Asian Schools Debate Championship

The Asian Schools Debate Championship, commonly coined as ASDC, is a debate tournament in the Asian Region organized and founded by the La Salle Debate Society (LSDS) of De La Salle University.

The first ASDC was held in 2009 at the De La Salle University campus. In 2010, the tournament was held in the same location. Hosted by Daewon Foreign Language High School, the 2011 Edition of ASDC was held at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, Republic of Korea on July 22–28, 2011. In its 2012, The ASDC was held in Ipoh, Malaysia hosted by Sekolah Tunkul Abdul Rahman whilst its 2013 edition was hosted by Claret School of Quezon City. The tournament was held in Malaysia for the second time in 2014, hosted by Sri KDU Secondary School in Kuala Lumpur.

With participants from countries across Asia, the Asian Schools Debate Championship provides youths of Asia a chance to develop their potential in debate. The gathering of qualified talents from Asia not only allows for diverse, heated competition but also creates an opportunity for participants to share and learn diverse cultures. In doing so, this debate tournament aims to encourage exchange of ideas and interactions among Asian youth for the strengthening and expansion of the debate community in the Asian region.

Aims

ASDC aims:

1. To HONE the potentials of the Asian youth and unleash their talents;
2. To INCULCATE the value of critical thinking and awareness to the future leaders of Asia;
3. To PROVIDE an avenue for academic discourse and cultural exchange amongst the youth;
4. To CONTRIBUTE to the social, cultural and intellectual growth of the Asia’s young generations;

Tournament Format

ASDC uses the Asian Parliamentary debate format. It is a 3-on-3 parliamentary debate style that was founded in 1994 in University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia. There is a separate novice division and Public Speaking Category in the tournament although considerable concern was raised during ASDC 2009 over inappropriate topics.

The ASDC has also implemented a separate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) break final. The EFL break is reserved for teams whose members do not use English as a primary medium (that do not qualify for the open break).

ASDC Organization

The Asian Schools Debate Council is responsible for decisions in regards how the tournament is run, as well as to present bids and vote on the tournament host for the following year. Every motion in council is decided by a majority vote from all participants. The Council meets twice every tournament, with a meeting dedicated for the setting of agendas and another to serve as the main council meeting. All other affairs are managed by the Executive Committee in online sessions.

After the 2009 and 2010 editions of the tournament, both held in De La Salle University of Philippines, the Council elected Seoul, South Korea to host the third ASDC. It was in Seoul that the Asian Schools Debate Council was formally established, when representatives of all participating schools ratified the draft constitution. The Council is headed by the Executive Committee.

ASDC 2011 Seoul

The 3rd ASDC was held in the campus of Ewha University, Seoul, South Korea, from July 22 to July 28. More than 300 High school students from over 10 different countries and experienced judges agathered in Seoul Korea for not only a fantastic discussion experience, but also for new acquaintances and a cultural experience.

STAR ASDC 2012

In May 2012, the ASDC community gathered in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia to compete in the Asian Schools Debate Championship. It is notable that in this tournament, the number of breaking teams was extended to 24 (more than the usual 16) to accommodate those affected by a tab mistake. The resolution was voted after a heated debate in the council meeting of that tournament.

Claret ASDC 2013

Dubbed as "Claret ASDC: Experience the Full Circle", Claret School of Quezon City, Philippines hosted the 5th edition of the Asian Schools Debate Championship, becoming the first Philippine High School to do so. (Although the first rounds of ASDC 2010 were held in Saint Scholastica's College - Manila, the official host was still De La Salle University - Manila.) The Adjudication Core of the tournament will be headed by Claret alumnus Dino De Leon, who founded the tournament in 2009.

Sri KDU ASDC 2014

There has been rapid and sustainable development of the Malaysian Schools Scene, and on June 2nd to 9th 2014, Malaysia welcomed Asia's finest once again, playing host to the tournament for the second time. The tournament was organized by the Malaysian Institute for Debate & Public Speaking, which has put together many workshops for schools teachers and adjudicators to create a sustainable line of coaching and to kick-start a firm ground for the basics of debating.

Over the last 3 years, the number of tournaments catered to the development of High School debating has doubled and this has led to the depth of experience that students gain and utilize. The scene also believes in giving back and many former debating champions have returned to coach schools and see them go very far in tournaments.

Asia Pacific ASDC 2015

The tournament was held from the 3rd of July to the 9th of July. Asia Pacific University had to step in to replace the bid from Rajuk ASDC as the organisation of the event had to be cancelled due to political turmoil in Bangladesh. The tournament saw Mifzal Mohammed as Chief Adjudicator and he was flanked by Prarthana Manohar, Samuel Chan, Daryl Isla and Shadmaan Siddiqui.

Participants noted that the accommodation of the tournament was as impeccable as it was in 2014 and the general organisation of the tournament was done well. The bid to host the tournament in 2016 was won by the Methodist Boys' School of Kuala Lumpur.

Champions and Grand Finalists

• Names in bold indicate the Grand Finals Best Speaker.

Chief Adjudicators and Adjudicator Core

Best Speakers

Year	Best Speaker of Asia 01 !	Second Best Speaker of Asia 02 !	Third Best Speaker of Asia 03 !	Overall Best Speaker (Novice)
2009	Song, Youjin & Kwon, Do Hyeong (tie, both from Daewon Foreign Language High School,  South Korea)			Not awarded
2010	Yoo, Jeewon (Daewon Foreign Language High School, South Korea)		Joseph Vincent Pizzaro (Ateneo High School  Philippines )	Not awarded
2011	Kim, Chan Keun (Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies,  South Korea )	Megan Ruth Moran (Anglo Singapore International School, Thailand)	Joonpyo Sohn (Daewon Foreign Language High School, South Korea)	Not awarded
2012	Vigknaraja Jagathesan & Ilmira Murni Mohd Hanif (SMKDU,  Malaysia )	Tie for overall best speaker of Asia	Meeko Rustia (PAREF SouthRidge, Philippines)	Kyle Mitschiener (PAREF SouthRidge, Philippines)
2013	Razzaq Fazail (SDAR, Malaysia )	Katrina Chan (Immaculate Conception Academy,  Philippines)	Van Siy Van (Immaculate Conception Academy,  Philippines)	France Santos (Ateneo High School,  Philippines)
2014	Bryan Yan Kai Jie (Hwa Chong,  Singapore )	Timothy Ethan Lee Shao Jie (Hwa Chong,  Singapore )	Deborah Wong Kai Wai (SMK Damansara Jaya,  Malaysia )	Regina Mathews (Sri Aman,  Malaysia )
2015	Kishen Sivabalan (SMK Sri Permata,  Malaysia)	Renz Reyes (Ateneo High School,  Philippines)	Abel Gerard Law Shuo Quan (MCKL,  Malaysia)	Sara Nasran (Convent Bukit Nanas - CBN,  Malaysia)
2016	Kishen Sivabalan (SMK Sri Permata,  Malaysia )	Siddharta Adaikalaraj (SMK Sri Permata,  Malaysia )	Lee Xuan Yi (SDDP,  Singapore )	Cheyenne Ong (SDDP,  Singapore )

Public Speaking

References

External links

• Official website of the 2009 Asian Schools Debate Championship
• Official website of the 2010 Asian Schools Debate Championship
• Official website of the 2011 Asian Schools Debate Championship