The episode’s topic covered the timely concern of the Mindanao crisis with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The winning team from Ateneo argued against the motion for the government to suspend peace talks with the rebel group.

Yves Aquino, chair adjudicator and hailed as one of the best debaters in the 2006 Asian Universities Debate Championship, expressed enthusiasm at the brilliant exchange between the two universities.

"It’s very interesting to hear young people discuss the current crisis in Mindanao because this is no ordinary issue – we’re talking about lives here. ‘Square Off’ just proves that the youth are aware and that they care. We just hope that the government is listening,’’ he said.

Ateneo’s Sharmila Parmanand rallied for a "more calibrated response’’ rather than the all-out war that the WMSU proposed, reiterating that it is the government’s duty to listen to the people.

"The picture is not as black and white as they painted it to be. This is about the government picking the right battles, and the dominant hierarchy of the MILF has already expressed their desire for negotiations,’’ asserted Parmanand, who was the viewers’ choice for Best Speaker.

Parmanand’s contention was supported by fellow Atenean Charisse Borromeo, who claimed that an all-out war would only alienate MILF guerrilla factions and might push them to join bigger terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah. She also noted that the Philippine government might not be ready for the cost and consequences of such drastic action.

Aquino said that the show would provide student debaters the opportunity to reach a wider audience. He advised debaters to make their arguments palatable to the audience and remember to address the viewers instead of just the adjudicators.

"Televising the debates will benefit student debaters. It will help them learn how to connect to a diversified audience. Similarly, they will be facing adjudicators from different countries at "Worlds,’’ so they must learn how to craft their arguments and messages to connect with different types of people,’’ he said.

"Worlds’’ is the nickname for the World Universities Debating Championship, the largest and most prestigious international annual debate competition in the world. Placing at Worlds is considered every debater’s dream, and that is exactly what winners of the Square Off debates will be given an opportunity to do.

ANC and Philippine Graphic will send the winning team on an-all expense paid trip to the 2008 Worlds in Bangkok, Thailand, where over 300 university teams are expected to compete in December.

"Square Off: The Philippine Debate Championship’’ is aired on ANC every Wednesday, from 8-9 p.m. with Twink Macaraig as moderator.