Through the years, the De La Salle Debate Society has hosted the National Asians High School Debate Championships (NAsHDC), a tournament that convenes the best and brightest high school debate teams in the Philippines. Finally mastering the intricacies of tournament hosting in the local high school level, the De La Salle Debate Society is now widening its horizons, seeking to host an international tournament open to all high schools in the Asian region.
The ASDC is projected to join together an approximated 300 of the most brilliant debaters, public speakers, and adjudicators in Asia.
Brilliant? Not quite. Try prestigious and outstanding - maybe these words would fit the quality of this tournament.
The high-spirited level of fierce competition will be accompanied by the opportunity to build golden bridges with individuals of mixed races from vast arrays of culture. Don’t forget the exposure to the rich Philippine culture history, a melting pot of tribal, Spanish, American, Japanese, and Chinese culture and history. Not only that, the ASDC will provide the local Filipino touch to the tournament with warm hospitality, unrelenting liveliness and brilliant creativity nowhere to be seen but here in our very own country.
This is a debate tournament, and this is the debate tournament you won’t dare miss.
The Philippines is the third largest English speaking country in the world. It has a rich history combining Asian, European, and American influences. Prior to Spanish colonization in 1521, the Filipinos had a rich culture and were trading with the Chinese and the Japanese. Spain's colonization brought about the construction of Intramuros in 1571, a "Walled City" comprised of European buildings and churches, replicated in different parts of the archipelago. In 1898, after 350 years and 300 rebellions, the Filipinos, with leaders like Jose Rizal and Emilio Aguinaldo, succeeded in winning their independence.
In 1898, the Philippines became the first and only colony of the United States. Following the Philippine-American War, the United States brought widespread education to the islands. Filipinos fought alongside Americans during World War II, particularly at the famous battle of Bataan and Corregidor which delayed Japanese advance and saved Australia. They then waged a guerilla war against the Japanese from 1941 to 1945. The Philippines regained its independence in 1946.
Filipinos are a freedom-loving people, having waged two peaceful, bloodless revolutions against what were perceived as corrupt regimes. The Philippines is a vibrant democracy, as evidenced by 12 English national newspapers, 7 national television stations, hundreds of cable TV stations, and 2,000 radio stations.
Filipinos are a fun-loving people. Throughout the islands, there are fiestas celebrated everyday and foreign guests are always welcome to their homes.
Excerpt from Wow Philippines!
De La Salle University - Manila is an internationally recognized Catholic university established by the Brothers of the Christian Schools in 1911.
Inspired by the charism of St. John Baptist de La Salle, the University harmonizes faith and life with contemporary knowledge to nurture a community of distinguished and morally upright scholars who generate and propagate new knowledge for human development and social transformation.
As a resource of Church and Nation, the institution endeavors to form Lasallian Achievers for God and Country who will lead in building a just, peaceful, stable and progressive Filipino nation.
Guided by this Vision, the University will become a leading research university in Southeast Asia. With its corps of eminent faculty ably supported by visionary leaders and technology-enabled professional services, the institution will offer excellent multidisciplinary programs and build a community of learners and scholars who value the pursuit of new knowledge within the perspective of Christian ideals and values.
In an academic environment permeated by excellence and scholarship, the institution will train leaders, competent professionals, scholars, researchers and entrepreneurs, who will participate actively in improving the quality of life in Philippine society.
The DLSU Debate Society is among the oldest organization in the university founded in 1957 to expose students to humanities and the arts. It envisions opening the minds of eager Lasallians to the complicated world of intellect and, above all, life. Throughout the years, the organization has time and again changed names – from Forensics to Forensic Debate, among others, and eventually becoming the Debate Society; but one thing remains constant - its relentless pursuit for excellence in the tradition of upholding Lasallian values.