BSMT Student won Best Debater Award
Blue Blazing Owl debater John Mar Rodrigo, a Junior Cadet, took the Best Debater Award during the NWU Intramurals British Parliamentary Debate tournament finals last October 18, 2019. Along with Krisha Quinola, the pair won 2nd place as they represent the reigning team champion of University’s Intramurals.
The event which was held at the New Media Hall, Ben A. Nicolas Building; 16 groups were formed from the different sports team.
Participants of the tournament had to undergo two preliminary rounds and semi-final round to reach the finals.
The final challenge required all contestants to defend a motion “If you can do it, you can do it”.
Despite being brand-new, Rodrigo flared to grab the crown as he sizzles every Stalwarts contingent. He is taking up Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation and is the current Vice Corps Commander of the Corps of Cadets Organization in the College of Maritime Department.
This was the first debate tournament Rodrigo has attended ever since. Rodrigo and Quinola was the only pair from the Blue Blazing Owls with 3 teams remaining from the CAS-CCJE Stalwarts.
Speaking about his experience Mr. Rodrigo said: “A unique thing I think I had was that I played the debate like a chess, I had to know the topic then make a list, an ordered list on what I will say unto the debate proper, in this list, I also included what I should point out if ever a certain statement may be mentioned from the other side.
People are so fixated because they don’t have talent over things, they don’t do anything about it. Talented people don’t just stay there, they do their best to hone and improve their skills by gaining experience. That should be you also. Don’t give up easily, failures are not there to demean you but to encourage you to be better, be better against your peers when you were failing. Remember that in this world, no one can ever make decisions for yourself except you, because it is “YOUR” future, try it out, you might be scared at the first time, but if debating is your passion, you wouldn’t even seem to notice that you are already enjoying.”
Before Intramural week, the newfangled champ has divided his time by spending the morning by practicing with the cheerleading squad and with the debate team during the lunchtime.
When asked about the Blue Blazing Owls’ debate preparation, Rodrigo uttered that the first day of practice was about introducing themselves and then they were lectured by the basic structure of debate, the basic dos and don’ts and switching roles while tackling different issues.
Jessie Felipe Jr., a BA Political Science sophomore and Teddy Jr. Quintos, a BS Biology freshman grabbed the gold; Joshua Domingo and Daniel Sarabia, Fena Ennovy Zabala and Jezreel Larry Caunca bagging the 3rd and 4th place respectively.
