The Philippine Inter-collegiate Debating Championship (PIDC) 2009 is the largest and most prestigious locally-orga-nized and locally-hosted debate tournament in the country. It will be held from April 15-20, 2009 at various venues within the University of the Philippines, Diliman and nearby areas with an expected attendance of over 300 students and affiliates from all over the Philippines. The PIDC 2008 is the third installment of the previous PIDC 2007: Ninoy Aquino Cup and PIDC 2008: The Sun Life Cup, and is the 8th national Asian Parliamentary tournament organized by UP Debate Society.

WHO ARE WE?The University of the Philippines Debate Society (UPDS) is the Uni-versity of the Philippines-Diliman’s official representative to debate and public speaking competitions here and abroad. For 15 years, the UPDS has taken an active role in promoting debate and pub-lic speaking among the Filipino youth. Through programs such as Fast Forward 2006 and 2008, and Take a Stand 2007, we intro-duced high school students to the art of debate and public speaking through lectures and workshops.

UPDS has also organized the Inquirer Inter-collegiate Debate Cham-pionships 1-5 and the Philippine Inter-collegiate Debate Champion-ships 1 and 2, the biggest and most prestigious Asian Parliamentary debate tournament in the country. Every year, the tournaments have drawn about 300 students and affiliates from all over the Philippines and Asia.

QUICK FACTSWHAT? The largest, national debate tournament in the Asian Parliamentary formatWHEN? April 15-20, 2009WHERE? Various venues at the UP Diliman and near by areasWHO? Over 300 college students, high school vol un teers, observers and affiliates from all over the PhilippinesSOCIAL EVENTSOpening Dinner, Break Night Party, and Championship DInnerDEBATE ROUNDSSeven preliminary rounds and four Finals Series roundsFEATURE EVENTPublic speaking competition in cooperation with the English Speaking Union, Philippines

Philippine debating thrives with the active involvement of both Metro Manila and provincial colleges and universities. Below is a list of the institutions that have expressed their interest in attending this year’s PIDC:

De La Salle University - ManilaDe La Salle University - LipaAteneo de Manila UniversityAteneo de Zamboanga UniversityAteneo de Davao UniversityAteneo de Naga UniversityXavier University - Ateneo de CagayanUniversity of Sto. TomasUniversity of the Philippines - ManilaUniversity of the Phlippines - Los BañosUniversity of the Philippines - BaguioMapua Institute of Technology

Polytechnic University of the PhilippinesPhlippine Military AcademyColegio de San Juan de LetranLyceum of the PhilippinesMindanao State University - MarawiMindanao State University - IliganWestern Mindanao State UniversitySiliman UniversitySan Beda CollegeFar Eastern UniversityCollege of St. BenildeSt. Louis University

WHAT IS PIDC?

WHO’S COMING TO PIDC?

WHY SUPPORT DEBATE?

We believe in debate because we believe in the power of intellectual exchange. Debaters come from various walks of life, with wildly different interests, from all over the world, but we all share a passion for one thing-ideas. When we debate, we come to the table with ourselves and everything we know, and it is precisely in a debate where the magic happens.

Debate is about presenting real solutions to today’s issues, and it is about challenging familiar beliefs and percep-tions in the hopes of finding something new, and maybe better. Debate is about bringing the relevant questions of our time to the young minds that hold the future.

We hope you join us as PIDC 2009 helps shape, test, and challenge the leaders of tomorrow.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT PIDC?

THE DEBATESParticipants from all over the Philippines undergo seven grueling Preliminary Rounds to become part of the top 16 teams that will move on to the Finals Series. But the competition has yet to begin: after four more rounds, only one team will be declared National Champion. PIDC uses Asian Parliamentary format, with teams of three compris-ing either Affirmative or Negative and delivering seven-minute speeches each.

SOCIAL EVENTSAnd yet despite its highly competitive atmosphere, PIDC 2009 is also a venue for fun and camaraderie. At Opening Dinner, we warmly welcome the participants and guests, giving them a peek of the experience they will have. The Break Night Party, a night of music and dancing, caps off the preliminaries in a toast to the teams qualifying for the Finals Series. And last but not the least, the Champion-ship Dinner culminates the tournament with the awarding of the best speakers, adjudicators and the New National Grand Champion.

ISSUE FORUMPIDC is the only national tournament to host an issue forum-- an event that features an influential personality who is invited to talk about today’s most pressing issues. Our past speakers have been former Senate President Franklin Drilon and Aquilino Pimentel Sr., and celebrity economist Prof. Solita “Winnie” Monsod. The issue fo-rum is not exclusive to the PIDC participants; non-partici-pating students within and outside UP Diliman are invited to take part as well.

The enthusiasm with which young Filipinos participate in the PIDC only strengthens the claim that debating is no longer just a pastime. These young, up and coming col-lege students have travelled all over the world to com-pete in international tournaments held in universities as near as Singapore, and as far as Stellenbosch. They’ve seen the sights in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore, and partied the night away in Sydney, Cork and Pat-taya.

They blaze the trail in mobile technology, the latest cell-phones and laptops keep them in touch with colleagues and family, and digital cam-eras only make remembering

their jet-setting adventures that much easier. When it comes right down to it, debating is a lifestyle and Filipino debaters live it well.

The experiences and skills they acquire along the way empower them to speak up and speak out, making them some of the most visible students in their respective institu-tions.

They are leaders in both university politics and students organizations, and active con-tributors to print media and television. They are administrators, volunteers and consul-tants for a variety of local government and national offices. They are role models for the youth.

Respected. Admired. Influential. And they’re coming to the PIDC.

ESU PUBLIC SPEAKINGPIDC 2009 is also host of the English Speaking Union, Philippines search for the national repre-sentative to the ESU International Public Speaking Competition (ESU IPSC) to be held in London, England this May-- the same competition that saw the UPDS alumna, Inquirer columnist Ms. Pa-tricia Evanglista and Mr. Gian Carlo Dapul of the Philippine Science High School as Grand Prize winners. Indeed, as these competitions show, Filipino talent istruly world class.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT PIDC?

PIDC: A TRUSTED PARTNER

Prominent brands and institutions support the PIDC every year. The diversity of our sponsors spans a wide range of products and services, from food and beverages, supplies, media and publications, foundations, telecommunica-tions, and financial institutions. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Some of our esteemed sponsors include:

The International Herald TribuneSykesUniversal Robina CorporationSun Life, Inc.United Laboratories, Inc.Canon Marketing PhilippinesTen Outstanding Young Men Foundation (TOYM)Microtel Inns and Suites, TarlacStudio 23/Y-SpeakNational Broadcasting Network (NBN)

Globe GenTxtThe Aquino FoundationManila North Tollways Inc.North Philippines Visitors BureauTarlac Conventions and Visitors BureauSMART TelecomPHINMA Group of CompaniesThe Philippine ChronicleVictory LinerEmerald HeadwayPLDT myDSL