By Stephanie Camille Ilar

The new set of officers of the Mariano Marcos State University Debate Society (DebSoc) took their oath of office before MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. at the Achievement Wall on August 29.
Alleah Gail Pajarillo, Prime Minister of the organization, underscored the importance of debate in empowering voices. “We can encourage people to join debates by making them realize that it is a huge platform where people can voice out things that the silent do not and what the silenced cannot,” she said.

The team is led by Pajarillo, with Deputy Prime Minister Jay Reian Rocutan; Secretary General Samuel Bermudez; Sub-Secretary General Mary Von Zelle Pablo; Minister for Finance Eunice EQ Salamangkit; Deputy Minister for Finance Raphael James De Rosas; Minister for Logistics Josh Rafael Fagaragan; Deputy Minister for Logistics Marc Adrian Gapusan; Minister for Research and Training Feanna Myr Casil; Deputy Minister for Research and Training John Viktor Fernando;  Minister for External Affairs Aeron Josh Batangan; Deputy Minister for External Affairs Ivy Ramos; Minister for Internal Affairs and Membership Dhanaya Alviana Nicole Vera; Deputy Minister for Internal Affairs and Membership Arianne Lories Lucas; and Chairperson for Special Projects John Natividad.

They are under the mentorship of their adviser, Ms. Eufe Madariaga of the Department of Languages and Literature, with Mr. Jasper Romuald Pula of the Department of Social Sciences.
In his message, Dr. Manzano encouraged the officers to maximize their leadership potential. “When you have deliverables to do, just go back to your oath of office. You must also endeavor to have debate exhibitions with other universities, not just in MMSU,” he said.

“Search for events that you can join, and we will find ways to support you,” he added.

The MMSU Debate Society, formerly the Stallion Debaters’ League, was established in 2022 as a CAS-based organization before becoming the official debate society of the university. It retained most of its members and has achieved feats in both regional and national competitions.