In a drum-beat-immersed field, no beating can drown out the sound of thumping hearts as athletes, coaches, and trainers marched in the opening parade from the Barotac Nuevo Football Field.
The Western Visayas Regional State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association Sports Festival and Conference 2024 was officially opened last December 15 in the opening program held at the Tamasak Arena Gymnasium in the Municipality of Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo.
"With great excitement and anticipation, by the power vested upon me as the chair of RASUC 6, I now declare the WVRSCUAA 2024 open", declared Dr. Bobby D. Gerardo, Regional Association of State Universities and Colleges 6 (RASUC 6) Chairperson, Northern Iloilo State University (NISU) President.
Distinguished guests namely Senate Majority Leader, Hon. Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino, Las Piรฑas City Congressional District Representative, Hon. Congw. Camille A. Villar, Commission on Higher Education Regional Office 6 (CHEDRO6) Director, Dr. Raul C. Alvarez Jr., CESO III, and Iloilo Fourth Congressional District Representative, Hon. Cong. Ferjenel Biron attended the event with the Mayors of various Local Government Units of Iloiloโand conveyed their support to the delegates as they delivered their respective messages.
"Sa lahat ng inyong sasalihang laro, batid ko na kayo ay nagpakahirap. You prepared hard to compete today to prove your worth as an athlete. Again, I ask all of you to remember that each game is a game that should bring honor not just for yourselves but also for your schools and your community," said Hon. Senator Tolentino.
Hosted by the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (IFUFST), twelve more Western Visayas state universities joining the ISUFST in the annual conference are the Central Philippines State University (CPSU), Aklan State University (ASU), Capiz State University (CapSU), Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU), Guimaras State University (GSU), Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U), Philippine Normal University-Visayas (PNU-V), State University of Northern Negros (SUNN), University of Antique (UA), University of the Philippines-Visayas (UP-V), West Visayas State University (WVSU), and NISU.
The CPSU delegation marched in the Tamasak Arena with profound Cenphilian pride as the โMighty Hornbillsโ and as the mighty hornbill icon was showcased, vying for the sports events gold medals and the overall champion trophy in the annual sports conference for state universities in Western Visayas.
Running alongside their school colors, athletes decorated with medals in various sports events represented their respective universities in the symbolic torch relay, passing their torches to their university presidents for the traditional urn-lighting ceremony with Director Alvarez, followed by the presentation of the muses and escorts for the WVRSCUAA 2024.
"Good luck to everyoneโto our athletes, manalo sana kayo ng medalya. Kung hindi naman mananalo, ay gawing itong pagkakataon ng pag-alala ng kung ano ang kailangan ninyong baguhin, anong kailangang gawin upang sa susunod na taon ay magkakamit na kayo ng medalya. Mabuhay ang mga manlalarong pinoy! Mabuhay ang Region 6! Mabuhay tayong lahat!", ends Hon. J. Prospero E. de Vera III, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson, in a video message for the WVRSCUAA delegation.
Student performers highlighted the local culture through their festival dances of the Anihan Festival of Dueรฑas, Banaag Festival of Anilao, Haw-as Festival of Dumangas, Kalamay Festival of San Enrique, Kasag Festival of Banate, and Tamasak Festival of Barotac Nuevoโending the event vivaciouslyโwell befitting the festivities to take place in various venues in the province of Iloilo.
The first day of the conference ended with the Mayor's Night organized by the Local Government Unit of Barotac Nuevo, where officials from the participating universities were warmly welcomed by Hon. Cong. Biron, Hon. and Barotac Nuevo Mayor, Hon. Bryant Paul Q. Biron.
As of press time, various WVRSCUAA events are now simultaneously taking place in sports venues in and out of the Municipality.
