The Ateneo De Manila University A team of David Africa and Tobi Leung made history on January 3, 2023 by winning the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) held in Madrid, Spain. This marks the first time that a team from the Philippines or Southeast Asia has won this prestigious tournament, beating out competition from esteemed universities such as Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, National University of Singapore, and London School of Economics.
In addition to the team’s victory, Leung was named the second best speaker while Africa was ranked eighth. The theme of this year’s finals was whether it is preferable to have a world where all individuals have a strong belief in Ubuntu, an African philosophy that emphasizes the importance of relationships and community in shaping an individual’s identity. Hadar Goldberg of Tel Aviv University was named the best speaker.
Dr. Marlu Vilches, Vice President for the Loyola Schools and OIC for the Professional Schools, offered her congratulations to the Ateneo A team, stating, “May your historic achievement inspire more students to scale ever higher heights of excellence for the betterment of our nation and of the world in these challenging times.”
University President Fr. Roberto C Yap SJ also congratulated Africa and Leung, saying, “Their win is proof that our debaters can stand head and shoulders above their peers from some of the best universities in the world.” He went on to express his gratitude to the team for bringing “immense pride” to the Ateneo community, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia.
WUDC, which took place from December 27, 2022 to January 3, 2023, attracted over 260 debate teams from around the world. The next World Universities Debating Championship will be held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
