Mirandilla & Valenzuela are Open Grand Champs of Cambridge Asia British Parliamentary debate; will defend ASHS’ title in UK Finals

Ateneo de Manila Senior High School debaters Kiel Mirandilla (11-Hurtado) & Ivan Valenzuela (12-Geronimo) triumphed against teams from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, emerging as Open Grand Champions of the prestigious Cambridge Asia British Parliamentary Championship - Southeast Asia held online on December 3 & 4, 2022.  Mirandilla was recognized as Overall Best Speaker while Valenzuela was named 2nd Best Open Speaker.

Additionally, the ASHS team of Sam Tango (11-Torres) & Kristen Reyes (11-Fontoura) ended its run as Open Grand Finalists. Moreover, Tango and Reyes bagged the 4th Best Speaker Award and the 7th Best Speaker Award, respectively.

Last but not least, the ASHS tandem of Daniella Barbacena (12-Anchieta) & Aliah Garcia (12-Holland) ended its run as Open Semifinalist. The 3rd Best Open Speaker Award was bestowed on Garcia, while the 5th Best Open Speaker award went to Barbacena.

In the last three consecutive years, this is the fourth time that two ASHS teams have qualified for the annual Cambridge Schools Finals Day to be held in Cambridge, England, United Kingdom in March 2023. The two pairs that have qualified for the Cambridge Schools Finals Day 2023 are Mirandilla & Valenzuela, and Barbacena & Garcia. Last year, ASHS debaters Naomi Ang & Anton Abiera took home the Cambridge championship, the first Asian team to do so.