Square Off

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Square Off is a television debate program broadcast on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC). It broadcasts every Wednesday at 8:00 pm PST, with replays throughout the week. The show is hosted by Twink Macaraig and is primarily sponsored by the Philippine Graphic.

Most participants in Square Off are college-level debaters from various universities around the Philippines debating on important socio-political issues dominating the Philippine landscape. However, some episodes had politicians, civil servants or other influential figures participate in the debates debating on the same issues.

In 2007, as part of its involvement in the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC), the program recently rebranded itself as Square Off: The Philippine Debate Championship. The winning university participating in the current season will proceed to Assumption University in Bangkok, Thailand, the location of WUDC 2008, to represent the Philippines.

[edit] Format

Square Off debates are in modified Policy format, with only two speakers, three-minute constructive speeches, 30-second one-question cross-examination periods, and 1.5-minute rebuttal speeches. However, current episodes leading to WUDC 2008 use a modified form of the British Parliamentary format, with only the first four speakers of the opening sides of the house participating, although speeches still remain at the standard seven minutes.

At the end of each debate, an adjudicator (for Policy format) or a panel of adjudicators (for British Parliamentary format) determine the winning speaker or, in British Parliamentary debates, the best speaker and the winning team. An audience poll conducted via text messaging also determines the "audience's choice" for the winning speaker or best speaker of the debate, although the audience poll does not affect the final result of the debate.