ATENEO de Manila University’s debating team finally succeeded where other local squads failed in the past, winning the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC), the world’s biggest debating tournament, in Madrid, Spain.
Tobi Leung and David Africa bested teams from Princeton University, Sofia University, and Tel Aviv University during the grand finals of the event held from December 27 to January 4.
Competing teams debated over the philosophical belief Ubuntu “that asserts that people’s identities should be shaped by, and their obligations should primarily owed to, their communities.”
The debate uses the British Parliamentary Debate format, with the topics being made public only 15 minutes prior to the start of the competition.
Loyola Schools Vice President Maria Luz Vilches congratulated the Ateneo Debate Society, particularly Africa and Leung, for winning the tournament, only the second team from Asia to achieve the feat, in the 43rd edition of the event.
Last year, a team from BRAC University in Dhaka, Bangladesh won the title.
“Many warm Congratulations to the Ateneo Debate Society and particularly to the Ateneo team of David Africa (4 BS Applied Mathematics) and Tobi Leung (2 BS Applied Mathematics) who have just won the World Universities Debating Championships held in Madrid, Spain! A great way to start the New Year!” Vilchez said in a Facebook post.
This was the third time Africa competed in the WUDC Grand Finals while Leung triumphed in his international debut.
Vilchez said the team beat Broen University, IT Bandung and Chulalongkorn in Round 1; Princeton, Vandervilt and New South Wales and Harvard in Rounds 2 and 3; Stanford, Sofia and Tel Aviv universities in Round 4; Princeton, Stanford and Sydney in Round 5; two teams from Princeton and Tel Aviv in Round 6; and the London School of Economics in Round 7.
In Rounds 8 and 9, Ateneo also beat Princeton and Sydney universities.
“In the break rounds, they faced and beat: Octofinals — Princeton and Tel Aviv, Quarterfinals — Stanford and London School of Economics and Semis — Sydney and London School of Economics,” Vilchez added.
Leung was named the second-best speaker while Africa ranked eighth. Hadar Goldberg of Tel Aviv University won the best speaker award.
The WUDC is governed by the World Universities Debating Council, which sets the parameters of the tournament with rules of the debate, eligibility to participate, and in the selection of the annual host.
