Comments on: Aaron Chan and Anna Arcellana (UP DILIMAN A) Named As New National Debate Champions

By: benj

benj — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:43:02 +0000

Hey Diane, thanks for leaving a comment here. I remember having you as my octofinals adjudicator the first time I made the breaks as a debater (PIDC 2004). Cheers.

-Benj

By: Diane Desierto

Diane Desierto — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:02:36 +0000

Hi everyone. One of my students forwarded me this thread and I was a bit bemused, to say the least, that whatever 'records' I had as a student from over a decade ago are even remembered at all today. Since I'm quite possibly the best person to verify all this information, I might as well end the discussion so everyone can move on and PLEASE give this year's champions their hard-earned due. To be matter of fact about it, I was awarded Best Debater and 1st Runner-up Best Public Speaker during the 1999 NDC, where, with the amazing Jae dela Cruz, we made it to the semifinals. While a student of UP, I was fortunate to have teamed up with brilliant teammates such as Arnell Uychoco, Lilibeth Almonte, Ruben Acebedo, Neil Silva, Queenie Oyales, and Michael Mejia to win the 2001 ASEAN Varsities Debate Championships, the 2001 All-Asian Intervarsity Debate Championships, and the 2004 Jean Pictet World International Humanitarian Law Moot Competition (English session). In my present work as a law professor at UP and international lawyer here at Yale, I have vague recollections about other records, but I choose to remember innumerable team experiences of friendships and fellowships forged, valuable insights exchanged on urgent issues of socio-political significance, and translations to actual advocacies beyond debate. I have the most respect for teammates and colleagues of mine who have gone on to give genuine meaning to debate — not as sophistry but as civic participation. That's how I hope we continue the grand tradition of UP debating as Iskolars ng Bayan.

Please give my best congratulations to this year's new UPD champions, and the overall stellar showing of UPD. I believe every UPDS generation is better each year, and we cannot devalue what each generation accomplishes by placing undue weight on records. Your alumni (and everyone fortunate to partake in some small measure of this wonderful news) are already more than proud of you. I only hope that this championship is the beginning of meaningful life pursuits and purposes. Beyond university debating and the propensity for soundbyte opinions, your voices will be crucial in advancing enlightened exchanges in our country and the world at large.

Diane Desierto

UP BS Econ (2000), UP LLB (2004),

Yale LLM (2009), Yale JSD (2014)

By: Nico

Nico — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:37:52 +0000

I believe Diane was overall best speaker and, together with Jae dela Cruz, composed the team that broke at the top of the very first NDC held in 1999 in Ateneo. I could be wrong because I wasn't there. Maybe you can ask Leloy to confirm.

I am sure, though, that Diane won neither tournament. I'm particularly sure about IIDC because she predated that tournament. The very first IIDC was in 2002 and she was no longer doing parliamentary then.

By: schoolgirl

schoolgirl — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:32:51 +0000

Diane Desierto won best speaker of the first NDC, but not the championship.

The first time UPDS won it was in 2006 with Nico Cabrera and Claudia Poon.

By: J

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:14:37 +0000

I think Diane Desierto won either NDC or IIDC

Talagang news article kung news article ang post. Wala man lang personal NDC experiences?

By: Hmm

Hmm — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:49:02 +0000

Hmm. Guess I was wrong. Oh well. Feel free to delete previous comment. Or not.

By: Hmm

Hmm — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:45:13 +0000

I'm pretty sure UPD won the NDC even before they won in Baguio a few years ago. Didn't Diane Desierto win the NDC before?

Double-check your facts.

…of coures, I could be wrong too.