In a showcase of wit and debating prowess, Ateneo Debate Varsity (ADV) hosted the 50th Mindanao Parliamentary Debate Championship (MPDC), bringing together debate contingents from across Mindanao.
After consecutive earthquakes delayed the event from November 2025 to January 2025 due to campus facility regulations, this marked the second time since the pandemic that the organization managed the event in a full face-to-face setting, following their 2024 staging.
ADV President Lorrhaine Baintin highlighted that hosting the 50th MPDC served as ADV’s way of honoring the Mindanao debate community and the long-standing relationships built over decades.
“This was our opportunity to give back and show just how appreciative we are of the Mindanao debate community and the connections we have created for the past 26 years…Aside from making it one for the books, we wanted it to reflect such a rich shared history, which is why the artistic branding and our tagline, ‘The Legacy Lives On,’ became central to the entire event.”
Baintin also shared that the organization is now focusing on sustainability and future competitiveness, especially with several senior members set to graduate at the end of the academic year.
“With key seniors graduating, our priority is ensuring continuity while also setting our sights on the next major tournaments for 2026,” she said, citing upcoming competitions such as the Mindanao Intervarsity in Cagayan de Oro in March 2026, the Visayas-Mindanao Debate Championship in Iloilo in July 2026, and the United Asians Debate Championship in Bali, Indonesia at June 2026.
ADV Team RM’s Aika Rosete (10th Best Speaker of Mindanao) and Nurhata Mizhuari (6th Best Speaker of Mindanao) advanced to the grand finals;, while Team BG’s Lorrhaine Baintin (Overall Best Speaker of Mindanao) and Joie Noreen Garces (Overall Best Speaker of Mindanao), and Team AM’s Sung Goon Acosta (10th Best Speaker of Mindanao) and Joshua Morata finished as quarterfinalists.
Meanwhile, Team RK’s Keara Jacosalem and Rafael Clet (10th Best Speaker of Mindanao), Team SL’s Jeo Luntayan and Henson Sanchez, Team CD’s Ellysse Ciano and Dave Dagnipa, and Team CB’s Leonne Cuanan and Joel Baron Jr. reached the pre-quarterfinals.
Competing adjudicators Aaron Macias (7th best judge of High School Grand Finals) and Carl Gerard Gosingco (College Quarterfinals Judge) both broke into the adjudication pool..
MSU-IIT takes home the college title
Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology Debate Varsity (MIDV) Team ZJ, composed of Zhea Sanchez and Jesciller Villaruz Jr., was hailed as the champion in the college category after serving as the opening opposition in the grand finals.
College Finals Best Speaker Zhea Sanchez reflected on their victory as a moment of representation for Mindanao debaters.
“Standing there as a champion, I felt proud not just of myself, but of the community I represent. This win is proof that Mindanaoan voices deserve to be heard—and when given the chance, they speak with depth, heart, and purpose,” she expressed.
Sanchez also shared her hopes of leaving a legacy in which “kindness is treated as strength, not softness,” stressing that compassion can foster healthier, more inclusive discourse.
“In an environment as competitive as debate, it’s easy to equate excellence with aggression or dominance. I want aspiring debaters to see that you can argue fiercely and still choose empathy. If this experience sets a standard where excellence and humanity go hand in hand, then that is the legacy I am proud to leave,” Sanchez explained.
Villaruz remarked that while MSU-IIT had long aimed to reclaim the championship title after six years, he never expected to be part of the winning team.
“Our institution has been vying to get the trophy back for 6 years, and us winning is an amalgamation of all the different experiences throughout the years. I never imagined that I would be a champion of Mindanao, but with sheer perseverance and determination, I am here right now holding that trophy for the next generation to follow,” he stated.
Villaruz described their victory path as fraught with challenges since their preparations.
“Before the competition, I had been vocal about already losing the passion to debate. I felt like it did not align with my current interests anymore, and that maybe debate is just not for me. You just need to find that fire within you again. Losing hope does not mean there’s none.”
The 50th MPDC was held at the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) – Jacinto campus from January 16-18, 2026, with the college grand finals and awarding ceremony conducted at the AdDU – Senior High School Bangkal campus.
Editor’s Note: This article was first issued in the January to May 2026 Second Semester Newsletter of Atenews.