AdU launches Pep Rally 2018 as prelude to UAAP Season 81
Date Posted: September 4, 2018 at 01:46 PM
Adamson University, through the Office for Athletics and Recreation (OAR), launched Pep Rally 2018 at the ST. Quadrangle on August 31, 2018. Organized in coordination with the Office for Student Affairs (OSA) and the Adamson University Student Government (AUSG), the huge festive gathering was meant to introduce the athletes who will be competing in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 81 sporting events. At the same time, it was to drum up support from the university community and inspire athletes to bring honor to their school.
The rally started with a Mass officiated by Fr. William Azul Encelan, CM and Fr. Agustin Advincula, CM at the ST Chapel. This was followed by a parade of the athletes from the chapel down to the quadrangle below. The noise coming from the crowd of students, administrators, faculty and employees that packed the ST Quad’s grounds and balconies increased several decibels higher when the athletes started to enter the quadrangle and occupy their seats.
After the signing of the National Anthem and the University Hymn, Fr. Aldrin Suan, CM, director of the OAR and one of AdU’s two representatives to the UAAP Board, delivered the opening remarks. “We are gathered because we want to let the world know that ‘We are Falcons!’ It is not just about players and coaches in the court but we as Adamson family soaring higher together,” he said by way of an introduction. Explaining that the rally was a way of giving due recognition to student-athletes who make a lot of sacrifices, he led the community in thanking them and most specially the champion teams of the previous season – the Pep Squad, the Baseball Team and the 8-peat champion Softball Team.
The host for this season is National University and theme is It All Begins Here. Fr. Suan tweaked it, saying, “I would like to borrow the words of the late Fernando Poe, Jr. in our quest for championship and we say Simulan mo, tatapusin ko.” In conclusion, he said that the goals this year are high, to become the reigning Falcons. Referring to the competing schools through their mascots, he rallied the crowd to “fight the Warriors, evade the Arrows, overtake the Eagles, surprise the Tigers, strike the Tamaraws, swoop down on the Bulldogs, and definitely Blue is more attractive than Maroons.”
The champion Pep Squad displayed their winning form while different teams showed their dancing skills to the delight of the audience. But what brought the house down was the surprise dance number of four administrator-priests – Fr. Rafael Eloriaga, VP Finance; Fr. Andrew Bayal, VP Student Affairs; Fr. Aldrin Suan, OAR director; Fr. Rock Joseph Enriquez, director of the Institute for Religious Education; and Fr. William Azul Encelan, director of the Campus Ministry Office. Guided by a Pep Squad member, and defying uncooperative muscles, they swayed, twirled and gyrated in the spirit of good, clean fun and entertainment.
The last part of the rally saw the introduction of the different teams. The students left the quadrangle visibly hyped up, ready to cheer for the Falcons in the coming UAAP wars.
