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1ST FALCON DEBATE CUP

RULES AND GUIDELINES
I.

INTRODUCTION
The Falcon Debate Cup is an All Asian Debate Tournament which aims to tackle the
pressing issues concerning the marginalized, underprivileged and indigent individuals. As
part of the time-honored Vincentian principles of Adamson University, the tournament
seeks to discuss and to weigh the topics that directly affect those who are in need of
alleviation from their current dire circumstances (which includes but is not limited to
deprivation of rights, discriminatory policies etc.).
The tournament hopes to provide empowerment through discourse among different law
students from invited institutions. In this way, social awareness is inculcated to the each
participant of the pros and cons of the law especially when it concerns a particular
member of our society. Lastly, the debate cup envisions camaraderie between different
law schools in promoting justice and academic excellence through public speaking.

II.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

a. Tournament refers to the Falcon Debate Cup.

b. Organizers refers to members of the Adamson Law Debate and Moot Circle (ALDMC)
who are tasked to do logistics work for the event.
c. Convenor the member of the ALDMC who is in charge with the communication
between and among interested parties in the tournament.
d. Convening Area refers to the SV buildings mezzanine where the participants are
expected to assemble prior to the debate rounds.
e. Adjudication Core panel of judges who will decide the topics/motions for the debate
rounds. The group shall be composed of three to five members depending on their
availability. The organizers reserve the right to invite a member of the Adjudication Core.
In addition, decisions relating to unforeseeable circumstances during the debate rounds
will be decided by adjudication core to ensure utmost impartiality.
f. Participants law students who will be engaging in the debate rounds of the tournament.
g. Adjudicators law students and/or debate advisers who may or may not be lawyers who
will be judges in the debate rounds.
h. Debate rounds refer to the matches between two teams arguing their respective position
in the given topic.
i. Breaking team debate teams who are able to hurdle the elimination rounds.
j. Break Cap the maximum number of teams from one institution that can advance in the
semi-finals. Only two teams per institution can be eligible for break.
k. Motions refer to the debate topics in the debate cup.
l. Team Cap maximum number of teams that an institution can send.
m. Swing team a team which will be included in the rounds to break even teams, if theres
any. Swing teams are not eligible to break in the higher rounds.
n. N-rule each participating school is expected to provide one adjudicator for each team
that they will be sending.
III.

DEBATE ROUNDS

a. The debate rounds will be held at the St. Vincent De Paul Bldg. of Adamson University
or any other venue within the institution which may be deemed fit by the organizers.

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b. There will be three elimination rounds for all the participating institutions. The teams
with the four highest scores will proceed in the semi-finals. Subsequently, the two
winning teams will battle in the championship rounds of the tournament.
c. Matches shall be determined according to team wins/points or to the speaker scores of the
debaters. However, during the semi-final rounds, the 1st highest breaking team will be up
against the 4th breaking team while the 2nd and 3rd place will be up against each other.
d. Each adjudicator cannot judge his/her institution. All rounds will be judged with fairness
and impartiality. In case there is lack of adjudicators, the organizers may field in
experienced collegiate debaters or alumni of the institution with extensive debate
experience.
e. Appointment of the adjudicators in the debate round and the teams who will be up against
each other will be within the discretion of the Adjudication Core.
f. The motions to be given are within the discretion of the Adjudication Core provided that
topics shall be in relation to marginalized, underprivileged and indigent individuals.
g. In case of disagreement between the adjudication core, the organizers reserve the right to
intervene in decision making relating to the tournament in general.
h. In case the participating teams will be in odd number, the organizers may pitch a swing
team which will not be eligible to break in the higher rounds.
i. Each institution may send up to three teams as a part of the team cap rule.
IV.

ELIGIBILITY

a. Law students who are currently enrolled in any academic institution which offers either a
Bachelor of Laws or a Juris Doctor Degree may participate as a debater. Alumni or those
who have completed their law degree may not participate as a debater.
b. Adjudicators may either be law students or graduates of the institution that they are
representing. To be eligible, an adjudicator should have competed in at least one all-Asian
Debate Tournament.
c. The organizers may participate as adjudicators in the debate rounds.
d. Each team from an institution should be accompanied by one adjudicator following the nrule in an All-Asian Debate Parliamentary format.
V.

ALL-ASIAN DEBATE PARLIAMENTARY FORMAT

a. Following an All-Asian Debate Parliamentary format, each team will be composed of

three speakers. The government/affirmative side will be arguing in favor of the motion
while the opposition/negative side will argue against the proposal. Each speaker will have
seven minutes to deliver his/her speech.
b. A four-minute reply speech from either the first or second speaker of both sides will be
delivered to conclude each round. The reply speech will be a biased adjudication from
each side.
c. Points of information may be raised after the first minute until the sixth minute of the
speech. Adjudicators may not raise questions.
VI.

REGISTRATION

a. The registration of teams will be on July 1 to July 24, 2015. A registration fee of P 500.00
per debate/adjudicator or a total of (P 2,000) per team should be settled on or before July
24, 2015. Late payment may be subject to minimal penalties.
b. The registration fee shall be inclusive of debate kits and packed meals for the
participants.

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c. Walk-in participants or those who will only register on the date of the tournament are
allowed but may be subject to sanctions subject to the discretion of the organizers.
VII.

MEMBERS OF THE ADJUDICATION CORE

Chief Adjudicator
Members

Atty. Jesus Falcis (University of the Philippines)

Mr. Leo Camacho (Ateneo De Manila University)
Ms. Andrea Gabot (Far Eastern University)
Mr. Karlo Antonio (San Beda College Manila)
Ms. Sybil Tropicales (University of Santo Tomas)

VIII. TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

DATE/TIME

EVENT DETAILS

July 26, 2015 (Sunday)

7:00 AM

8:00 8:30
8:30 AM
9:00 10:00 AM
10:00 11:00 AM
11:00 AM 11:30 AM
11:30 12:30 PM
12:30 PM 1:30 PM
1:30 PM 2:30 PM
3:00 3:30 PM
4:00 4:30 PM
5:00 6:00 PM
6:00 PM

Site Registration and Opening Ceremonies

Opening Speech from Dean Ada Abad
Welcome Remarks from Fr. Greg Banaga, CM
Brief Debate Orientation
Release of Match-Ups and Motions for Round 1
Case Preparation
Round 1
Release of Round 1 Results
Snack Break
Release of Match-Ups and Motions for Round 2
Round 2
Release of Round 2 Results
Lunch Break
Release of Match-Ups and Motions for Round 3
Case Preparation
Round 3
Snack Break
Announcement of Breaking Teams
Case Preparation for Semi-Finals
Semi-Final Rounds
Announcement of Finalists

July 27, 2015 (Monday)

12:00 NN
12:30 PM
1:00 2:00 PM
2:00 3:00 PM

3:00 3:30 PM

Registration in the Convening Area

Release of Debate Motions for the Final Round
Final Round
Deliberation of Judges
Short number/Performance from Adamson University
Law Students
Awarding Ceremonies

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4:00 PM

Closing Remarks Adamson CLSG President, Karl

Anthony Dionisio