UAAP 82 opening advocates focus on athlete, community
Date Posted: September 3, 2019 at 09:27 AM
The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) opened its 82nd Season and sent-off the league’s athletes competing in the incoming 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, September 1, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Season hosts Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) delivered a unique opening ceremony capped off with a concert, unlike the preceding kickoffs which were ended with the first game of the Men’s Basketball tournament.
"The thing we are doing differently this year is just like back in Season 74, there won’t be a basketball game after the opening ceremony," UAAP president Emmanuel Fernandez said.
"We want this to be the pep rally for all the student-athletes of the UAAP."
The event stayed in line with this year’s theme All for more, alluding to the Jesuit value Magis that means greater.
All participating athletes were also asked to attend the opening parade highlighted by the Oath of Sportsmanship led by fencer Maxene Esteban along with fellow SEA games-bound national athletes from each member university.
Joyme Sequita (track and field), Bryan Castillo and Steven Manaig (baseball), Arianne Vallestero, Ezra Jalandoni, Angela Gabriel, Mary Joy Maguad, and Nicole Padasas (softball) represented the Soaring Falcons.
Ateneo president Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ explained the season’s theme saying that the UAAP is more than the televised mainstream sports.
“It’s not just volleyball. It’s not just basketball. Everyone -- all [events],” Fr. Villarin said.
"We are first a community before we are competitors. Ipinagdiriwang natin ang isa’t-isa because each make us not just better athletes but better persons.”
The hosts also announced that trophies and medals to be awarded are made of materials recycled by communities from Marawi City and Taal, Batangas.
"The trophy and medal might be yours if you win the competition, but you will also win for the communities in Marawi, in Taal [because] they made your trophies and medals out of recycled materials," Fr. Villarin said.
The hosts also announced a change in schedule of this year’s competition, as well as the establishment of new medal and demo events.
Spongecola and The Itchyworms sang Season 82 theme song Ang Ating Tagumpay to kickoff the closing concert. Mainstream bands Autotelic, December Avenue and IV of Spades also performed in the event.
