Hyundai was the official mobility partner of the Philippine Inter-Collegiate Debate Championship (PIDC) 2018, held June 11-13, 2018 at the University of the Philippines-Diliman for the preliminary rounds, and at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the semifinals, championship rounds, and awards night.

This year, the Philippines’ largest national debate competition was hosted by the UP Debate Society. The 2018 competition, with the theme, “Take the Lead,” saw some 350 students from the country’s top educational institutions tackle the country’s hottest socio-political-economic issues in a clash of words, wit, and strategy.

The La Salle Debate Society bested UP-Diliman in the finals round, and emerged as the 2018 PIDC Grand Champion. During the Championship Dinner, the team received the special “People of Hyundai” award and a cash prize from Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) for exemplifying that the voice of the youth can have great social impact and can empower the Filipino through brilliant ideas and effective communication.


The People of Hyundai are individuals and communities who embody the values of Hyundai Philippines’ Gusto campaign: Gusto Ko, Kaya Ko, Sama Tayo. Hyundai, as the Filipino’s lifetime partner in mobility and beyond, empowers people to pursue their dreams and to get more out of life.

“Being a debater has taught me that dedication and hard work are important. Where part of it is constant and consistent training, it is also about learning new ways to improve yourself. For me this is being empowered: to not be afraid of who you are and what you can possibly be,” said Patrich Lozano of the La Salle Debate Society.

The special “Hyundai Round,” sponsored by Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), saw Open Semi-finals frontrunners, the Ateneo Debate Society and the UP-Diliman Debate Society, go head-to-head discussing the Philippines’ pressing mobility concerns along with current and potential transport solutions built on innovation and technology.

Said HARI President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, a former student leader and staunch advocate of youth empowerment, “We congratulate this year’s winners and applaud the PIDC for providing students with a venue for meaningful conversations about the country’s most pressing issues. Hyundai is all about empowering people to get more out of life, and we are happy to have been part of these young people’s continuing journey to become leaders in their respective fields. We welcome the PIDC to the People of Hyundai.”