10 Things you have to know about UPD-C during PIDC 2008:
1. Kenneth Cardenas had to enter the team hours before the start of round one to replace our original teammate Samantha Tirthdas (who unfortunately had to pull out of the entire tourney to attend to an emergency situation involving her beloved grandfather in the ICU of a hospital in Bacolod). Kenneth was wearing his plain black shirt and UP maroon PE shorts, ready to bike the speed ballots from AS to Engg when we got him to say yes to debate.
2. Samantha was able to stay during the first two days of the competition. She was still able to watch UPD teams (she watched our team three times) for the seven preliminary rounds. Though she was not able to debate, her 'hear here' is a force to watch out for. She was still part of our team (in heart and in spirit).
3. Alistair had 5 different hairstyles during the entire tourney. Each day is a new day, showcasing a different side of Alis. On day 1, he had his mohawk. On day two, he had his wolverine. On day 3, he did Kris Aquino's original Game KNB? look (when she was wearing her terrible bathrobes). On day 4, he did a hybrid wolverine and ducktail. Kebs na sa day 5. His purpose? He said he wanted to be taken seriously. As he put it, 'I want to look tough.'
4. During round two, UPD-C was the very first team to arrive and prep at AS. While everyone was gasping for breath, climbing their way to AS 4th floor, we were comfortably prepping inside PH 328-A. All we had to do was to memorize and run our speeches for two or three times, and look at other debaters while they looked haggard and dehydrated. Kenneth's car was our saving grace.
5. During veto with UT Mara-B, Shaq approached as to ask what SK is. They had to define the motion. So he came to us and asked, "What is Sangguniang Kabataan? Is it...? Does it do....?" And since that was my first time being asked by my opponent about the motion's issue, I didn't know what to do. I ended up staring at him blankly and stuttering, "uh, um..." We all agreed to tell them 'Basta, it literally means "Youth Council".'
6. Our team was called 'stupid' by the very 'intelligent' second speaker from the team we went up against twice. The first time she did, I was inflamed and wanted to pull her eyeballs with my fingers. But Kenneth told me it was so immaturish. So I calmed down and pretended I heard nothing. The second time, we did our poker face and laughed at her to make her feel ridiculous.
7. During our round adjed by Leloy, something very serious happened. Just after I delivered my DPM speech, my cousin sent me a text message that my lola was brought to the hospital because of an asthma attack. I was so alarmed to the point that my competitive mode was so overriden by my worry. My world blacked out and everything turned into a silent movie. I asked Alis to do reply but he more than staunchly refused. I wanted to strangle him, but that would not help. I went out the room without any permission from Leloy and cried with my mother over the phone. Good thing I was able to deliver the reply (though substandard) and my cousin messaged me that my lola was already okay. At least, our adj said we were sophisticated and he was quite impressed with our performance. (My consolation.)
8. Alistair always copied the first motion. I always did the second and Kenneth always copied the third. We often ended uo debating the third motion. We only lost to the tournament's finalist teams. We lost twice to the champions during the prelims, and lost to ADMU-A during quarters. Wala lang, just had to say it.
9. During octos prep, we have an idea of the what we're supposed to defend, but we weren't able to neatly put them together yet. And Alis was drowning with our explanations and his nervousness. So at the eleventh hour, Alis and Kenneth changed roles. Kenneth PM-ed and Alis whipped. Never had we done that in any of our previous rounds. Good thing we got a 4-1 split (though dissenting chair).
10. At quarters, Gica got so pissed off with my manner. I cannot fault her, for I am indeed a very animated, transparent debater. (But I refuse to accept that I was rude that round.) So she angrily gestured her versions of supersaiyan moves during Mico's speech and pointed at me with her arm stretched. I could hear her grrrr from our table. Pahuhuli ba ako? I did not like her doing that similarly plus I did not like her attack. So I whispered all the rebuttals I could think of to Kenneth who was our whip and pointed back at Gica (because that's how I usually refer to my opponents ideas and arguments, so it was not about Gica, but about her clash and cases). So we ended up pointing at each other. Lol.
And since I don't want to be accused that this is all about our team, I want to congratulate the UPD contingent for a strong showing during PIDC:
Claire for being Philippines's Best Speaker
Tet and Jowee for being part of the tourney's top 10 best speakers
BJ and Kath for being part of the toruney's top 5 best adjudicators of the tourney
Carla and Jovan for winning 2nd and 3rd in ESU public speaking competition
UPD-A for semis
UPD-B, UPD-C and UPD-F for quarters
UPD-D for octos
UPD-F for being best rookie team
Mahon, Di, Paolo and Cla for a 100% adj break
Despite the handicap of the combined lack of training and the issues of the past sem, we were able to go as far. This just means we have to go back to business and train harder and smarter. We have to be stronger, smarter and wittier next tourney.
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