The University of Sto. Tomas (UST) officially opened Season 88 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) on Saturday at the UST campus grounds—and it did so in style.
The university from España welcomed the seven other UAAP members and their students to the Tigers’ lair to give them a taste of the famed Thomasian way of life and also to give them a roaring, festive, truly memorable show.
It was a show all right, with one highlight after another and “wow” moments galore that perfectly set the stage for the lighting of the cauldron at the UST Grandstand led by pole vault sensation and UST alumnus EJ Obiena.
A Fitting Welcome to a New Season and a Festive Night
The opening ceremony began with delegations from the member schools marching through the Arch of the Centuries, an age-old tradition to welcome new UST students. UST gave its UAAP brethren an Olympic-style introduction, with banners raised high and students cheering their hearts out for their respective universities. As each delegation marched through the famed Arch, the hosts showed out with a dazzling drone show that displayed each university’s UAAP logo as it entered the UST campus to ear-splitting cheers.
“Tonight, we gather for the highly anticipated UAAP Season 88 Opening Ceremonies, where as host, we are ready to set the stage for an epic season filled with strong competition and unforgettable moments, showcasing sportsmanship and camaraderie,” said Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., UST Director and UAAP Season 88 Chairman.
Next came the presentation of the Eight Icons of Hope:
- Faith and Service (presented by Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula)
- Nation Building and Enterprise (presented by Alice Eduardo)
- Sustainable Architecture (presented by Architect Carmelo Casas)
- Public Health and Service (presented by Dr. Maria Rosario Singh)
- Culture and Arts (presented by Willy Layug)
- Truth and Responsible Media (presented by Christian Esguerra)
- Women Empowerment in Sports and Athletics (presented by Haydee Ong)
- Science and Environment Stewardship (presented by Karen Ibasco)
Top Thomasian athletes—Jasmin Simpao (taekwondo), Noelito Jose (fencing), Eya Laure, Josh Ybañez, and Jau Umandal (volleyball), Nic Cabanero and Kent Pastrana (basketball), and Tachiana Mangin (taekwondo)—then led the traditional Oath of Sportsmanship.
A torch relay followed, with UST athletes Jervy Cruz (UAAP men’s basketball champion), Sydney Sy (Filipino martial artist), Sisi Rondina (Philippine volleyball icon), and EJ Obiena (two-time Olympic pole vaulter) doing the honors. Rondina began the relay at the Arch of the Centuries and handed the torch to Cruz at the Miguel Benavides Building. The Season 70 MVP carried the torch all the way to UST’s Main Building, where he passed it on to Sy, who then handed it over to Obiena. The athletics sensation finished the relay by lighting the cauldron at the UST Grandstand.
With the schools welcomed, the Oath of Sportsmanship taken, and the cauldron lit, Fr. Ang finally opened UAAP Season 88.
“Let this flame ignite all the dreams and aspirations of all the athletes this season and unite them in the spirit of sportsmanship and hope. I now declare the UAAP Season 88 officially open,” he proclaimed.
The ceremony formally closed with a live performance by Kean Cipriano, who sang the season’s theme song “Strength in Motion, Hope in Action,” which was composed by UST Institute of Religion assistant professor Louell Baldoza.
UST Gives a Rousing Culmination to a Memorable Night
The night up to that point was already memorable in and of itself. But UST had one final surprise left: the Hope Concert at the UST Grandstand led by pop star Sarah Geronimo and other OPM acts like band Lola Amour.
Geronimo’s set was particularly noteworthy as she not only dazzled the crowd with her usual high-energy song-and-dance numbers, but also gave a heartfelt and out-of-left-field political message.
“Hindi naman po lingid sa kaalaman natin na maraming nangyayaring kaguluhan, kasinungalingan, at panloloko na ginagawa sa ating bansa. Let us all be reminded na kayo, I don’t want to put the pressure on you, ang ating mga kabataan, kayo ang pag-asa ng ating bansa, ng ating bayan. One day, kayo ang magbabago ng bulok na sistema ng bansang ito,” the 37-year-old pop star royalty said before performing one of her hit songs. “‘Wag kayong mawalan ng pag-asa, ‘wag po tayo mawalan ng pag-asa. Kumapit po tayo sa hope at magtiwala, patuloy na magtiwala na balang araw, mababago rin ang bulok na sistema na ‘yan at uunlad din ang ating mahal na bansang Pilipinas…”
In all, the Hope Concert proved to be a fitting end to a festive night that the UAAP community won’t soon forget for sure.
Sports action begins this weekend with the collegiate men’s and junior high school boys’ basketball tournaments, collegiate football, and high school girls’ and boys’ volleyball.
