by Mara Barbra S. Nanaman & Artchil C. Daug
So, who should own the moon?
It seems that since their impressive stint at the televised Frankahan back in 2009, the school’s debate varsity could as well claim the moon for themselves as they went higher and higher. This was the case when the MSU-IIT Debate Varsity (MIDV) thrashed defending champion Ateneo de Davao, Ateneo de Zamboanga, and Cebu Normal University during the final round of the Annual Visayas-Mindanao Debate Championship held last July 23-26 at Silliman University, Dumaguete City.
Debating on the motion that this house would allow the ownership of the moon, final’s best speaker and the tournament’s fifth best speaker Ara Mamon (COE) and teammate Mara Nanaman (CASS) argued on the value of preservation versus utilization, saying that humanity’s common stake on the moon proves that no single individual can own even a portion of it.
Ms. Nanaman placed as the tournament’s third best speaker.
MIDV debaters were also semifinalists during the recent Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship held last Sept 3-5, at Xavier University. This team was composed of Gabriel Billiones (COE) and Ardy Buac (CASS).
Two debaters, namely Calvin Penaco (COE) and Mamon, also made it to the top ten tournament’s best speakers, winning 10th and 3rd places, respectively.
Indeed, with talents like these, the Institute might as well debate along from the moon and back.