Happy Ending

As he goes down from the hill, debater, Program Awardee for Economics, and third Best Speaker of the World Ignacio Villareal shares what representing your school and country in the global debating stage means.

When I entered the Ateneo de Manila University, my paramount goal was to be the first team from an Asian Institution to win the Open category of the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC). I did not. We reached the Open Final, which I believe was a first for any institution from the Philippines, but we lost. Prior to the tournament, I had fulfilled reading quotas and would spend hours training and case building. I tried not to waste any dull moment by consuming information from podcasts and videos in my free time. In some instances, other priorities had to take a back seat as I chased this dream. None of this was enough to win. Nevertheless, I would claim that it was still a happy ending.

I would like to start with what I get to keep. At least for this WUDC, I do not think there is a cash prize. With the online setting, I’m not even sure if one will receive a trophy. Thus, as time passes, winning WUDC ultimately lets you keep a memory. While the loss stings, I realize that because of the Ateneo Debate Society (ADS) and its alumni, I am not short in memories. My stomach or throat has ached due to laughter so many times in our virtual hangouts. When those happy memories run out, I remember more memories of how this family helped push each other to be better debaters and people. If I get to keep these people, maybe I do not need that extra memory to be happy.

Outside the ADS, I lived on the love and support by my family, the Ateneo community, and the Philippines, Asia, and many parts of the world. I grew up watching the UAAP basketball games. I cheered my heart out for Ateneo even if I did not study there. Being able to finally represent the name of the school that I used to scream from the seats of stadiums on the biggest debate stage is a win regardless of the result. I credit part of my success to my Ateneo education that expanded my knowledge not just in Economics, which I majored in, but also in Philosophy, History, Psychology, Literature, and the other subjects taught by the core curriculum that helped broaden my knowledge base to adapt to the diversity of topics that was debated on. Beyond Ateneo, this tournament got even sweeter when I received messages of support from Filipinos and Asians, especially from my family and friends, that expressed their belief in my team and me. I guess it felt great to see people cheer for Ateneo even if they did not study here.

One of the strangest things about debating in an online setting is that I both barely moved and yet travelled more than I ever did. The Ateneo Debate Society probably joined more international tournaments during the pandemic than during the rest of the time I was in the organization. We “travelled” to tournaments “hosted” in South Korea, the UK, the US, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and many more in less than two years. While I was not able to sample the local cuisine or take photos with their landmarks, I was given the privilege to interact with, albeit virtually, people from all over North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. This was epitomized by WUDC that, due to the removal of some barriers such as travel costs, gave me the opportunity to see a more genuine representation of global debating. I further felt joy in seeing how other people from Asia were able to write their own histories because of how accessible the tournament was.

And finally, I guess I am happy because many times in my career, I did feel like my goal was impossible. As a debater from the Philippines, it is easy to feel intimidated by the fact that no institution from my country had ever won the Open Championship before or even reached the Open Final. Some of my greatest debating idols before didn't go past Quarters or Semis. Every “I can do it” that I told myself was shadowed by self-doubt and “reality.” At times, I would attribute my victories to being lucky. Part of me believed that I would end my career as a Quarterfinalist or Semifinalist. Reaching the Open Final and being considered the 3rd Best Speaker of the World helped convince me that deciding to bet on myself was correct. Maybe in the future, when my inner demons tell me to quit, I look back to this tournament and bet on myself again.

I just hope that even if I end my time in Ateneo without this win, our achievement inspires future Filipino or Asian debaters to pursue their debate dreams. Then, in the very near future, we will have an even happier ending.