#NEWS | PSHS–MC students to compete in 2022 Online WSDC
by Bianca Espinoza
Two students from Philippine Science High School–Main Campus (PSHS–MC) will represent the Philippines in the 2022 Online World Schools Debate Championship (WSDC).
Hugh Mejos, from Batch 2023, and Ram Mayo, from Batch 2022, were chosen from this year’s development pool after undergoing final selections last October 16 and 17. The final team lineup was announced on October 21 on the World Schools Philippines Debate Team Facebook page.
WSDC is widely considered to be the “Olympics of high school debate.” It is held annually, with participants from around 70 countries.
The Philippine team selects high school students for the development pool every year. This year, initial tryouts were held on February 20 and 21.
For Mejos, it was an obvious choice to apply: “The amount of high-quality training and gained knowledge easily makes it worth the two hours a day training and homework outside of it.”
Mejos and Mayo are members of Invictus, PSHS–MC’s Debate Club, with Mejos as the current co-captain. Invictus has had around 16 grand final appearances and 7 championship wins in the past school year alone. They also frequently compete in national and international tournaments.
“To represent the Philippines on the biggest stage of debating is an immense privilege, and I will do all I can to further cement the country as one of the powerhouses of debate,” says Mayo.
“But most importantly, this signifies not only my individual achievement but also everyone who helped me along the way — from my seniors, coaches, club advisers, and the PSHS administration, to my current friends and clubmates in Invictus …everything I do from here onward will be for them.”
Joining Mejos and Mayo in the 2022 Philippine Team are Alex Ypil (St. Paul College Pasig), Clarisse Tan (De La Salle Zobel HS), and Paris Pineda (De La Salle Zobel HS). They will be coached by renowned debaters Jesus Falcis, Arth Mishra, and Abhinav Bathula.
Last year, the 2021 Philippine team reached the semifinals. Tobi Leung, an alumnus of Philippine Science High School–Cordillera Administrative Region Campus (PSHS–CARC), was awarded Overall Best Speaker.
