Ateneo's international debate feat deserves the highest Senate commendation - Jinggoy

CALLING the victory of the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) students in the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) an extraordinary accomplishment, Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada said the historic first win for the country deserves the highest commendation from the Senate.

"Their momentous victory is proof of the Filipino students' capacity to stand alongside the world's best young speakers and thinkers," Estrada said in filing Senate Resolution No. 416 commending and congratulating David Demitri Africa and Tobi Leung for winning the WUDC 2023 last January 3 in Madrid, Spain.

"Their mastery of the art of persuasion, critical thinking, and creative formulation of ideas honed through years of dedication, study, and discipline, even at such a young age, are positive characteristics that are worthy of emulation, especially for our students," he added.

It was the first time that a team from the Philippines or Southeast Asia clinched the top prize in the competition, which is usually ruled by English-speaking countries. ADMU also became the second university in Asia to bag the championship title, after the same was won by BRAC University of Bangladesh in 2022.

The duo from the Ateneo Debate Society, who are both students of Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics with a specialization in Data Science, went head-to-head and succeeded against representatives from Princeton University (USA), Tel Aviv University (Israel), and Sofia University (Bulgaria) in the grand finals.

Estrada said Leung and Africa represented the country competently on the international debating stage and have shown the world the nation's gift of eloquence, intellectual prowess, and ingenuity.

Leung was named the second best speaker of the tilt, the highest rank ever achieved by a Filipino in the WUDC, while Africa was ranked eighth overall best speaker.

Debate team ng Ateneo, karadapat-dapat bigyan ng pinakamataas na papuri sa Senado - Jinggoy

DAHIL isang pambihirang tagumpay ang nakamit ng mga mag-aaral ng Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) sa World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC), sinabi ni Senador Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada na karapat-dapat lamang na bigyan sila ng pinakamataas na antas na papuri ng Senado.

"Pinatunayan nila ang kakayahan ng mga estudyanteng Pilipino na makipagsabayan sa mga pinakamahusay na kabataang speakers at thinkers sa mundo," sabi ni Estrada sa kanyang inihaing Senate Resolution No. 416 na pumupuri kina David Demitri Africa at Tobi Leung para sa pagiging kampeon sa WUDC 2023 na isinagawa noong Enero 3 sa Madrid, Spain.

"Ang kanilang kahusayan sa sining ng panghihikayat, kritikal na pag-iisip at malikhaing pagbabalangkas ng mga ideya na hinasa ng maraming taon na dedikasyon, pag-aaral at disiplina kahit nasa murang edad pa lamang sila ay mga positibong katangian na karapat-dapat tularan ng ating mga mag-aaral," dagdag pa niya.

Ito ang unang pagkakataon na nasungkit ng isang koponan mula sa Pilipinas o Southeast Asia ang pagiging kampeon sa nasabing kumpetisyon, kung saan karaniwang nananaig ang mga mula sa English-speaking countries. Sa nakamit na tagumpay, naitala ng ADMU ang pagiging pangalawang unibersidad sa Asya na nakakuha ng titulo. Nauna ang BRAC University of Bangladesh noong 2022.

Ang dalawang miyembro ng Ateneo Debate Society na parehong kumukuha ng Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics with specialization in Data Science, ay nakipagtagisan sa mga kinatawan ng Princeton University (USA), Tel Aviv University (Israel), sa Sofia University (Bulgaria) sa grand finals ng nasabing kumpetisyon.

Sabi ni Estrada, sina Leung at Africa ay nagpamalas ng kanilang kakayahan sa isang international debating stage at naipakita sa mundo ang kahusayan sa pananalita at angking talino sa pakikipagtalastasan.

Si Leung ay tinanghal na pangalawang pinakamagaling sa pakikipagtalastasan, ang pinakamataas na nakamit ng isang Pilipino sa WUDC, habang si Africa naman ay pinangalanang pang-walo sa pangkalahatan na pinakamahusay na speaker.