by Brian Howell Bellosillo
After a fierce exchange of arguments, James Zedric Arancillo and Camille Ann Dicon of Capiz State University - Roxas City Campus enter the top 4 of the International Debate Championship via Zoom on May 20, 2024.
Organized by the International Education Institute at Van Lang University, the International Debate Championship is an event that brings together students from around the world and provides them with an avenue to showcase their debating skills while raising awareness on important topics.
Competing against 8 countries and 8 provinces from the Philippines, Arancillo and Dicon managed to beat the competition on the topic "This house believes that AI can foster proactive learning in education."
“AI is not here to replace educators but to enhance their capabilities. By harnessing the power of AI, we can create an education system that celebrates diversity and fosters inclusivity," Dicon stressed in one of her arguments.
During the second round held on May 17, Arancillo was assigned as the Prime Minister while Dicon stood as the Deputy Prime Minister as they argued on the affirmative side of the issue.
Prior to the competition, the debaters, together with their team composed of Aldreana Sereneo, Ervi Kile Bulquerin, and Meljud Benecio, and their coaches, Professor Rimark Camulo and Prof. Vicmar Solano, prepared rigorously to ensure a win.
"Not a day went by without some arguing because our coaches always put pressure on us by asking multiple questions to prepare for the debate. We didn't even sleep properly that week as we practiced, polished our constructive speeches, argued, and researched," Arancillo highlighted about their preparation.
Dicon added, "To be honest, I was really anxious after our performance. Waiting for the results was very draining—I couldn’t sleep well and kept refreshing the page every minute, hoping the results were posted. When we finally saw the results, I felt an immense sense of relief, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I cried tears of joy, realizing that all our hard work had paid off. It wasn’t just a personal victory; we owed it to our dedicated researchers, supportive seniors, and our amazing coaches."
IDebate is in its third season, and the final round will be held on June 7 where the CapSU team will compete against three teams from Vietnam, Indonesia, and France.
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