Coming back for a 2-peat win – the University of Batangas (UB) Senior High School (SHS) students set a new record as the reigning Overall Champion at the University of the Philippines (UP) Association of Political Science Majors’ (UPAPSM) Balangay 2025: Hello, Funds, Goodbye, held at UP Diliman on November 8, 2025.
Securing 1st Place, John Elijah Gabrielle Bunquin (Argumentative Essay) and Miguel Gian Macalalad (Editorial Cartooning) brought home championship titles. Meanwhile, Sunshine Espina (Extemporaneous Speech) and John Roger Gumabay, Francis Wendell Labay, and Thomas Matthew Baes (Quiz Bowl) showcased their wit and determination throughout the competition.
Three-day lock-in.
To secure the back-to-back victory, Atty. Mary Christel Joy G. Contreras, SHS faculty member and adviser of the TAHAS Debate Society, dedicated three days to coaching the delegates through prompts, drills, and hands-on training.
As a coach, Atty. Contreras emphasized the importance of gaining experience for learning development.
“It’s important for students to participate in these competitions because I believe that aiming for the win is not the true goal—it’s the experience,” said Atty. Contreras. She added, “Learning doesn’t stop inside their classrooms. They should also be exposed to experiences where they can learn about cultures and improve their social skills.”
This achievement reflects UB’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. UB advances SDG 4 (Quality Education) by giving students opportunities to strengthen their skills beyond the classroom. UB supports SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by training students to become informed, confident, and articulate participants in civic and academic discourse. UB also promotes SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by building strong collaborations with institutions like UPAPSM and expanding valuable learning experiences for its students.