Oratorical and Debate Council

The Oratorical and Debate Council (ORADEC) is the official, non-profit, university-wide student organization of the Far Eastern University that is committed to the pursuit of excellence in debate and public speaking.

It has participated in national and international competitions since its reorganization by Dr. George Cabrera of the Department of Communication in 1995.

The visions of ORADEC to become a “center of excellence” in public speaking and a “center of development” in debate are realized through regular recruitment of members, competitive training, exposures to reasoned forums and discourses, and dedication of its members, advisers and coaches, and its alumni who have confessed the improvement of their speech communication personality and leadership skills relevant to professional growth. It has a council of advisers namely Dr. Zenaida S. Martinez, Prof. Annabelle K. Mercado, Prof. Joeven R. Castro, and Mark Ysla. In the past, Prof. Honor Cabie, Prof. Dolores Reyes, Prof. Vergel Dagdagan, and Prof. Marjuvie Palencia served as advisers.

ORADEC also extends its services beyond its members and alumni by forging linkages with different institutions and organizations inside and outside FEU to strengthen the art of speech communication.

Center of Excellence ORADEC aims to be a “center of excellence” in public speaking. It has an undefeated record in the National Capital Region as winner of three consecutive championships in two different speech tilts (San Beda College’s Bedan Grail and Gawad Pluma at Pandiwari) in 2000 to 2003; six out of the nine years of San Sebastian College’s Golden Stag Quest; and two Philippine representatives in the English Speaking Union’s International Public Speaking Competition in London (Ryan Kaliph Buenafe in 2002 and Weber Amores in 2007), among others.

Center of Development ORADEC also aims to be a center of development in debate given the improving performances of its debaters. While ORADEC has not yet copped the championship crown of any parliamentary debate competition, it takes pride on its achievement as semifinalist in the 1996 Metro-Pacific Challenge (Annabelle Mercado and Brian Yamsuan), 1997 Metro-Pacific Challenge (Joeven Castro and Ma. Theresa Gozum), 1st Inquirer Intercollegiate Debate Championship (IIDC) (Iyan Adewuya, Ryan Kaliph Buenafe, Brian Jobim Tan), The Benavidez Cup or National Debate Championship (Iyan Adewuya and Ryan Kaliph Buenafe), quarterfinalist in the UST All Asians (Annabelle Mercado, Anthony De Leon, Brian Yamsuan), NDC Naga, among other achievements during break rounds.

ORADEC is also proud to be the home of respected adjudicators in the Philippines. Prof. Annabelle K. Mercado was Deputy Chief Adjudicator (DCA) of the IIDC and Best Adjudicator in one IIDC and several NDCs; Rose Lyn Rabanera was DCA of the First Philippine Intercollegiate Debate Championship and the Philippine High School Debate Championship 2007 and two-time Best Adjudicator of the 8th and 9th NDC; Prof. Joeven R. Castro was DCA of 8th NDC and 2007 JPES and 8th Best Adjudicator in the 2nd Asian Universities Debate Championships; and Mark Salvador Ysla was one of the Top 10 Best Adjudicators in 8th NDC, Best Tournament Adjudicator DLS-College of St. Benilde Intervarsity Debate Championship 2007 and semi-finalist adjudicator, Philippine Inter-collegiate Debating Championship 2008.

Community Services ORADEC members and advisers share their expertise by providing an avenue for non- members to hone their speech communication skills and by conducting seminar-workshops and organizing debate and public speaking competitions. It has hosted the Dr. Nicanor Reyes Challenge – Junior Division, Jun Sagun Debate Tournament for high school tournaments in Trece Martirez, Cavite, Interpretative Reading Workshop and Competition at the Quezon Memorial Circle, seminar-workshops for selected student organizations in FEU, among others. Linkages and Alumni Network ORADEC maintains its networks with different debate societies, forensic clubs, and professional speech organizations in the Philippines and abroad. Its alumni continuously return to FEU as part of their “plowback” to ORADEC by helping as trainers and resource speakers free of charge.

CONGRATULATIONS!

ORADEC would like to congratulate its alumni who passed the recent Licensure Exam for Nurses:

Jo Carla Liongson
Maren Elizabeth Martinez
Francesca Yvonna Osuna
Mark Philip Legaspi

We are so Proud of you guys!

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