The UM Debate Society

𝐊𝐀𝐏🐚| The UM Debate Society congratulates its contingents for their excellent run on the recently concluded Kasama Asian Parliamentary hosted by Parliamate last May 2-3 online via Discord.

One team broke onto Open Quarterfinals and bagged multiple speaker awards with Heidy Ongayo as the Overall Open and Novice Best Speaker, Joshua Cuadrillero as 2nd Best Novice Speaker, and Alexa Estaniel as the 4th Best Novice Speaker.

Representing judges also proceeded to the outrounds with Bryle Alaba being awarded as the 6th Best Judge, and Relyn Nuenay ending her run at the Open Pre-Quarterfinals.

𝐂𝐍𝐂🌴| The UM Debate Society congratulates its contingents for their excellent run on the recently concluded Cebu Novice Cup hosted by the Cebu Speech and Debating last April 25-26 online via Discord.

The sole competing team of UMDS bagged the Novice Champions title with Heidy Ongayo being awarded as the 8th Best Novice Speaker, and Daniel Kim Dilla as the 6th Best Novice Speaker and Finals Best Speaker.

𝐒𝐏𝐎 𝐏𝐑𝐄-𝐔𝐀𝐃𝐂🦅| The UM Debate Society congratulates its contingents for their excellent run on the recently concluded Southern Philippines Open Pre-UADC hosted by the Xavier Debate Circle last April 25-26 online via Discord.

Members broke onto the Novice Semifinals, with Ramil Arreza and Lorraine Ebardo being awarded as the 4th Novice Best Speaker, and Nycred Cuaresma as the Novice Overall Best Speaker.

𝟏𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐙𝐃𝐎🌸| The UM Debate Society congratulates its contingents for their excellent run during the recently concluded 14th Zamboanga Debate Open hosted by the Ateneo Debate Union held last 18th-19th of April 2026, online via Discord.

The organization was represented by 2 teams and one adjudicator, consequently bagging Novice Championship, Open Octofinals, multiple speaker awards, and reserve judge breaks.

𝐋𝐍𝐃𝐂 𝟐🐓| The UM Debate Society congratulates its contingents for their excellent run on the recently concluded 2nd Luzon Novice Debate Cup hosted by Kamalig Debate Tournaments held last 11th-12th of April 2026, online via Discord.

The team composed of Seth Angay and Nycred Cuaresma reached Open Semifinals with adjudicator Sharmina Bendanillo being reserved as breaking judge in the tournament.

𝟏𝟎𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐎 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐑𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐘🎭| The UM Debate Society congratulates its independent contingents for their excellent run on the recently concluded 10th Mindanao Intervarsity hosted by the Xavier Debate Circle held last 27th-29th of March 2026 at Xavier University, Cagayan de Oro City.

3 teams proceeded to the outrounds reaching Open Pre-Quarterfinals, Novice Grandfinals, and Novice Semifinals. Seth Amiel Angay was awarded as the 3rd Best Novice Speaker.

We would also like to thank our adviser, alumni, friends, and family, who supported us in our endeavor. This participation wouldn't be possible without their support.

𝐃𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐎𝐌 🌸| We see what happened, and we refuse to pretend otherwise.

Recent events surrounding the University’s official student publication culminated in its eventual deletion. What should have remained an independent editorial platform was instead subjected to pressure that ultimately dismantled its ability to operate.

Let us call this what it is. 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽.

Censorship doesn't only exist in outright bans. It also appears when editorial independence is undermined, when platforms are taken away, and when journalists are pushed out for exercising the very function they exist to perform. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹. A censored press weakens scrutiny, shields institutions from accountability, and denies the public access to information necessary for informed judgment.

Student press is not merely a communication outlet. It is a training ground for critical inquiry, civic participation, and intellectual independence. Removing its agency sends a clear message to the student body that dissenting opinions are unwelcome.

The timing makes this even more alarming. The Philippines continues to grapple with recurring corruption controversies that demand constant public scrutiny. Women in public life are still subjected to degrading sexist remarks, as seen in the recent controversy involving Congressman Suntay. Internationally, the escalating conflict involving United States and Israeli strikes on Iran reminds us how narratives around power and violence are contested in real time. In moments like these, silence becomes complicity. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁.

The UM Debate Society stands in solidarity with the editorial board of PRIMUM because we recognize this struggle. We know what it means to lose platforms. Debate, at its core, depends on the existence of spaces where ideas can be tested openly and without fear. Yet we too have experienced moments where those spaces became uncertain, where the platforms meant to host discourse could be withdrawn, restricted, or placed under pressure. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿. 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱.

Our struggle therefore runs parallel. Student journalists fight for the right to publish. Debaters fight for the right to question. Both depend on the same principle that ideas must be allowed to confront power without intimidation.

We are aware that speaking openly carries consequences. This post itself may invite administrative backlash. But control survives by cultivating fear, and fear works best when individuals believe they stand alone. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗱𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲. When communities speak together, intimidation loses its power.

For this reason, we call on fellow students and organizations across the university to do the same. Release your statements. Express your positions. Let this moment become a record that the student body did not remain silent. We refuse to be sidelined.

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗶𝗳 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝘁. 𝗔𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁.

Proud to Oppose!


-mum

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍’𝐒 𝐃𝐀𝐘 🎀 | As a debate organization, we recognize the struggles, resistance, and resilience of working women who continue to challenge inequality. For generations, working women have been the backbone of movements pushing for a more just and equitable society. Their fight reminds us that progress is never handed freely. It is built through resistance and collective action.

Debate is not only about arguments. It is about questioning power, confronting injustice, and refusing to stay silent in the face of inequality. Today, we stand with working women everywhere and reaffirm our commitment to using our voices to challenge oppressive systems and push for a future where women’s rights, labor, and dignity are fully recognized.

𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐀 𝐃𝐄𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐂𝐔𝐏🏔️| The UM Debate Society congratulates its contingents for their excellent run on the recently concluded Hiraya Debate Cup hosted by the Orientala Mindoro National High School held last February 28th- March 1st 2026 via Discord.

One team ranked as the first reserve breaking team with the two participating adjudicators under UMDS successfully broke to the outrounds with Sharmina El June Bendanillo being awarded as the 5th Best Judge of the tournament.

We would also like to express our gratitude to the UM Office of Student Affairs - Main Campus for their continued support.

𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐄𝐃𝐒𝐀🇵🇭| Today, February 25, we mark the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. This is not a ritual of remembrance, but an assertion of political memory. EDSA is recalled because power relies on forgetting, and resistance begins with refusing historical erasure, distortion, and manufactured silence.

For a debate organization, resistance does not end at the streets and does not begin only at moments of crisis. Debating itself is a political act. It is protest extended beyond the podium, where arguments challenge distorted narratives, where ideas refuse to be neutral in the face of inequality, and where platforms are actively used to confront power rather than accommodate it. Every motion interrogated and every claim scrutinized becomes part of a broader struggle against silence and complacency.

Commemorating EDSA sharpens our purpose. To remember is to take a position. Education and discourse are not neutral spaces, they are battlegrounds where truth is defended, power is questioned, and democratic memory is actively preserved.

𝐒𝐈𝐊𝐋𝐀𝐁 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔🔥| The UM Debate Society congratulates its members in their recent achievements on the recently concluded SIKLAB 2026 hosted by the Davao Colleges and Universities Network (DACUN) held last February 15, 2026 at the Philippine Women's College of Davao.

Members Ramil Arreza, Seth Angay, and Alexa Estaniel represented UM - Main in the tournament with Seth Amiel Angay being awarded as the Overall Best Speaker of the competition.

We would also like to thank the UM Office of Student Affairs - Main Campus for their continued support.