QSDL Season 2 continues online

Debaters Justin Varick S. Pacer, Fritz Nathan A. Diaz, Jesron P. Tabujara, Carl Angelo C. Casilag, Muhaimen G. Dibansa, and Rhee Jeremiah S. Costan during the virtual competition held in Discord


 Feather In Our Cap: PISQ Bags Two Wins in the 2nd QDSL-B

Written by: Mikola Aira T. Alabanza

News Writer

Date: February 6, 2021

Venue: Discord (Online)


February 6, 2021 marks the 2nd season of the Qatar Schools Debate League - Boys (QDSL-B), in which one of PISQ’s two participating teams secured two wins out of the three rounds. On top of that, Justin Varick S. Pacer, member of team Phil Int’l JFJ, emerged victorious, achieving the top spot in the speaker’s list.


The two representative teams of PISQ were Phil Int’l JFJ, with Jesron P. Tabujara, Fritz Nathan A. Diaz, and Justin Varick S. Pacer as its members. The members of the second team, Phil Int’l MCR, were Muhaimen G. Dibansa, Carl Angelo C. Casilag, and Rhee Jeremiah S. Costan. 


With the help of coaches Ms. Lei T. Asis and Mr. Jaspher D. Tapiz, along with the workshops held by QatarDebate, the debaters brought their A-game. Pacer, expressing his gratitude, said, “Our coaches have always been our backbone, our support, and our pillar, and they are the reason why we made it through.”


Team JFJ ranked 6th out of 28 teams represented by prestige schools, claiming victory in the first round with the motion: This house would de-prioritize environmental policy when kickstarting a post-COVID economy. 


The following round presented the motion, “This house opposes cancel culture.”, which resulted in a loss against DPS Modern Indian School.


Making a comeback, team JFJ won the third (final) round against Mosaab Bin Omair Secondary School for Boys as the proposition team defending the motion: THBT criminal justice policy should be outsourced to technocrats instead of elected representatives.


“I feel like it is really in my nature and persona to utilize my voice in speaking out my thoughts and what I feel, especially in times where I can put it up front.”, says Pacer, top speaker of the event who accumulated the highest average of speaker points. He had always been fond of debating and it is truly fascinating because he only began debating for about four months (since QSDL Season 1).


He defines debating as “a tool for people to recognize societal issues, talk about them, and find ways to solve them.” Pacer also added: “the best thing about it is that it is not actually limited to societal issues, but that it could also be expanded to common everyday topics as well.”


It is indeed another successful season of QSDL that is  filled with more achievements and more lessons learned, such as to never underestimate yourself for within you lies tons of potential that you must not let go to waste.





Debaters Samantha Isabel Facun, Julianne Carmel Caday, Frances Joy Balani, Theola Amprecia Reago, Roda Shayne Cathlyn Eden, Diana Gwyneth Marie Estomo, Maria Sophia Santocildes, Alexa Mae Bonjoc, and Sophia Rhys Banados during the virtual competition held in Discord

SHS Girls Debate Teams participate  in the Second QSDL Cycle

By: Frances Balani

News Writer/Editor

Date: February 13, 2021

Venue: Online, Discord


Days after the Senior High School Boys Team took part in the Qatar Schools Debate League’s second cycle, the Senior High School Girls Teams began training in preparation for their debate on February 13, 2021 held online through Discord.


Three teams from PISQ participated in the online event and the students who volunteered were Samantha Isabel Facun, Julianne Carmel Caday, and Frances Joy Balani for the first team, Theola Amprecia Reago, Roda Shayne Cathlyn Eden, and Diana Gwyneth Marie Estomo for the second, and Maria Sophia Santocildes, Alexa Mae Bonjoc, and Sophia Rhys Banados making up the third and final team.


Similar to the first cycle, the teams debated for three rounds with two of these being prepared rounds and only one being an impromptu round.


The first prepared motion was won by teams two and three, and had revolved around the topic of “De-prioritizing environmental policy when kickstarting a post-COVID economy.” The second round was the impromptu round with the teams debating about this proposed motion: “Assuming it could be done instantly, this house would remove all nuclear weapons and the capacity to build them from the current world.” Unfortunately, none of the teams had been able to win this round. The third round however, was the highlight of the day, with all three teams winning the debate for the motion “This house believes that criminal justice policy should be outsourced to technocrats instead of elected representatives.”


That day was indeed filled with ups and downs. Despite this, win or lose, the PISQian spirit serves to remain strong even in the face of adversity. PISQians have proven this time and again through all their dedication and hard work in events outside and inside their scholarly institution, and even those held online.





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