The Philippine Schools Debate Championship (PSDC) is an annual English-language debate tournament for high school-level teams from the Philippines. It is hosted by Ateneo de Manila University's Ateneo Debate Society (ADS) and its debates are conducted in the British Parliamentary Style. From its inception in 2002, it has become one of the two most prestigious Philippine national competitions for high school debaters, the other being the National Asians High School Debate Championship (NAsHDC) hosted by De La Salle University-Manila's La Salle Debate Society.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer became the primary sponsor of the tournament in 2003, at which point it was called the Inquirer-2bU! Interscholastic Debating Championship (IISDC). After the Inquirer ended its long-standing collaboration with the Ateneo Debate Society, the name reverted to PSDC in 2007. It is also regularly sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. PSDC is the biggest Philippine high school debate championship, with 216 high school students joining from 25 institutions.
Tournament format PSDC debates are held in the British Parliamentary style. The tournament uses the Swiss system for deciding match-ups between competing teams in the preliminary rounds. The 32 highest scoring teams then advance (or "break") to the finals series, where the first and second placed teams in each round advance to the next highest levels of competition. A team cap (or limit on the number of breaking teams from one institution) of five teams is imposed.
In 2004, a regional championship for the PSDC was introduced, to give teams from outside Metro Manila more representation at the higher levels of competition. As these teams began to show in the regular break, this championship was discontinued.
An extemporaneous public speaking competition is also held alongside the debate rounds. This competition has its own preliminary, semifinal, and final rounds.
In 2008, a secondary tournament for the PSDC was introduced. Teams eligible for this final were those from institutions that never had a team in the final round of the PSDC. The round is a battle of the top four eligible teams. The final has been christened the Ana Alano Cup, in memory of the Ateneo debater who had died defending her father in a hit against him for attempting to expose a hospital corruption scandal.
Speakers from teams who have broken in the tournament are considered eligible to try out for a slot in the Philippine team to the World Schools Debating Championships.
There was no PSDC 2015 due to the academic calendar shift that occurred within Ateneo De Manila University.
Past champions Year Champions Team Members Grand Finalists Ana Alano Cup Champions Team Members Grand Finalists 2002 Ateneo de Manila High School Marco Villacorta Michael Biscocho Ateneo De Manila High School (Leloy Claudio, Glenn Tuazon), Assumption College (Faith Serrano and Grace Serrano),
Immaculate Conception Academy (Charisse Borromeo, Kristel Tiu) 2003 Philippine Science High School - Main Campus Anna Santos Juanchi Pablo Ateneo De Manila High School (Miko Biscocho, Adrian Mundin), Miriam College (Liz Diaz, Bea Lacson),
Immaculate Conception Academy (Charisse Borromeo, Larissa Co) 2004 Ateneo de Manila High School Michael Biscocho Adrian Mundin Immaculate Conception Academy (Jennifer Ong, Krisha Borromeo), University of Santo Tomas (Richard Beltran, Jaime Pring), University of Santo Tomas (Joanna Mutiangpili, Rhea) 2005 Immaculate Conception Academy Jennifer Ong Krisha Borromeo Ateneo De Manila High School (James Soriano, Carlo Felizardo), Miriam College (Gica Mangahas Arcellana),
Miriam College (Carla Sia, Jasmine Cruz) 2006 Miriam College High School Angelica Mangahas Carla Sia Xavier School (Peterson Poon, Patrick Cocabo), Immaculate Conception Academy (Ces Gotamco, Peidi Lee),
Claret School Of Quezon City (Alistair Zosa, Gemmo Fernandez) 2007 Xavier School Evan Chen Peterson Poon Ateneo De Manila High School (James Soriano, Hansky Santos), Xavier School (Gabriel (Gavin) Kho, Kenneth Reyes),
Miriam College High School (Valeri Inting, Pia Ranada) 2008 Colegio San Agustin-Makati Joshua Lim Allan Cabrera Ateneo De Manila High School (Jovin Pizarro, Ben Bismark), PAREF Woodrose School (Mica Reyes, Nikki Cone),
PAREF Woodrose School (Tabby Abela, Pat Austria) La Salle Green Hills Brian Llamanzares Daryl Isla 2009 Ateneo de Manila High School Henry Fernando Bas Claudio Immaculate Conception Academy (Jeanina Tee, Tiffany Uy), PAREF Southridge School (Justin Jabines, Marty Gonzaga),
Ateneo De Zamboanga High School (Sanjeev Parmanand, Abbo Hernandez) Silliman University Julius Ragay Jay Anderson2010 Ateneo de Manila High School Jovin Pizarro Bas Claudio Immaculate Conception Academy (Tiffany Uy/Joan Ongchoco), PAREF Southridge School (Lance Katigbak, Pempen Chiang),
Immaculate Conception Academy (Mary Or, Andrea Cuartero) San Beda College Alabang Katherine Peralta Adolfo Jose Montesa2011 Immaculate Conception Academy Joan Ongchoco Denise Recomono PAREF Southridge School (JV Valerio, Raffy Tanpho), Ateneo De Zamboanga University (Sanjeev Parmanand, Abbo Hernandez),
Xavier School (Donald Felbaum, Nico Flaminano) PAREF Springdale School Miko Alazas Ralph Gonzales2012Xavier SchoolDonald FelbaumRaynard LaoAteneo de Manila High School (Vitto Pavia, Kiko Santos), Miriam College High School (Amaris Pulido, Alex Agcaoili),
Xavier School (Marc Matsubara, David Gozali)La Salle Green HillsAndrew EscayPatrick Kahn2013Immaculate Conception AcademyVanessa Siy VanKatrina ChanSan Beda College Alabang High School (Carlos Peñas, Kyle Atega), Ateneo de Manila High School (Jim Bulan, Miguel Ventura),
PAREF Woodrose School (Jazmin Jabines, Cathy Cano)St. Scholastica's College ManilaNicole TomasMarty Ysaac2014Immaculate Conception AcademyAbigail YuClarice TeeAteneo De Manila High School (Rafa Lapira, France Santos), Ateneo De Manila High School (Adrian Padilla, Renz Reyes),
Miriam College High School (Annika Bautista, Alex Agcaoili)Mandaue City Science High SchoolEjay CoJeremiah Valero2016Xavier SchoolMatthew AranetaIgnacio VillarealAteneo de Manila High School (Renz Reyes, Luigi Alcañeses), Xavier School (Jacob Wee, Alfonso Tan III),
Xavier School (Jaime Siy, Steven Sy)Assumption CollegeLexi LagamonStefi Alabastro2017Xavier SchoolIgnacio VillarealJacob WeeXavier School (Steven Sy, Jaime Siy), International School Manila (Abhishek Kottamasu, Abhinav Bathula), Ateneo de Manila Senior High School (Mikko Vitug, Nicole Masagca)University of San Jose–RecoletosSoccoro OganKristoffer Francis MilanLa Salle Greenhills (Zhangyi Fan, Ethan Floro), Ateneo de Zamboanga University Senior High School (Najwa I. Unga, Therese Nyah Janel C. Sampang),
Saint Scholastica's College (Tonie Peralta, Charlene Enriquez)2018PAREF Southridge SchoolJake ConsingLuis GarciaXavier School (Steven Sy, Jaime Siy), Ateneo de Manila Senior High School (Mikko Vitug, Hans Gonzalez),
Ateneo de Manila Senior High School (Matti Tan, Julia Ocoma)University of the Immaculate ConceptionRaven CastañedaEnrico David2019De La Salle University - Senior High SchoolTonie PeraltaKay SisonAteneo de Manila University Senior High School (Chris Carlos, David Africa), De La Salle Zobel (Quintin Chua, Ken Alunan),
Xavier School (Eaton Sia, Luke de Ocampo)University of Santo Tomas Senior High SchoolRedd AlliCarl EscobarAteneo de Zamboanga Senior High School (Aisha Said, Gerald Ace Wace), De La Salle University Senior High School (Dorothy Tuazon, Mitzi Lanado),
Ateneo de Naga University Senior High School (Jerwin Roy Villacruz, Joemar Valenzuela)2020Philippine Science High School – Cordillera Administrative Region CampusToby LeungMikaela AlvearAteneo de Manila University Senior High School (Marc Marquez, Michael Ocampo), PAREF Southridge School (Jake Peralta, Luis Garcia),
De La Salle University – Senior High School (Ichiro Arbole, Kay Sison)Ateneo de Naga University Senior High SchoolSophia AbejeroJanielle SanchezUniversity of San Jose Recoletos (Kirby Alex Millan, Ashley Marie Mandal), Saint Paul College Pasig (Luna Yael B. Inventor, Gabriella Maria E. Villarama),
Philippine Science High School Main Campus (Timothy I. Javier, Hugh Ruzle E. Mejos)2021Philippine Science High School – Cordillera Administrative Region CampusToby LeungJoshua DaquipilAteneo de Manila University Senior High School (Jaime Castro, Michael Ocampo), Immaculate Conception Academy (Chanel Ang, Alex Ang), International School Manila (David Bloom, Zen Vaillancourt)Ateneo de Zamboanga University Senior High SchoolChris JumamilAndrea PeñaflorIlocos Norte College of Arts and Trades (Oarben Balicoco, Ethel Candelasa), Saint Paul College Pasig (Rachelle Kasilag, Samantha Rosario), Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School (Jose Cinches, Andrew Tumulak)2022Philippine Science High School – Main CampusNeil De JesusRam MayoAteneo de Manila University Senior High School (David Bejarin, Johann Bernardo), De La Salle Zobel (Paris Pineda, Clarisse Tan),
Philippine Science High School – Main Campus (David Mencias, Hugh Mejos)Ateneo de Naga University Senior High SchoolAlyssa PeyraYeshua M. CelebradoPhilippine Science High School - Main Campus (Jerd Mark Carlos, Hanz Isaac Arnaldo), La Salle Green Hills (Cresmanuel V. Quimbo, Carl Geevee D. Vitug),
Philippine Science High School - Main Campus (Mathew Serna, Alistair Jon D. Quintanilla)2023Philippine Science High School – Main CampusHugh MejosMarcus PascualAteneo de Manila University Senior High School (Jasmin Ang, Aliyah Herlihy), De La Salle Zobel (Clarisse Tan, Leonna Ronquillo),
The British School Manila (Tyrone Serapio, Caitlin Gaw)Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High SchoolAidin AlamiaKatrina TanAteneo de Davao University Senior High School (Feona Margarette C. Balansag, Christine D. Sintos), Philippine Science High School – ZRC (Leila Loraine M. Adelante, Joshua Nathan L. Punsalan),
University of Santo Tomas Senior High School (Diana Margo C. Digal, Maritoni Jean Lumban Caridad)2024Ateneo de Manila Senior High SchoolSam TangoArles Kiel MirandillaImmaculate Conception Academy (Cara Reyes/Robyn Montano), Philippine Science High School Main Campus (Aydan Gabriel A.Ables/Lorenzo Franco D. Kasilag), PAREF Southridge School (Geoff Biscocho, Jacob Ty)University of Saint AnthonyAlaissa Angela NolascoNikailla Chelsea SarmientoAteneo de Naga University (Jerard Benedick O. Caguicla, Mary Catherine Marco), Quezon Science High School (Jellyn R. Alindogan, Noel R. Elivera Jr.),
Philippine Science High School – CMC (Aneeqa Jasrah P. Unda, Stanley King Saavedra)2025De La Salle University - Senior High SchoolVivienne Tai ChanKara PorciunculaXavier School San Juan (Tyler Lim, Jack Lim), Philippine Science High School Main Campus (Yakov Apura, Franco Kasilag),
Paref Southridge (Jacob Ty, Geoff Biscocho)Homeschool GlobalAshley (James) VegaDJ SaludPhilippine Science High School - Central Visayas Campus (Leia Yzabel Y. Monteclar, Romel Isaiah I. Tala) Philippine Science High School - Central Visayas Campus (Haleigh Kjyll Maglasang, Xzanthya Sharielle Florence Kho)
Ateneo de Zamboanga University Junior High School (Anyssah S. Taytay, Sofia C. Tan)2026Immaculate Conception Academy ACaitlin TiuSummer BeljotAteneo de Manila University Senior High School D (Mico Siosana, Chloe Magsalin), Miriam College High School A (Mary Dela Torre, Patrice Rane Chua),
Homeschool Global A (Sofia Caraig, Kimberly Co)Philippine Science High School - Caraga Region Campus ARobert EspinarStacey HurtadoPhilippine Science High School - Caraga Region Campus B (Ysabo Beluan, Leanne Bajade), Miriam College High School B (Janelle Boco, Sophia Bautista)
Silliman University AL (Lourd Anque, Raymond Lecraw)
Past best speakers in debate and public speaking