Faiqah Dialanan of the ABS-CBN News Network forwarded this message to UP Manila a few days ago in behalf of Square Off consultant Patricia Evangelista.

To the University of the Philippines-Manila,

 

Greetings!

 

The ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC) has always believed in the value of critical thought and free speech, especially emanating from the Filipino youth. In this regard, we would like to invite your university to again participate in the second season of Square Off: The Philippine Debate Championships, that will begin airing every Wednesday at 8:00-9:00 pm beginning January 30, 2008.

 

Last season, sixteen teams from all over the Philippines (selected due to their participation in the recent Philippine Intercollegiate Debate Championships) competed for the championship and an all-expense paid trip to represent their university at the the World Universities Debating Championships in Bangkok, Thailand. The next season will also have 16 schools squaring off, this time for the chance to represent their university in the Asian Universities Debating Championships in Malaysia on May 2008 .

 

To improve the quality of the tournament, and to give opportunities to new universities, challengers have been invited to participate. The qualifying rounds have already begun, with lower-seeded schools defending their slots. The qualifiers end on the 23rd, and will decide who stays in three of the sixteen slots. Because of your performance last season, your university is not required to pass through the qualifiers. We are inviting your three best debaters to participate in Square Off’s Season 2, which will begin its Octofinals on January 30. We begin scheduling match-ups once confirmations are in. We hope to hear from your school within the week.

 

Should you have any concerns at all, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We would be glad for immediate confirmation.

 

 

Cheers,

 

Patricia Evangelista

Consultant

Square Off

During the last tournament, UP Manila was bounced in the octofinals when the lower seeded team of the Ateneo de Zamboanga upset the tandem of Adrian Rabe and Lee Yarcia. The team from Zamboanga was the eventual runner up to champion Ateneo de Manila University.

According to the ABS CBN crew, UP Manila will be facing Ateneo de Manila in the octofinals (!). I guess this is a result of not getting a high placing from the last Square Off Competition.

Given the chance, I’d like to represent UP Manila at Square Off but of course, the org will still have to determine the mechanism of who gets to get that privilege. Wish us luck, people!

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6 Comments

• At 2008.01.28 12:14, Sidney said:
  

  “the org will still have to determine the mechanism of who gets to get that privilege”

  Let’s debate about that! Anyway, good luck !

  [Reply]
• At 2008.01.30 01:44, alex said:
  

  wow… debating is that prominent in Philippines. Your place rocks.

  [Reply]
• At 2008.01.30 10:47, Gian Paolo said:
  

  Good luck, Benj! I hope you do get in–though you are bound to have a hard time if you do get in since you’re going to face ADMU first. Haha.

  [Reply]
• At 2008.01.30 16:58, samantha said:
  

  actually, Ateneo de Manila is seeded to go up against PMA in the octofinals.

  [Reply]
• At 2008.01.31 22:50, berserkerzcrit said:
  

  FEU gets snubbed again! As if we’re not active in the debate community…

  [Reply]
• At 2008.03.05 10:03, wala lang said:
  

  UP manila naku!! wala yan tinalo nga cla ng adzu, admu pa kaya. gudlck guys.

  [Reply]