Participants of the SON Debate team, champions of the First Year Debate competition, pose for a picture. Photo by Dexter Vaughn Mancao

The final round for the First Year Debates and Extemporaneous Speaking Dialogue Competition concluded earlier today, February 16, at room F213.

Each division was allowed to send two teams consisting of three participants each for the debate competition and one pair for the extemporaneous speech contest.

Eliminations for both competitions began last February 8.

In the debate competition, the final round saw a clash between SON A (School of Nursing) and ACC B (Accountancy), with the Nursing side, composed of Yves Angelo Espino, Francesca Gendrala, and Angela Crish Platil coming out on top. SON A won over their opponents with a two-point margin.

In the Extemporaneous Speaking contest, the Humanities and Letters Cluster’s Jeffer Joy Orteza and Brent Harvey Jimenez bested School of Engineering and Architecture’s Alex John Abando III and Syed Ampatuan for the championship.

Accountancy’s Nina Patricia Cesar stood out among the competition, grabbing the Best Speaker plum. Louise Gabrielle Del Fierro and Antoni Jedd Pascua of the Natural Sciences and Mathematics division took second and third place, respectively.

The results for both contests are as follows:

Extemporaneous Speaking:

Champions: Jeffer Joy Orteza and Brent Harvey Jimenez (Humanities and Letters)
1st runners-up: Alex John Abando III and Syed Alireza Ampatuan (School of Engineering and Architecture)
2nd runners-up: Tom Jan Salavia and Jose Martin Ipong (Computer Studies)

FY Debates:

Champion: School of Nursing (SON A):
Yves Angelo M. Espino
Francesca Roya P. Gendrala
Angela Crish D. Platil

Finals Best Speaker: Angela Crish D. Platil

Top 12 Best Speakers:

1st Best Speaker: Nina Patricia Cesar (Accountancy B)
2nd Best Speaker: Louise Gabrielle Del Fierro (Natural Sciences and Mathematics A)
3rd Best Speaker: Antoni Jedd Pascua (Natural Sciences and Mathematics A)
4th Best Speaker(s):
Francis Nico Arapan (Accountancy B)
Nyll Gabrylle Gascon (Accountancy B)
Kristianne Gaile Llamera (Natural Sciences and Mathematics A)

7th Best Speaker: Yves Angelo M. Espino (School of Nursing A)
8th Best Speaker(s):
Miko Manulid (Business and Management A)
Ivan Jules Capin (Business and Management) A
Francesca Roya P. Gendrala (School of Nursing A)
Justin Madrazo (School of Engineering and Architecture A)
Sabrina Zehender (School of Engineering B)

The debates and extemporaneous speaking competitions were both part of Ateneo de Davao University’s list of activities for the 2015 College Days. Both contests were organized and headed by Ateneo Debate Varsity in partnership with SAMAHAN.