UAAP Season 88 opens at UST with grand ceremony on September 19

MANILA, Philippines, August 31 ------ The University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 kickstarts on September 19 with host school University of Santo Tomas (UST) holding the opening ceremony at its Grandstand. The next two days (September 19 and September 20) will also see UST hold the opening basketball games at its Quadricentennial Pavilion.

UST Director for Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) and UAAP Board of Managing Directors President in Fr. Rodel Cansancio announced the news in the Season 88 kickstart press conference Wednesday at the Dr. Robert C. Sy Grand Ballroom of the Blessed Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building. There, UST alumnus Kian Cipriano also performed the Season 88 theme song named after its very theme 'strength in motion and hope in action'. "We are planning a jam-packed UAAP Opening Weekend here at UST, with ceremonies on Friday and basketball games on Saturday and Sunday," said Cansancio.

"The Opening Day will be divided into three major parts that are closely connected with one another. We will kick off the celebration with a Mass at 2 p.m. This is inspired by the Church Jubilee Celebration. After the 2 p.m. Mass, we will transition into the 6 p.m. Opening Program, entitled Journey of Hope, which continues the Church Jubilee Celebration theme. "One can expect a festive atmosphere with vibes similar to 'Paskuhan' and other iconic UST traditions, like the Welcome Walk, all designed to give the UAAP community a taste of Tomasian pride and spirit. For the Opening Program, the entire UST campus transforms into a massive stage, but the main action unfolds at the grandstand and open field, where the crowd will gather, estimated to be somewhere between 25,000 to 30,000."

If only regular rains persist on the 19th, the opening ceremony will push through. In case of torrential rain, however, it will be moved to the 22nd. "In case of heavy rains, we will reschedule the opening for next Monday, September 22 but if the rains continue on the 22nd, we will find another time to hold the opening," said Cansancio. "We really prepared an outdoor opening program. We really want to hold it over there at the Grandstand."

Source: manilatimes.net