UPM E - semifinalists, UP Intervarsities 2007
Since I’m a med student from some med school in the Philippines, I’m constantly pestered with questions regarding why I continue to compete as a debater and remain active in the collegiate debating scene. Some of them even go as far as asking why I didn’t pursue law instead. I just usually smile, chuckle a bit and say that I didn’t take up law because I want to help people. Of course, that would be my queue to leave the room.
I left debating in 2005. After three years of competing for UP Manila, it felt like debate has become so humdrum that it started to lose meaning. Debating is a personal challenge that a debater puts upon himself. He puts himself in a situation wherein he has to come up with very convincing cases in fifteen minutes on topics that he may have a) no idea whatsoever or b) a totally opposite take on. Of course, the risk for humiliation is also there. That might be a deal breaker for most, but those who dare to challenge themselves cerebrally, it is one of the main attractions of the competition.
Other than the intellectual and emotional strain that comes with the competition, the more palpable and probably more relevant concern is one that deals with the financial load that debate brings. Debate is not cheap. One has to cough up at least 4000 to 5000 pesos for local tournaments and at least 30 thousand pesos for international tournament. Much of the amount is paid as registration fee, hotel accommodation and food through out a week-long tournament. There is no prize money. The only semblance of a material prize that you’ll get is a trophy or medal - and of course, you’ll only get those if you do very very well.
Debate is probably the most addicting thing I’ve ever experienced next to music and sleep. Many people could attest to its allure. In fact, countless students and *ehem* graduates still find it hard to leave the scene and move on with their lives. In fact, some are willing to continue debating even if they’re already in their late 20s or *gasp* 30s! That alone proves that debate engulfs people to the extent that they themselves are not willing to admit.
The funny thing is that I wouldn’t have returned to debating had it not been for a very innocent incident last April. It was past the hour of nine when I decided to go out and get some dinner from Jollibee. It was a pleasant surprise to see some debaters still eating past the mall’s closing time. I decided to accompany them to catch up on what was going on in the local debate scene. Apparently, a competition (the Philippine Inter-collegiate Debate Championship) was coming up and the UP Manila contingent was in need of more adjudicators to fill the void of participants. A lot of those who committed to going pulled out during the last minute. Since it was already less than a week away, I volunteered my rusty but hopefully still competent self to adjudicate in the said tournament. After all, it was going to be at the same weekend as iBlog3.
To my surprise, the PIDC was not going to be held at UP Diliman. It was slated to be hosted by Tarlac City. Luckily, the org had funds to subsidize my last-minute inclusion and my schedule was very much cooperative.
And as they say, the rest was history. I was one of seven adjudicators to judge the finals and that sort of came as an epiphany. Maybe they still need me after all.
I guess they still do.
Finals Adjudicator, Philippine Intercollegiate Debate Championship 2007
Finalist, National Debate Championship Public Speaking Competition 2007
Semifinalist, UP Intervarsities with Robin Lucas
Quarterfinalist, National Debate Championship with James Salisi
Top Speaker, Saint Paul Manila Intervarsities
And oh, I’m still going to the Worlds! All is good.
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SAD really….that some people should think that debate is something limited to Law and lawyers. Duh.
congratulations, benj! familiar faces, familiar names, familiar spots to find yourselves in (at the top, of course!) =] all the best in the competitions ahead, whatever role you maybe playing there =]
see you guys around! -dr.ian / com.med