In the last two weeks of October 2021, UPV Debaters from the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences successfully seized a spot to compete in the EFL Finals of the largest Asian British Parliamentary Competition 2021, hosted by the SHANGHAI-SIDO-HANOI ABP Organizing Committee.
After eight (8) preliminary debate rounds, John Rey Reyes and Eljenmer Sindo, BS in Fisheries IV students, were successful in advancing to the Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals, and the Grand Finals of the EFL Category, making a ‘first’ historic finals appearance for the UPV Debate Society and the Visayas region.
Reyes and Sindo broke 4th in the English as Foreign Language (EFL) Category, competing against 182 university debate teams across all Asia before proceeding to the Outrounds of the ABP and clinching a spot in the Finals competing against debaters from Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam as the team from Closing Government.
Although unable to seize the championship, Reyes and Sindo already marked a historic feat for the UPV Debate Society in reaching as far as Grand Finals, for the first time, in the most prestigious Asian Debate Tournament for the British parliamentary format.
Ivy Marie Pilatan, BS in Biology IV, also competed as an adjudicator in the same tournament and was successful in judging for (8) eight preliminary rounds.
