During presidential elections in the United States, it has become customary for the main candidates

(almost always the candidates of the two largest parties, currently the Democratic Party and the Republican
Party) to engage in a debate. The topics discussed in the debate are often the most controversial issues of the
time, and arguably elections have been nearly decided by these debates (for example in the case of Nixon vs.
Kennedy). Candidate debates are not constitutionally mandated; nevertheless it exists even without lawful
basis. The debates are targeted mainly at undecided voters; those who tend not to be partial to any political
ideology or party.
Presidential debates are held late in the election cycle, after the political parties have nominated their
candidates. The candidates meet in a large hall, often at a university, before an audience of citizens. The
formats of the debates have varied, with questions sometimes posed from one or more journalist moderators
and in other cases members of the audience.
Over the years I kept thinking- when will national elections in the Philippines reach the same level of
sophistication in the process of choosing public leaders. Imagine my elation when I heard about former Senator
Dick Gordons call for televised debates among candidates.

Did you know that a 30-second TV ad in a major station on primetime could send 800
students in a state university; or 4 students in a top college for one year?
The rate could rise as high as Php 1-million as elections draw nearer. A Php 1-Million TV ad
translates to 1,300 college students enrolled in state universities. With that amount a single storey
classroom with toilet, furnitures and fixtures that can shelter 40 students can also be built.
For 200 TV 30-second ads spent for the duration of the entire campaign, around 150,000 students
could be sent to state colleges; or 800 kids can go to Ateneo a year; or 164 fully furnished
classrooms can be built which can house up to 6,500 students.
Imagine the number of students that could have gone to college for a year just for A SINGLE
30-second ad during election.
This was posted on former Senator Dick Gordons facebook page last October 3, 2015.
According to Gordon, Commission on Elections (Comelec) should ban candidates from having
campaign ads on both TV and radio and even on print. These ads are paid by political allies of
candidates both on the public and private sector; as a result even before getting elected the
candidates are already in debt to certain people. Who in turn seeks to be compensated once the
candidate they chose to support wins.
Dick Gordons solution to this convoluted cycle of corruption every election season- televised
live debates for aspiring leaders of our country. Especially when it comes to presidential bets.

In the past, I represented our school in a public speaking competition and just recently, I was
also a member of a debate team sent to the YMCA intercollegiate debate contest. Although I was
unsuccessful on both occasions,