LIKE the oldest existing university in Asia that it is, host University of Santo Tomas (UST) rolls the red carpet for the UAAP Season 88 with a traditional outdoor opening ceremony in front of an expected 30,000-strong crowd at the UST Grandstand and Open Field on Friday.
Festivities start at 6 p.m. with a program title of “Journey of Hope” at the heart of the Santo Tomas campus as it retains its tradition of kicking off the UAAP season at its own turf unlike the seven other member schools in big coliseums and arenas.
Academically, Santo Tomas holds a “Thomasian Welcome Walk” for all its incoming first-year students for a century-old rite of passage that it will also extend to all the student-athletes from other schools to open the ceremonies.
With a theme of “Strength in Motion, Hope in Action,” a finale “Hope Concert” like the school’s annual Paskuhan plus a drone display, fireworks and lighting of the massive cauldron will wrap up the Season 88 kickoff ahead of the back-to-back game days to start the centerpiece basketball tournament at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena.
Santo Tomas will also launch the official song with a title similar to the theme, composed by assistant professor Louell Baldoza from UST Institute of Religion and interpreted by Santo Tomas alumnus, OPM singer-songwriter and former Callalily band frontman Kean Cipriano.
But before all of that, Santo Tomas will have a Eucharistic Celebration at the UST QPav Arena at 2 p.m. in line with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope.
“When strength and hope unite, greatness happens. We’re all champions in one enduring flame. The gates of España are now wide open, and the stage is set. To the entire UAAP community, we are ready to give our all and let out the loudest roar this season,” said UAAP Season 88 President Fr. Rodel Cansancio, OP.
“This year, we rise to the challenge — bigger, bolder, and more spectacular than ever before,” he added as Santo Tomas wrapped up the 8-day countdown called “Light of Hope” featuring the light colors of the eight UAAP schools that illuminated the UST Main Building prior to the much-awaited opener.
After the opener, men’s basketball fires off the next day right away featuring Far Eastern University against Ateneo de Manila University at 2 p.m. then De La Salle University against Adamson University at 4:30 p.m. at the UST QPav Arena.
Also at the same venue, Santo Tomas will host no less than the reigning champion University of the Philippines at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday after the first match between the National University and the University of the East at 2 p.m.
Junior basketball games are also slated in the morning schedule of both game days at the same venue as the women’s football fires off at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub and the junior volleyball kicking off at Blue Eagle Gym. — John Bryan Ulanday