The event, opened by the Ateneo Glee Club’s moving renditions of “Teach Me To Be Generous” and the “Lupang Hinirang,” featured top local bands and performances by the Ateneo Dance Club and the Blue Babble Battalion.
The University Athletics Association of the Philippines opened its 82nd Season with an opening ceremony that served as a send-off for the league’s athletes Sunday afternoon at the SM Mall of Asia Area in Pasay City.
The event, opened by the Ateneo Glee Club’s moving renditions of “Teach Me To Be Generous” and the “Lupang Hinirang,” featured top local bands such as Sponge Cola, Itchyworms, Autotelic, December Avenue and IV Of Spades and performances by the Ateneo Dance Club and the Blue Babble Battalion.
“We’re always asked, challenged to do the greater thing,” said Ateneo president Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ.
Athletes who have played for and will represent the country in different international tournaments were recognized just before the Oath of Sportsmanship, which was read by Ateneo fencing sensation and World Cup bronze medalist Maxine Esteban.
“We as a country, we are hosting the 2019 South East Asian Games so it is another occasion for us to come together as Filipinos and I hope that is something that is also a greater thing to do beyond our teams, beyond our schools,” said Villarin.
Aside from Villarin, the other members of the UAAP Board of Trustees who attended the ceremony were De La Salle University’s Br. Rey Suplido, University of the East’s Ester Garcia, Far Eastern University’s Michael Alba, National University’s Renato Carlos Ermita Jr, University of Santo Tomas Rector Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P., University of the Philippines’ Michael Tan and Adamson University’s Fr. Marcelo Manimtim.
The UAAP games are set to tip-off with men’s and women’s basketball games on Sept. 4, 2019 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and UST’s Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila. (PressONE.ph)