TSU wins trophy for Philippines in 1st AUAP Debate  

Bangkok, Thailand—Standing firm on its proposition that arranged marriages vitiates consent and is therefore an aberration of an individual's right, the debating team of Tarlac State University's School of Law clinched a win for the Philippines.

Mounted by the Association of Universities in Asia and the Pacific (AUAP), in what it dubbed as the "1st AUAP Student English Debating Competition," the contest, held on October 16-19, 2018, drew in various teams from universities across Asia.

Philippines' Tarlac State University (TSU) team bested out Indonesia and Bhopal-India to garner the 2nd runner up trophy.

TSU's third speaker, Christopher Ronn Pagco, was also named Best Male Speaker.

Graziela Mercado and Jonathan Pacifico completes the TSU team.

Two other universities from the Philippines participated in the contest, but only TSU made it to the finals.

Established in 1995, AUAP is “an association of university chief executives from higher education institutions in Asia Pacific and around the world.” [Atty. Jo Martinez-Clemente]