th National Debate Championship

Host school: Ateneo de Davao University, Davao City, Philippines
Stayed at: Sequoia Inn, Davao City
Date Arrived: October 19, 2008
Tournament Date: October 20-25, 2008
Date Departed: October 26, 2008
General remarks: The logistics and organization is not as ideal as the 9th NDC but the overall satisfaction is the best yet :)

Click at iba pa to read more. Hehe.

The last day of our final exams week is the 19th of October. My flight for Davao is scheduled in the early morning of 20th. Now talk about no rest. But I don’t care, I’m always pushed to the limits anyway, and these limits were adjusted further during the tournament proper.

We arrived at Davao during a fresh Sunday morning. Man, I can smell durian everywhere! But I know I will get used to it.  We rented a van going to Ateneo de Davao University for registration. I was hoping that we can already check-in to our assigned inn or hotel but the organizers said that we could only do so after lunch. So off we went to Gaisano Mall for lunch. After which, we were already allowed to check-in at Sequioa Inn. It may be an inn but I think it’s more of a microtel. Well, I don’t know the difference between an inn and a microtel but I believe that the latter is nicer. Haha. This is the best lodging venue yet. Wee.

The UP Manila contingent was completed during my second night in Davao. It was also that night when my teammate, Japi, arrived. I and my teammate only had two trainings together I think. So this is a challenge for us to establish nice team dynamics despite lack of training. At least, our preferred speaker roles are different so we can complement each other. Luckily, our attitudes, perspective and all-those-other-factors for graceful team dynamics were really meant to establish a good team. From our Chinese-esque features and (almost) matching outfits to our brotherly (can’t find a less-cheesy term, haha) camaraderie, I am almost sure that Japi would be my forever-teammate. Hehe.

Rounds 1 to 7 were hell. Especially during the last two rounds wherein many teams were desperate for breaking. As the elimination rounds progress, so was the transition of violence as a want to violence as a need. Freaky huh? But nevertheless, we had fun. Round 2 was also memorable for me, we had a round against the A’s: AMDU-A, UPD-H (Which is UPD’s A) and ADDU-A. Wow! We were star-strucked! But we were also able to socialize with them. They were really nice to us :).

Gica: Natutuwa ako sa inyong dalawa, ang tatapang ninyo! :D
aLps: The least thing we could do is show courage. Haha.

We were also able to socialize with debaters from other institutions as well. I can remember Nigel and Kat(?) from UP Diliman, Princess from DLSU, Ria and her teammate (Forgot her name!) and Ice and Kenneth from ADMU. I also had a good time talking to debaters from UPLB and MSU Marawi and other schools which I can no longer remember. Huhu. If you can read this, please comment and we’ll socialize online. Haha.

On the other hand, we also had to cope with evil adjudicators. Those adjudicators who are not the average reasonable people. They range from the below-average unreasonable people to unnecessarily-above-average irrationally-super-reasonable people. HAHA. But we need to stick to the mantra: Regardless of the adjudicator’s nature or preference, we have to convince him or her that we’ll win the round. We finished with 11 points, not enough for breaking. We were really expecting to break. The contingent expected all of us to break. But it’s life, it’s debate life. To add more to the agitation, many teams who broke are the teams I and Japi defeated. Haha. I know, it’s illogical to be agitated with such a reason but there is an inevitable grudge from us saying Natalo namin ‘yun!.

The next national tournament would be the PIDC. It would be using the Asians Format so I and Japi need to find our missing sibling to complete the Chinese triplets. Haha, we feel a lukso-ng-dugo for Clarissa. And RJ too. Hehe. But RJ’s a Korean, or a Japanese or a Chinese who migrated to Japan or Korea. Haha.

With the UP Manila Debate Circle, I am learning to love this organization family more. Included in my PTS (Post-tournament syndrome) is missing our bonding moments together. :) Fiery by fifteen; Omnia supra ratio!

Congratulations UP Manila Debate Circle! (From Kuya Lee’s Post)

Adjudication Results:

Best Adjudicator: Her Excellency Yves Aquino
2nd: Bhea Dragonessa Bongcales
5th : Arf Arf Gabunada
7th: Ben (pause) Ralph Yu
NDC Grandfinals Adjudicator: Bhea Dragonessa Bongcales
Union Cup (ESL-like Cup for NDC) Grandfinals Adjudicator: Bhea Dragonessa Bongcales
Quarterfinals Adjudicator: Arf Arf Gabunada
Quarterfinals Adjudicator: Ben (pause) Ralph Yu
Quarterfinals Adjudicator: Diane Dizon Fruits
Octofinals Adjudicator: Always-a-Suspected-Killer Abhiey Nebreja
Public Speaking Eliminations and Finals Rounds Adjudicator: Hello Keith-y Narvacan
Tournament Chief Adjudicator: Doctor Adrian Rabe

Debate Results:

4th Breaking Team: UP Manila A (16 points)
13th Breaking Team: UP Manila B (15 points)
18th Breaking Team: UP Manila C (14 points)
Semifinalist:  UP Manila A: Prime Minister Lee Yarcia and Med Genius Carol Tan
Octofinalist: UP Manila B: Schoolgirl Aya Bautista and Schoolboy Robert Totanes
Octofinalist: UP Manila C: Indian-Chinese Darwin Razon and No-bullshit Man DS Dalisay
4th Best Speaker: Prime Minister Lee Yarcia
Masters Cup Champion: Doctor Adrian Rabe and UP-Manila-daw-according-sa-certificate-at-directory Nicolo Cabrera

UP Manila D (11 points): Hello Keith-y Narvacan and Killer-Killer-Analyst Zilpah Calderon
UP Manila E (11 points): Fashion Twins Japi Marquez and Fonzy Aguado
UP Manila F (11 points): Chinesse Clarissa Tio and Korean RJ Patulot

And to Adjudicator Lovergirl (mwahaha! we know! we saw! we have evidence!) Larraine Carpeso.

Pictures and mirror blog entry: http://alps05.multiply.com/photos/album/70/10th_National_Debate_Championship_Davao_City