CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – It’s been 24 years since Filipinos saw a televised presidential debate so many were looking forward to this historic media event held last night in Cagayan de Oro City.

The five so-called presidentiables (those who COULD become president), all showed the stuff they were made of: Vice President Jejomar Binay, former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Senators Grace Poe and Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

As always in a high-profile debate such as this, pundits, critics and viewers alike have their own opinions on who won in this oral encounter.

Here’s ours:

Best one-liner responses: Miriam Defensor-Santiago.  She also gets the award for best bi-lingual debater, often aswering Tagalog questions in English.

Best pa-porma to impress: Mar Roxas. He was trained well by PNoy on the Daang Matuwid strategy.

Best x-rated performance: Rodrigo Duterte.  He answered questions the way he always does — in prime time or during bedtime.

Barbie-doll Award goes to Grace Poe.  She was cute and nice and smiley all night; who would ever think she was the most inexperienced among the bunch?

Was there a fifth debater? Oh, about Jejomar Binay…