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Finalists Joshua Lim and Allan Cabrera from the Colegio de San Agustin Makati triumphed in the 2008 Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Grand Debate Final held last November 8, 2008 at the Great Eastern Hotel. Mr. Cabrera was also awarded as Best Speaker of the debate tournament.

The debate finals, held yearly and organized by the Ateneo Debate Society (ADS), is the culmination of a 4-day debating tournament, the Philippine Schools Debate Championship (PSDC). The tournament was earlier opened with the KAS Issue Forum, held last November 5, 2008 and featured leaders from the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance, Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio and San Isidro, Nueva Ecija mayor Sonia Lorenzo. The PSDC remains as the biggest High School Debate tournament in the country today.

Other finalists included teams from Woodrose High School, and the Ateneo de Manila High School. Over 100 teams from high schools all over the country participated with more than 200 students taking part.

Students debated the merits of forming a “League of Democratic Nations”, and examined the current successes and failures of the international community. Arguments included the expedition of decision-making due to common ideologies (democracy), the demerits of the formation of a “big boy’s club” and exclusionist politics of forming such a league.

KAS Country Representative Klaus Preschle congratulated all participants of and especially the finalists and the winners of the KAS-ADS Grand Debate Championship of the Philippine Schools Debate Tournament. He highlighted the positive influence of debate societies in the Philippines on Philippine democracy and democratic debate cultures. He said that the support of debate clubs is one of the most effective programs regarding political education for the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. The on-going debate education program of Ateneo Debate Society would help young leaders to shape their research skills and leadership capacities. He congratulated the Ateneo Debate Society for having contributed to the emergence of many first-class debaters in the Philippines who belong to the best in the world and serve as role models for succeeding generations. Referring to the debate topic in the final, Mr. Preschle said that the world has to find effective mechanisms to work together in times of globalization. Many issues like global warming, the threat of terror and the financial crisis are global issues and can therefore only be solved by a global community that is willing and able to cooperate with each other. He also stressed the need for democratic societies to give answers to the current social and economic problems. The stability of democracy depends on its capability of finding creative and effective solutions to the urgent problems of the people. He urged the Filipino youth to address the issue of social divide and social injustice. Mr. Preschle said that in the Philippine context could governance would be needed to strengthen Philippine democracy.

The grand debate is part of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s on-going support for the Ateneo Debate Education Program, which seeks to train the youth in methods of debate to increase the youth’s awareness regarding today’s current issues.