Isabela State University-Cauayan City Campus (ISU-CCC) left a remarkable impression during the Buwan ng Kabataan 2023 celebration after defending its Championship title on the Inter-Collegiate Debate Cup and on capturing its first gold on the Battle of the Brains: The Ultimate Inter-School Extemporaneous Speech Showdown held earlier today, at Isabela Convention Center.
Despite limited preparation, ISU-CCC’s budding debaters, Carl Angelo Matulin and Jayson Fontanilla from the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS), together with their team captain, Nicolle Alipio from the College of Education (CEd), effectively countered Isabela Colleges’ (IC) debate team on the revival of the Mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)—IC being in the affirmative; ISU-CCC in the negative.
“Our group was not able to prepare thoroughly because of time constraints. We were only given the topic two days before the said competition. Also, the exact proposition was given two hours before the debate proper. However, even with the limitation in time, we did our best to navigate the Internet and look for credible resources,” Alipio shared.
The team also acknowledged their debate coach, Narsal Foronda, who instilled in them certain provisions of the 1987 Constitution, which helped them create sound arguments to support their claims.
Moreover, Danica Tuliao, from SAS, bested eight other public speakers from both secondary and tertiary schools within the city in her Extemporaneous Speech regarding access to higher education and its affordability.
As a newcomer to public speaking, Tuliao found the competition nerve-wracking and challenging at the same time.
“The best of the best students in schools and universities of Cauayan City were on their A game. Grabe, nakakatuwa! Overall, to meet people who are passionate in public speaking and to win this event were both positive and rewarding,” she said.
Spearheaded by the Junior Chamber International Cauayan Bamboo and the City Local Government Unit, cash prizes were appropriated to the winners.
By Angel Lu F. Cabael
