Uproar! Debate Survivors

By Angelique Tomilloso

To establish a space for critical thinking and logical reasoning, the Callidus Loquentium collaboration with Rizalian Valors Club held two seminars themed “Wisdom: The Power of Reasoning” and “Talk to Me, Confidence is Key” and a debate competition last May 9 at the Jose Rizal University Auditorium.

“The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing,” Mr. Dwight Esteves, the first resource speaker, quoted Socrates to introduce the power of argumentation. He emphasized the specific guidelines in debates to prepare the contestants and a few tips for delivering their arguments in the competition.

The debate competition, Listen Up! Time to Turn the Tables was the debate contest in collaboration with the RVC. It consisted of participants from various teams; Alagad ni Miss M V2.0, Sangguniang Kabataan, AAAAA!, and Teamba. There were three sets of designated questions from Arts, Politics, and Philosophy.

Sanggunian Kabataan won the debate, thus the final event of Callidus Loquentium officers for the school year 2022-2023.

Firstly the competition began as the first set, “Which is more meaningful? Minimalist Art or Maximalist Art,” was given. Team AAAAA! for Minimalist Art, while Sanggunian Kabataan for Maximalist Art. The Board of Judges declared that team AAAAA! was eliminated for the third set while Sanggunian Kabataan was up for the final round.

Then the second set came next, “Is the Death penalty reasonable for the most heinous crime?” with Teamba for the proposition and Alagad ni Miss M V2.0 as the opposing side. Judges requested Teamba to cite sources for their arguments — neither of the teams announced elimination.

Lastly, the third set proceeded with the topic, “Does free will exist, or is every action predetermined?” Through a tossed coin, Sangguniang Kabataan stood with the existence of the free will, while the Alagad ni Miss M V2.0 supported the idea that every action is predetermined.