Filipino Students Make History as First Schools in Qatar to Debate in Oxford, UK

Doha, Qatar — Filipino students from Philippine School Doha (PSD) and Beta Cambridge School (BCS) have achieved a historic milestone for both Qatar and the Philippines after qualifying to represent Qatar at the Oxford Schools Debating Competition Finals Day, set to take place on 14 March 2026 at the world-renowned Oxford Union in the United Kingdom.

The students secured Qatar’s top two teams during the Oxford Schools Debating Competition Qatar, hosted on 1 November 2025 by Vocara Institute, in partnership with the Oxford Union and Qatar University.

From BCS, the team of Abbey Catalan who emerged as Top 1 Best Speaker and Top 16^th Best Speaker Lauren Tansio claimed the championship position. Meanwhile, the team from PSD, composed of Timothy Jeremiah Rivera awarded Top 3 Best Speaker and Nathaniel Angelo Ruiz being awarded as Top 18^th Best Speaker, finished as strong runner-ups. They triumphed among 110 participants, representing 29 teams from 16 schools across Qatar.

A First for Qatar and a Breakthrough for Filipino Schools

This year marks the first time in history that any school from Qatar has qualified to attend the Oxford Schools Debating Competition Finals Day in Oxford.

Notably, Philippine School Doha is now the first Philippine school outside the Philippines to qualify for the UK Finals Day. It also becomes the second Filipino school ever to reach this level, following Ateneo de Manila Senior High School, which competed at the Oxford Schools Finals Day in 2022 and 2023 after advancing through the Hong Kong regional rounds.

This dual achievement highlights both Qatar’s growing debate excellence and the outstanding global calibre of Filipino students in international academic competition.

About the Oxford Schools’ Debating Competition

The Oxford Schools’ Debating Competition features international regional rounds for schools outside the UK, where top-performing teams advance to the prestigious Finals Day at the historic Oxford Union, one of the world’s most distinguished debating societies.

For more than 202 years since 1823, the Oxford Union has welcomed many of the most influential voices in global politics, culture, and public thought. Competing in its hallowed chamber connects students with a legacy of intellectual exchange spanning continents and generations.

The competition is run with the support of Cherwell College Oxford, which provides the necessary venues that help nurture the next generation of public speakers. Each year, over a thousand students join the competition, with more than 350 schools participating last year alone.

Filipinos at the Oxford Union

Several Filipino figures have previously delivered speeches at the Oxford Union, including Former Senator and world champion Manny Pacquiao, 2013 Miss International Megan Young & the late former Philippine President Fidel V. Ramos

A Milestone for Youth Excellence

This unprecedented achievement by PSD and BCS reflects the growing strength of Qatar’s debate community, the increasing visibility of Filipino academic excellence abroad, and the powerful impact of cross-national educational collaboration.

Both schools will proudly carry the flag of Qatar and the Filipino community on one of the most prestigious debating stages in the world this March 2026.

For Verification & more information, you contact:

Mr. Mubarat of Vocara/Oxford: 5557 2656

Mr. Rivera for PSD: 33858021

Mr. Catalan for BCS: 5011 9593