In celebration of the Mindanao State University – College of Law’s 37th Foundation Day, the College of Law showcased for the first time a hybrid debate competition format, a combination of mooting and debate. The oralists-debaters from the three campuses, namely, MSU Law General Santos Extension, MSU Law Iligan Extension and MSU Main Campus, were all invited to compete for the Dean’s Cup last March 4, 2018 at the Academic Complex of the College of Law in MSU Main Campus-Marawi City.

Aspiring lawyers from all three MSU campuses battled it out in an intellectual discourse focusing on the proposition: “Resolved that, the Philippines should enforce the arbitral award against China involving the West Philippine Sea.”
The knockout round was battled between MSU General Santos Extension and MSU Iligan Extension.
Round 1: MSU General Santos (Affirmative) vs. MSU Iligan (Negative)
The GenSan Extension was composed of Thea Porras, Sarah Mae Consolacion, and Martsu Ressan Ladia. The Iligan Extension was composed of Vogue Vernal B. Orcullo, Ivy Mae D. Pantaleon and Janodin Marohombsar.

The Finals round was competed between MSU Iligan Extension and MSU Main Campus.
The MSU Main Campus was composed of Princess Haeba Guinar, Rohanie Dimaampao, and Haya Guimbor. Same team members for Iligan Extension.

The winners for the first ever Dean’s Cup are:
Round 1: MSU Iligan Campus
Round 2: MSU Iligan Campus
Best Oralist for MSU Iligan Campus (1st round): Vogue Vernal B. Orcullo
Best Oralist for MSU Gensan Campus (1st round): Martsu Ressan Ladia
Best Oralist for MSU Iligan Campus (2nd round): Ivy Mae D. Pantaleon
Best Oralist for MSU Marawi Main Campus (2nd round): Princess Haeba Guinar

Over-all Best Oralist: Martsu Ressan Ladia
Best In Written Submission: MSU GENSAN CAMPUS
Second-runner up: MSU GENSAN CAMPUS
First-runner up: MSU MAIN CAMPUS
and the Over-all champion: MSU ILIGAN CAMPUS

Kudos to all the participants and winners for their hard work on the first ever Dean’s Cup!

Marija Kara “Cooki” Trinidad is a planeteer, a corporate employee for a Tech company, a 5th yr law student, and a mother of two boys. Cooki has lobbied and is lobbying for more environmental policies in the region. She gives webinars on sustainability, climate change, and the zero waste movement. She has also published an article about the plastic ban ordinance in The Philippine Star, has been nominated for Rappler’s MovePH award on Environment and Sustainability, and is a finalist of the Philippine Youth Leadership Program (PYLP 17/18). She is a Nexus Alumni and was an Associate Editor and Writer back then.