The Parliament: UPLB Debate Society is once again bringing back Luzon Intervarsity for the 18th year this October 3 to 4, 2026. The University of the Philippines Los Baños will be an avenue for the region’s sharpest minds, as one of Luzon’s largest British Parliamentary (BP) tournaments throws open its doors to debaters, judges, and observers from across the region.
“A living community where ideas are continuously challenged, refined, and passed forward” is how Tournament Director Isabella Alvarez describes what the core value of UPLB’s prestigious debate competition is really about. Beyond preliminaries and the points to accumulate, the tournament serves as a stage where institutions engage, stress-test ideas, and where the next generation of critical thinkers faces one another to be shaped by the round.
The Stakes
Living up to its legacy, LIV seeks to host up to 80 teams with approximately 200 expected participants, and conduct four preliminary rounds with no institutional cap on how many teams a school can send, although it is to be noted that anything past six is placed on the waitlist.
The CAP lineup is also top-notch, with National Debating Championship 2026 elected CAPs attending LIV, namely Zen Tiangco of Ateneo de Manila University, Ady Balimbingan of the University of the Philippines Cebu, and Miranda Autor of the University of the Philippines Diliman. Ken Singson of UPLB also proudly stands with them as the host’s representative.
Moreover, there are three paths to the finals: Open, Novice, and High School break categories, with each advancing through quarterfinals, semifinals, and grand finals, respectively, on Day 2 of the tournament to determine who will be crowned as champions at the Open Finals and Championship Dinner.
One rule also applies without exception: every team is required to bring their own judge, with a ghost adjudication fee available for those who are unable to do so.
Getting in the Room
Registration begins July 24, 2026, and proceeds in phases with one form per institution, followed by payment and participant-detail submissions. Fees can also range from PHP 3,000 to 3,500 depending on an institution’s location, with covered meals, tournament kits, and full access to the venue.
For those facing financial constraints, LIV’s scholarship program offers a 20-50% reduction in registration fees for eligible debaters and judges. Judges looking to build their credentials may also apply for Invited or Subsidized Adjudicator status, which includes waived fees, full board, tournament kits, and, for top-tier Invited Adjudicators, remuneration of up to PHP 3,500.
Safety Precautions
Institutions bringing high school teams are required to register at least one adult chaperone, tasked with overseeing student safety, liaising with organizers, and upholding equity and decorum from check-in through closing.
The Call Is Out
Led by TD Alvarez and Deputy TD Zali Sadueste, the LIV 2026 organizing committee invites every institution across Luzon and the country to register and take part in what promises to be a landmark 18th year.
For inquiries, institutions and individuals may reach the organizing committee at:
intervarsity.liv@gmail.com
or visit the Luzon Intervarsity Facebook page.
