by Rohanimah B. Guro, OC
AFTER FIVE competitive elimination rounds and an exemplary run at the finals, the MSU-IIT Debate Varsity (MIDV) won the 12th Visayas-Mindanao Debate Championship (VMDC) held at the University of San Jose Recoletos in Cebu City.
MSU-IIT Team A, composed of Joshua Jan Jumawid and Cheque Mae Badelles, beat 44 other teams (88 competing debaters) in the inter-regional tournament that was held on August 24-26, 2019.
The tournament was participated in by University of the Philippines – Tacloban, University of the Philippines – Visayas, Cebu Institute of Technology, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, University of San Jose Recoletos, Western Mindanao State University, and Xavier University teams.
Cheque Mae Badelles was recognized as the Overall Tournament Best Speaker and Grand Finals Best Speaker while Joshua Jan Jumawid was recognized as 4th Best Speaker.
The adjudication core of the tournament was composed of Marina Lim (DLSU), Jazmin Tabines (UP Diliman), Tris Mapacpac (UP Los Banos), Dale Lota (WMSU), and Chad Ortiz (UP Visayas).
MSU-IIT Team B, composed of Ben Aldwin Bance and Josh Branal, also made it to the Grand Finals of the tournament.
For two teams from the same institution to reach the final round of the VMPDC is an achievement.
To recall, MIDV won the Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship (MPDC) last February.
It is currently preparing to defend the win in the upcoming MPDC this September 20-22, 2019 in Surigao where they hope to finally bring home the roving trophy signifying a grand slam win.