Debate Without Borders conducts workshop for QC schools

Debate Without Borders (DWB), comprised of core members of the Philippine National High School Debate Team that competed in the recent World Schools Debate Championship, conducted a public speaking, debate and argumentation workshop for 26 public schools in Quezon City attended by close to 150 students last Sept. 28 at the Gardner College Annex.

Primary resource speakers were Xavier School debate moderator and international baccalaureate program English teacher Alfonz Chopitea who spoke on effective public speaking and former Asian debate champion and current Philippine National High School debate team coach Atty. Jesus Falcis who spoke on the art of debate and argumentation.

A brainchild of DWB founder and president Eaton Marie Sia, the workshop was conducted in partnership with the Rotary International District 3780 Interact Committee led by its chair Marcia Salvador and the Interact Club of St. Francis Xavier spearheaded by Sia as well.

Also lending a hand were DWB officers and members: VP David Bloom from International School Manila, Secretary Aly Barranda from Miriam College, Marc Marquez from Ateneo de Manila High School, Bea Cuizon and Indira Sowy from St. Paul College Pasig, and Luke de Ocampo from Xavier School.

The participants left the workshop full of new learnDebate workshop participants ings. In the words of one of the school advisers who attended the workshop, her students now feel “they are now the best in school”.

“Debate is more than just about public speaking and critical thinking, it is also about confidence, teamwork and respecting the viewpoints of others. Hopefully, through this workshop, the students were able to improve themselves in more than just one aspect,” Sia said.