#NEWS | PSHS–MC students win nat’l debate competition, first time since 2003
By Bianca Espinoza
Two students from the Philippine Science High School–Main Campus (PSHS–MC) are the champions of this year’s Philippine Schools Debate Championship (PSDC). The last time a PSHS–MC team won the championship was in 2003.
PSHS–MC DM, composed of Neil De Jesus and Ram Mayo of Batch 2022, was declared the winning team after debating on the Grand Finals motion: “This house regrets the glorification of the EDSA Revolution.”
Joining De Jesus and Mayo in the Grand Finals were David Mencias and Hugh Mejos (PSHS–MC MM), Paris Pineda and Clarisse Tan (De La Salle Zobel A), and David Bejarin and Johann Bernardo (Ateneo de Manila University SHS B).
PSDC, widely considered to be one of the most prestigious national competitions for high school debaters in the Philippines, is held annually, with teams from renowned institutions across the country participating.
“It’s not a stretch of the imagination to think that PSDC really is the most important tournament of the year for any aspiring Filipino debater’s career,” De Jesus remarked.
Invictus, PSHS–MC’s Debate Varsity, had ten teams in this year’s contingent — the highest number of teams the institution has sent to the tournament.
Eight of these teams qualified for break rounds, with four students receiving speaker awards. David Mencias and Neil De Jesus were named this year’s Overall Best Speaker and Finals Best Speaker respectively, marking the first time a PSHS–MC student received either award.
For the two national champions, the title was a culmination of all the hard work they had put in.
“It celebrated the commitment of a club that may not have had the same resources as other more established institutions in the country, or the same connections and networks as them, but had the dedication and grit to work even harder to match and even dominate these other institutions,” Mayo said.
De Jesus and Mayo hope their historic run in PSDC encourages others to join or reach out to the club.
“If you want to be a part of history, join Invictus. Who knows, you might just be a national champion someday,” said De Jesus.
