The Ateneo de Manila University delivered a historic first for the Philippines by winning the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) held in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday, January 4, 2023.
The Ateneo Debate Society (ADS), represented by BS Applied Mathematics majors David Demitri Africa and Robert Nelson “Toby” Leung, won the grand finals against teams from Princeton University in the United States, Tel Aviv University in Israel, and Sofia University in Bulgaria.
The 43rd World Universities Debating Championship is one of the largest and most diverse university-level major competitions, hailing teams from around the world.
Ateneo has now appeared in the finals three consecutive times, an accomplishment no Filipino team has accomplished since the tournament’s inception.
The competing teams debated the preferability of a “world where all persons have a strong belief in the philosophy of Ubuntu”.
Ubuntu, which means “I am because we are” is an “African philosophy that places emphasis on being self through others”.
The winning Ateneo Debate Society team also congratulated the rest of the Ateneo Contingent: Ateneo B, represented by Quintin Chua and Aly Barranda, Ateneo C, represented by Bern Advincula and Zen Tiangco, and judges Bea Cuizon and Paolo Taino, for representing both the Philippines and the organization.
Congratulations @AteneoDebate – the Philippines' first winners of the Madrid #wudc2023 STORY by @Chan_Tacsiat https://t.co/APLCZbIMi5
— GoodNewsPilipinas.com (@GoodNewsPinas_) January 5, 2023
De La Salle University Manila won the 2016 edition of the WUDC held in Greece.
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to the Ateneo de Manila University for its Historic First win for the Philippines at the World Universities Debating Championship!
Good News Pilipinas is a Lasallian Scholarum Awardee. TELL US your good news story tips by messaging GoodNewsPilipinas.com on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or e-mail editor@goodnewspilipinas.com and WATCH Good News Pilipinas TV YouTube & Good News Pilipinas TikTok for more Filipino Pride stories!
