ONCE UPON A TIME . . .

I find this really interesting. Philippine Debate Community Website recently launched IIDC/PIDC and NDC tabs from 2002 up to the present. I took time downloading this stuff and browse familiar names and my patience paid off. Here are the speaker's tab of some PUP-SOD debaters from long time ago. Peace out!

Inquirer Inter-Collegiate Debate 2002 (UP Diliman)

PUP 1 Arnel Mateo 71.19
PUP 2 Rom Mirador 70.66
PUP 1 Paul Jamarolin 70.58
PUP 1 Rofylyn Lagundino 70.57
PUP 2 Ralph Morales 70.09
PUP 2 Mhars Bautista 69.81

National Debate Championship 2002 ( San Beda College)

PUP C Paul Jamarolin 71.38 95th
PUP C Rofylyn Lagundino 70.57 122nd
PUP A Rom Mirador 69.14 158th
PUP A Arnel Mateo 69.05 162nd
PUP B Merry April Marco 69.05 162nd
PUP B Katherine Gomban 68.52 175th

National Debate Championship 2003 ( San Beda College)

PUP A Richard Estano 489
PUP B Grace Blasco 488
PUP A Kian Ilagan 487.67
PUP B Ace Gomez 486.67
PUP C Katrina Paala 484.99
PUP C Jayzer Cortez 480.97

Inquirer Inter-Collegiate Debate 2003 (UP Diliman)

PUP A Ralph Morales 513.3
PUP A Rom Mirador 513
PUP A Mars Bautista 509
PUP B April Marco 501.67
PUP B Arnel Mateo 505
PUP B Kat Paala 499.67
PUP C Cel Anyayahan 511.41
PUP C Mike Dumaual 518.08
PUP C Jen Bitong 509.75
PUP D Kate Gomban 498.50
PUP D Rofylyn Lagundino 501.33
PUP D Kat Infante 495.83

Inquirer-Inter-Collegiate Debate 2004 (UP Diliman)

PUP C Rofylyn Lagundino 72.14
PUP B Arnel Mateo 71.43
PUP C Dennard Dacumos 71.29
PUP B Joan Armada 70.86
PUP B Mike Dumaual 70.71
PUP C Guiillermo Dar Juan 70.57
PUP A Christian Edward Dee 70.5
PUP A Grace Blasco 70.14
PUP A Ace Gomez 69.87

Unfortunately, adjudicator tabs and motions are not included in these tournaments.

7th National Youth Parliament

Since 1996, the National Youth Commission convenes youth leaders nationwide through the National Youth Parliament. Now on its 7th year, the National Youth Parliament is a 3-day convention of youth leaders every to years wherein policy recommendations and reforms are formulated to address various issues affecting the youth. It serves as a consultative mechanism for the government in formulating comprehensive plans and strategies towards youth welfare and development. Youth leaders share valuable insights and strengthen networks to aid them in collaborative youth empowerment efforts.

The 7th National Youth Parliament will be held in Davao City on October 19-22, 2008. The program is open to all individuals:

• Filipino citizen ages 15 to 30 years old

• residing, studying or working at the place/institution for not less than six months

• President/Officer of a youth organization (i.e. school, community, civic, religious, professional, tribal and the like) or an SK Provincial Federation President (if representing SK)
  

• must not be a member of any previous National Youth Parliament

• must not have been committed of any crime involving moral turpitude

The following are the requirement for application:

• application letter to the 7th NYP
• five copies of accomplished application forms
• copy of resume/cv not more than 3 pages
• 5 copies 2 x 2 pictures
• certified true copy of Birth Certificate
• certificate of residency from the barangay
• 2 pieces self-addressed letter envelopes with 10 php worth of stamps on each envelope
• nomination letter from youth organization
• position paper/executive summary of case study/research conducted by youth organization

On case studies and/ or researches, paper must focus on any of the following youth issues:

• Youth values and Good Citizenship
  
• Youth Community Involvement and Engagement
• Youth Participation and Governance
• Violence in Youth Organizations
• Youth Lifestyles
• Peace-building
• Specific Youth Groups

Application period is from March 24- June 16, 2008. Please feel free to contact me for any queries and more details.


Fidel L. Esteban
Region 3 Representative
6th National Youth Parliament
flesteban@yahoo.com
09282573930

Rice Shortage: Causes and Prospects

Recently, a PDI Editorial chronicled how the global food crisis threatens political and social unrests around the world. It made some predictions on the far-reaching, dire consequences of the food plague. Most importantly, the editorial identified the root causes of the rice shortage:

The feared global food crisis has become a painful reality. The most palpable aspect of the food crisis is the shortage and resulting high world prices of rice, the staple food for about three billion people, or approximately half of the world’s population.

What has caused the current rice shortage?

First, the rate of population growth has outstripped the rate of growth in food production in some developing regions, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Second, less rice is being planted in some countries as land becomes exhausted or otherwise unsuitable for cultivation or is converted to other uses such as subdivisions, malls and resorts.

Third, water shortage poses a problem as rice yields depend critically on water. A study by the International Water Management Institute suggests that by 2020 one-third of Asia’s population could face a water shortage.

Fourth, droughts, pest infestation, the spread of plant diseases and other creeping disasters drastically reduce rice production.

Fifth, rising consumption in emerging countries has created increased demand on the global cereal supply.

Sixth, the expanding biofuels industry has caused the conversion of ricelands to corn and other crops that are sources of biofuels.

Seventh, the growth of the middle class in China and India has increased the demand for meat which requires the consumption of more feedstock.

But as much as it remarkably point out the reasons, it also offered serious reform strategies and solutions to bring this problem to its end:

The rice crisis appears to have caught the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo flat-footed, and in the past two weeks or so it has been panicking, begging the usual sources of rice to increase their supply to the Philippines. The administration is worried that the country might not have a sufficient supply of rice in the lean months in the second half of the year.

But after finding solutions to the problems in the short term, the government has to draw up a comprehensive program to solve the country’s perennial rice problem over the long term. The government should take note of the World Bank statement that food prices will remain high throughout this year and 2009 and will not return to the levels of early 2000 at least until 2015.

A comprehensive rice self-sufficiency program will have to make more land available to rice farmers. At the same time a rational system will have to be followed in the conversion of agricultural land to other uses.

New irrigation networks have to be constructed all over the country to make possible the cultivation of rice even during the dry season. More certified and hybrid seeds have to be used to almost double the yield per hectare. More fertilizer, preferably organic, will have to be required to realize the full benefits from hybrid seeds.

The program should also provide for the control of waste all through the food system, including the point of final consumption. It should also provide for incentives for food production, but, as has been suggested by former undersecretary of agriculture Ernesto M. Ordoñez, the government should strike a balance between farmer and consumer interests.

The Arroyo administration has been lucky this time. But unless it adopts an integrated, comprehensive long-term solution to the rice problem, it may have to deal with social unrest in the near future.

Philippine Debate Website

Its about time you update your debate online network. Recently, Benj Espina of UP Manila and Michael Manangu of Collegio De San Agustin launched the Philippine Debate Website. According to its founders, this website will serve as "a one-stop-shop for tournament updates, announcements, results and tabs."

PIDC Tabs


Please check out the team, speakers and adjudicators' tabs at www.pidc-online.com.

Team Rankings

PUP CEFP A ranked 47th
PUP CEFP B ranked 46th

Individual Speakers

120th Fidel Esteban
125th Richard Renes
129th Rose May Tubo
141st Rachael Seso
151st Monica Ramirez
172nd Katie Rosales

Education and Nationalism

In the Grand Finals of the PIDC 2008, ADMU C (Government) and ADMU A (Opposition) debated on the motion " This House Believes that the mass migration of OFWs eroded nationalism."

Government talked about nationalism in three prongs : "identification of national identity", "genuine interest to help local economy" and "pride for the country". I can't exactly remember. They argued that, on the first level, the fractionalization happening here in our country is integrated when Filipinos migrate abroad. They talked about examples about how Batangueños sticked with fellow Batangueños abroad and how they tend to seclude, say, Ilokanos and Pangasinenses. They formed communities in distant lands as support systems but these communities are the same fragmented local communities based on regional bias and language affinity. On the second level, deputy speaker discussed about remittances. She concede that these inflows do help the country but she went on questioning the real motives of OFWs in giving them. They said that these remittances are being used to send messages of affluence and convenience. When returnees send money, they didn't really aim to help but to show that they have some "extra dollars" to spare for local basketball leagues or what not. Balikbayan boxes became icons especially in the provinces. Even those women trafficked as prostitutes and battered domestic helpers refused to tell real stories of maltreatment and other inhumane conditions that they are experiencing. Still, they send money and pretend that everything's fine. They believe that if they speak out the truth and go back home, people in their neighborhood will think that "something is wrong in them". Government also mentioned about how Filipinos abroad tries to assimilate to foreign culture in different and sometimes funny ways. Some dyed their hairs while others try their hardest to conceal their accents. The continuing demand for glutathione strengthens this premise. Parents forces their children to take up nursing and other courses which has great demands abroad. Never mind that their children has every right to choose and plan for their own future.

My point is not to support the adjudicators' decision in making the government take home the win but to point out how education helps foster nationalism. The affirmative side is right in characterizing that most of today's parents forces their children to consider overseas employment in making choices about their college course. This idea takes us to define the metes and bounds of parental authority in the context of children's welfare and freedom to decide for themselves. Most importantly, it asks us to reexamine education's goal vis-a-vis nationalism.


Consider this article from the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

Education’s Goal

Philippine Daily Inquirer

April 8, 2008

The current graduation period and the opening of school two months from now should prompt students, their parents, their teachers and education officials to think again about the goal of a university education.

John Henry Cardinal Newman, in “The Idea of a University,” stated the aim of a university education clearly. He said it is to develop in the students “the force, the steadiness, the comprehensiveness and the versatility of intellect, the command over our own powers, the instinctive just estimate of things as they pass before us,” which are the fruit of rigorous training and noble influences.

Educators say that the function of education is both social and individual. Its social function is to help people become more effective members of society by passing on to them the collective experience of the past and the present. Its individual function is to enable them to lead more satisfying and productive lives by preparing them to handle new experiences successfully.

In the contemporary world, the practical objective of a university education is often stressed; it is seen as a means for social and economic advancement. The presupposition is that people live in a competitive environment and that the aim of a university education is to help them become winners. This is now the predominant thinking in the Philippines: A university education is seen primarily as a means for getting high-paying jobs and an aid to social mobility. What is often forgotten is that a university education should also develop in the students emotional intelligence, a broad cultural outlook and the right moral perspective.

In the effort to obtain the all-important diploma, it is often forgotten that a liberal education in a university is supposed to have a liberating and liberalizing influence on the lives of the students. To be educated is not only to have private enlightenment but also to have the ability to reach rational public agreements and thus become a productive member of the community. When you come down to it, a university education should develop a mind open to truth and a heart which loves the truth.

At no time in the history of the country is the need to develop a moral perspective in the youth more urgent. The bad examples of many high government officials and politicians and the nation’s culture of forgetfulness and impunity could make the impressionable youth adopt the wrong values. Students may amass a lot of knowledge of facts, theories and techniques, they may acquire cognitive skills, but if they have no moral and ethical perspective, they will not be good members of society.

* * *

Career choices

A graduating high school student now has to answer the question: What course should I take? Different people will take different approaches. One graduate says, “My father is a successful lawyer; probably I should take up law.” Another says, “I want to avoid mathematics and science subjects; I will study journalism or mass communication.” A third says, “Nurses make a lot of money in the United States and Europe; probably I should enroll in a nursing school.”

Students and their parents should face the reality that each person has his or her unique capabilities and skills. For instance, one cannot force a student who is poor in the natural sciences to study medicine. Graduates should also resist the temptation to enroll in a course just because thousands are doing it, and the opportunities for getting high-paying jobs are good. The latest report says the country now has an oversupply of nurses.

A socially responsible student will have to ask himself not just “What is in it for me?” but also “How can this course help me make my contribution to my country?” Nobel laureate Aaron Ciechanover recently said that serving one’s country and empowering others is one of the best ways to boost the Philippine economy and improve the quality of life of Filipinos.

Many graduates say that they would like to leave because they see no future in their country. But such thinking can result in a vicious cycle: Graduates leave because they see no hope in their country; the brain drain helps promote economic stagnation; economic stagnation gives graduates a sense of despair. Today’s high school graduates can start the process of ending this vicious cycle by choosing their courses well and staying in the country once they’ve graduated.

PIDC 2008 Chronicles

PUP Delegates to the 2008 PIDC at UP Diliman (Photo by: Arnel Mateo)

Official Standings

Debaters

PUP CEFP-A 3 wins and 4 loses
PUP CEFP-B 3 wins and 4 loses

Adjudicator

Maria Irene Santos broked to the Octofinals Round

I came across this brilliant article through a friend (read: Lawrence Villamar). It caught my attention not only because it was written by prolific writer and author Paulo Coelho but also because it sums up and encapsulates what I'm feeling right now.

CLOSING CYCLES
by Paulo Coehlo

One always has to know when a stage comes to an end. If we insist on staying longer than the necessary time, we lose the happiness and the meaning of the other stages we have to go through.

Closing cycles, shutting doors, ending chapters whatever name we give it, what matters is to leave in the past the moments of life that have finished. Did you lose your job? Has a loving relationship come to an end? Did you leave your parents' house? Gone to live abroad? Has a long-lasting friendship ended all of a sudden? You can spend a long time wondering why this has happened. You can tell yourself you won't take another step until you find out why certain things that were so important and so solid in your life have turned into dust, just like that. But such an attitude will be awfully stressing for everyone involved: your parents, your husband or wife, your friends, your children, your sister, everyone will be finishing chapters, turning over new leaves, getting on with life, and they will all feel bad seeing you at a standstill.

None of us can be in the present and the past at the same time, not even when we try to understand the things that happen to us. What has passed will not return: we cannot for ever be children, late adolescents, sons that feel guilt or rancor towards our parents, lovers who day and night relive an affair with someone who has gone away and has not the least intention of coming back. Things pass, and the best we can do is to let them really go away. That is why it is so important (however painful it maybe!) to destroy souvenirs, move, give lots of things away to orphanages, sell or donate the books you have at home.

Everything in this visible world is a manifestation of the invisible world, of what is going on in our hearts and getting rid of certain memories also means making some room for other memories to take their place. Let things go. Release them. Detach yourself from them. Nobody plays this life with marked cards, so sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Do not expect anything in return, do not expect your efforts to be appreciated, your genius to be discovered, your love to be understood. Stop turning on your emotional television to watch the same program over and over again, the one that shows how much you suffered from a certain loss: that is only poisoning you, nothing else. Nothing is more dangerous than not accepting love relationships that are broken off, work that is promised but there is no starting date, decisions that are always put off waiting for the ideal moment. Before a new chapter is begun, the old one has to be finished: tell yourself that what has passed will never come back.

Remember that there was a time when you could live without that thing or that person. Nothing is irreplaceable, a habit is not a need. This may sound so obvious, it may even be difficult, but it is very important. Closing cycles. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because that no longer fits your life.

Shut the door, change the record, clean the house, shake off the dust. Stop being who you were, and change into who you are.

The bastion of academic freedom hosts debate community.

PIDC 2008 Chronicles

Day 3

Round 6

Match Up

SLU A (Government) vs. PUP-CEFP A (Opposition)

Motions

1. THBT the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Plan has served the interests of the Filipino farmers.
2. THW end the conservation of the indigenous lands.
3. The developing world should prioritize food security.

Results

SLU A outsmarted PUP-CEFP A

I'm really happy about the result of this match though we lose. According to the adjudicator, it had a very close margin that made it as an above average debate. Our clash is adequate in all aspects and offered serious threats to the affirmative's case. There are many unresponded questions that could have gave us the win but learning as much is already a winning moment for me.


Round 7


Match Up

PUP-CEFP A (Government) vs. DLSU E (Opposition)

Motions:

1. THBT Independent Filmmakers should welcome the piracy of their work.
2. THBT authors of commercial spin-offs of copyrighted literature should not be made to pay royalties to the authors.
3. THBT sponsors of commissioned art should have the right to alter the final work even without the consent of the paid artist.

Result:

DLSU E gained over PUP-CEFP A

Again, we felt that we should have won this debate but the adjudicator offered too much burden on us. It was a split, we still appreciate how the dissenting adj absorbed what we are trying to say. It was disappointing and frustrating.

PIDC 2008 Chronicles
After lunch, PUP contingents pose anew at Palma Hall

Day 2

Round 3

Match up

Lyceum A (Government) vs. PUP-CEFP A (Opposition)

Motions

1. The government should stop funding research searching for the gene for autism.
2. TH supports the parent's right to avail of medical procedure infantalizing their disabled children by inhibiting their physical growth.
3. THW abolish employment quotas for the disabled.

Result

PUP-CEFP A beat Lyceum A

I'm having doubts about the unanimous decision given by the adjs because Lyceum A was so eloquent and substantive during our match. But at the end of the day, I realize what the adjs are trying to say. This is the time where I started to fear winning over good teams. Power-matching is a curse for me. The principle dictates that winners will be powermatched with winners and loosers will meet loosers in suceeding rounds.

On Lyceum Debaters

Oh they're very friendly and funny especially JJ (Deputy Speaker). I recalled that I have met him during one of our friendlies with Lyceum. I can't recall the motion but I know that he's teamed with Suzzy. They beat us then and he was just a freshie during that time. Shame on me! While Ryan (First Speaker) adjudged in one of the matches of our College debate team during our Foundation Anniversary way back in October last year. He's hot according to one of our debaters. I won't say who. Clue? She meows! He's very friendly too. He even took pictures during the break while waiting for the results.

Round 4

Match Up

UPD D (Government) vs. PUP-CEFP A (Opposition)

Motions

1. THW abolish the MMDA.
2. THBT the Sangguniang Kabataan is irrelevant today's youth.
3. THBT instead of being a political appointee, the Ombudsman should be elected by the people.

Result

PUP-CEFP A defeated UPD D

UPD D broked to the Octofinals, unluckily they met and was thwarted by UPD A on their way to the Quaterfinals. Judging by their looks, they're younger compared to our team both in age and debate experience but they're already excellent speakers. The set-up that they provided was simple yet clear and characterizations were presented vividly. I guess our strong rebuttal case ( As agreed upon by the judges) prevailed and highlighted some inconsistencies and flaws.

Taken at Melchor Hall Auditorium as the second day of tournament kicks off

Round 5

Match Up

PUP CEFP A (Government) vs. Ateneo De Davao University A (Opposition)

Motions

1. TH celebrates the role of organized religion in attaining equality.
2. THBT the Dali Lama should cede control of Tibet to China.
3. TH would remove restrictions on campaign donations made by religious organizations.

Result

ADDU A won over PUP-CEFP A

The problem lies not just in our definition but on the whole case as well. We don't have enough matter to get us through. ADDU A also broked to the Octofinals. ADMU A blocked their way towards the Quaterfinals.

ADDU A is one of the teams to beat in this tournament. Perfect team dynamics and superb eloquence coupled with interesting perspectives and analyses on the issue which we obviously lacked. The match was adjudicated by Wyndale Wong of ADMU (later on declared as Best Adjudicator). He's discerning and offered insightful points of improvement. He's simply the best for me!

PIDC 2008 Chronicles
PUP-CEFP Teams A and B during the Opening Program of the 2008 PIDC: The Sun Life Cup at Katip's Bar

PIDC 2008 Chronicles

Day 1

After so much hardwork and heartbreak, the PUP-School of Debaters sent two teams and two adjs in the 2008 Philippine Inter-Collegiate Debate Championships help at UP Diliman Campus.

PUP-CEFP A

Debaters:
Fidel L. Esteban
Rachael Seso
Kristine Tyrol Rosales

Adjudicator:
Lawrence Villamar

PUP-CEFP B

Debaters:
Rose May Tubo
Monica Ramirez
Jan Richard Renes

Adjudicator:

Ma. Irene Santos

The tournament opened at the UPD College of Engineering (Melchor Hall) for registration and adjudication exams for non-Manila institutions. Lunch was served at the Katip's Bar in Katipunan where the Opening Program was held. It was not the Opening Party that I was expecting but thanks to the crispy sisig that somehow ease my first day tournament jitters.

Match Ups

After lunch, we journeyed back at Melchor Hall for the first round.

Round 1

PUP-CEFP A (Government) vs. DLSU D (Opposition)

Motions

1. THBT the State should ban all private schools from sanctioning students who exhibit homosexual behavior.
2. THW allow Universities to allot slots for the admission of children of alumni.
3. TH supports the right of private elementary schools to require pre-school education for grade one applicant.

Result

PUP-CEFP A bowed to DLSU D


My team mates and I agreed on one point - the adjudicators (yes! unanimous decision) entered the debate and failed to flesh out the issues. We've been robbed! Our doubts were strengthened by the fact that our adjudicators offered very confusing and conflicting points of improvement. I'm glad non of them broke to the higher rounds.


Round 2

PUP-CEFP A (Government) vs. UPLB C (Opposition)

Motions

1. THBT America should welcome Iran's involvement in Iraq.
2. THW lift U.S. sanction in Cuba.
3. THBT U.S should not support the entry of former Soviet States into the NATO.

Result

PUP-CEFP A prevailed over UPLB C

This is a very difficult round for me not only because I'm not that too familiar with the motions but also because of a good adj that judged our debate. Jay Mata is an accomplished adj form DLSU. UPLB C is also a good contingent but their whip was not well supported by their constructive speakers.