UAAP SEASON 88
Season 88 opens at UST with color, faith, and fanfare
Opening rites draw inspiration from Paskuhan, other Thomasian traditions
By Rob Andrew L. Dongiapon
A GRAND showcase of tradition will headline the UAAP Season 88 opening ceremonies on Friday, Sept. 19, culminating a year of preparation for the league’s new season hosted by UST.
UAAP Season 88 President Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. said preparations began as early as July 2024, just two months after the University of the Philippines hosted Season 87.
“It started with just the central committee for Season 88,” Cansancio told Varsitarian. ”We made it for it to be composed of the members of the events committee of the UST, plus other administrative and academic units that can help in the opening.”
“Full Thomasian spirit lahat.”
The ceremonies drew inspiration from Paskuhan, ending with a concert to cap the festivities.
Similar to Paskuhan, which takes months of planning, the event will be held at the UST Grandstand and Open Field.
The UAAP opening also spurred improvements around campus — from repainting the University’s name on the Grandstand stage to other touch-ups that prepared UST for the spotlight.
“Of course, may improvements para neat tayo come the opening day. Nangyayari naman ‘yong improvements every year but emphasize this year na presentable ‘yong campus for all our guests,” Cansancio said.
“It was prepared by UST. It's a labor of love of the many personnel of the University and even alumni. So, kaabang-abang, simula hanggang katapusan,” he said. Heritage
UST also plans to showcase its heritage through performances set against the backdrop of the University’s most recognizable sites.
“UST's iconic landmarks transform into immersive performance spaces, from the Arch of the Centuries to the Plaza Mayor,” Fr. Christopher Jeffrey Aytona, O.P., Season 88’s programs committee head, said.
“(It turns) the entire campus into a living, breathing stage that honors our history and identity. It's something that excites us.”
The main program will open with a Eucharistic celebration at the Quadricentennial Pavilion at 2 p.m. Ceremonies then shift to the UST Grandstand and Open Field at 6 p.m., followed by a fireworks show, drone display, and a “Hope Concert” at 8 p.m.
A projection show will also be staged at the Main Building, last seen during the unveiling of the new tiger statue and block letters at Plaza Mayor, as well as during UST’s quadricentennial celebration in 2011.
About 25,000 people are expected to attend, including more than 7,000 representatives from other UAAP schools.
Each member school received 1,000 complimentary tickets for the event, while all Thomasians, including alumni, are invited.
Although rainfall is a concern, Cansancio said backup plans are in place, but stressed the program was designed primarily as an outdoor event in line with “Thomasian tradition.”
“We really prepared an outdoor opening program, so we really want to
UAAP Season 88 was prepared by UST. It’s a labor of love of the many personnel of the University and even alumni.
Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P.
88 PRESIDENT
have the opening sa Grandstand and sa Open Field. It is a Thomasian tradition, since we also staged it here on Season 79,” he said. “The uniqueness of our opening, as I said, is will be done here on our campus for our students to experience the atmosphere we prepared.
“This is really for our students, for our community.”
In the days leading up to the opening, UST staged nightly “Light of Hope” shows from Sept. 8-18, illuminating the facade of the UST Main Building with the colors, chants, and hymns of UAAP schools.
The light spectacle was in line with the Jubilee of Hope and reflected UST’s mission to “spread the light” (lumina pandit). LILAH MIKAELA PAREDES
UAAP launches boys’ tennis, reintroduces high school baseball in Season 88
‘UST is ready to rise to the challenge’
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following are excerpts from the speech of UAAP Season 88 President Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P., delivered at the league’s press conference on Aug. 27, 2025.
TO ALL our guests, To all our guests, welcome to the University of Santo Tomas.
The torch has officially been passed to us from UP, last season’s host. The spotlight is now on UST, and we are deeply honored to host the 88th edition of the UAAP, nine years after we last took on the league in 2016. We fully recognize the great responsibility that comes with this undertaking, but we are more than ready to rise to the challenge. Now, the gates of España are wide open. The stage has been set. To the UAAP community, we are more than ready to give it our all and release the loudest roar this season.
However, beyond all these celebrations, let us not forget what brings us the eight UAAP schools together: our shared purpose and vision. UAAP will always be about celebrating courage, discipline, and the uniting spirit of sports. We will constantly espouse the belief that the true meaning of competition goes beyond winning. It’s about inspiring the transformation of oneself, teams, and the greater community.
As the chorus of our Season 88 theme song so aptly puts it: “Strength in motion, hope in action. Bonds unbroken, fierce compassion. Hands will clash, yet souls align — the truest win is shared like wine. Through sweat and grit, we claim our name, champions of one enduring flame!”
Remember, we are all champions of one enduring flame. My dear friends, as one UAAP, together we will find strength in motion and hope in action in this season.
Mabuhay ang UAAP. Mabuhay ang UST. One for UST. Go, USTe!
League also considering adding Olympic sports but anticipates hurdles for member schools
By Joaquin Edgardo A. Cortez & Clyde Leanne M. Salamatin
THE UAAP is set to introduce a boys’ tennis tournament and bring back juniors’ baseball in Season 88, with other Olympic sports also under consideration for future inclusion.
Boys’ baseball will make its return after six years, last played in the UAAP in Season 82 back in 2019, when the UST Junior Golden Sox captured the title.
During an Aug. 27 press conference at UST, UAAP Season 88 President Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P., said the addition of new sports is aimed at strengthening high school-level development and creating a smoother transition for athletes into the collegiate ranks.
“I think it’s really more of the alignment, because we have programs at college,” he told the Var-
sitarian. “It’s more of the developmental program — from your high school program, you’ll just move up to your college program.”
Season 88 will also see judo and taekwondo tournaments moved to the second semester.
Olympic sports
The UAAP has long been a proving ground for athletes aspiring to compete internationally, including the Olympics. Yet, not all Olympic disciplines currently have a foothold in the collegiate league.
During a courtesy call last July, the UAAP and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the national sports development agenda.
This prompted discussions on expanding Olympic-aligned disciplines in the UAAP, including weightlifting, shooting, and golf.
“We have discussed these proposals coming from the (PSC) and that is the reason why, on the part of the UAAP, we established a tech-
nical working group in order to talk about this proposal moving for ward,” Cansancio said. “So, it’s still under discussion.”
Cansancio stressed that adding more sports requires careful planning, especially considering the financial implications for member schools.
“Incorporating Olympic-aligned sports into the UAAP is a step in the right direction, but it’s not easy,” he said. “A thorough feasibility study is crucial to assess sustainability, financial implications for member schools, and other key factors.”
He noted that one of the biggest challenges could be the financial burden on universities.
“It’s doable, but one major hurdle is the financial burden on member schools. This is where the government can step in and help schools address limited venues, equipment, and access to world-
► UST stages a press conference for UAAP Season 88 at the Dr. Robert C. Sy Grand Ballroom on Wednesday, Aug. 27. — PHOTO BY ALEXA F. VIRAY
► Boys’ tennis and high school baseball will be held in the second semester of Season 88. ART BY REGINA LOUISE DLC. SANOTA
UAAP THEME
Jubilee
of
Hope celebration inspires
theme of new UAAP season
By Venerando P. Pagaduan VII
DESIGNING the UAAP Season 88 logo and theme drew inspiration not only from the league’s eight member schools but also from the Catholic Church’s “Jubilee of Hope” in 2025, which UST, as host school, sought to highlight.
The theme of Season 88, “Strength in Motion, Hope in Action,” was largely rooted in the jubilee celebration, while the creation of the logo became an allhands effort that UST hopes will symbolize its hosting, according to the design team.
Raphael Kalaw, secretary of the College of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD), said every department and faculty was extended an “open invitation” to contribute ideas for the logo.
Once the framework was set, Kalaw led a small team of two faculty members and two students in finalizing the design.
“It’s a nice opportunity for the University to show our unity in serving one purpose because we’re the hosts,” Kalaw told the Varsitarian “You can see that everyone is working; it’s a group effort.”
UST athletics director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P., the UAAP Season 88 president, said the University envisioned Season 88 as a tribute to hope.
“We wanted to capture the essence of the Jubilee of Hope,” Cansancio said. “Basically, our message is hope. That will also be the message of the grand opening. Basically, it’s a celebration of hope — of stories of hope.”
Grounded in the season’s theme, the logo incorporates the colors of
We wanted to capture the essence of the Jubilee of Hope. Our message is hope. The grand opening ... is a celebration of hope.
Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. SEASON 88 PRESIDENT
the UAAP’s eight member schools. Its centerpiece is the interlocking “88” rendered as a flame, intended to embody the “essence” of Season 88.
The design went through multiple revisions, including versions that highlighted the 88 more prominently as Möbius strips, as well as typefaces that wove the number into the two As of UAAP.
In a statement, UST said the finalized logo symbolized inclusivity and unity, with each school equally represented.
“It serves as a powerful visual representation of our shared commitment to building a better future through unity in sports and education,” UST said. “Interwoven into the design, they signify continuity and inclusivity — honoring the unique identity of each school
Kean Cipriano delivers vocals for Season 88 theme song
By Rob Andrew L. Dongiapon
UST WAS the place where dreams were written and manifested for singer Kean Cipriano.
Nearly 20 years after dropping out of the Conservatory of Music, Cipriano returns to UST as the handpicked performer for the UAAP Season 88 theme song.
“This is where my dreams started. This is where it all began. This is where I put what I want to happen in my life,” Cipriano told the Varsitarian. ”I wrote my biggest dreams in my classroom here in UST.”
Cipriano gave life to “Strength in Motion, Hope in Action,” the UAAP Season 88 theme song written by Louell Baldoza, a faculty member of the Institute of Religion, which won UST’s songwriting competition. The song title also serves as the season’s theme.
He performed the song for the first time during the Season 88 press conference at the Dr. Robert C. Sy Grand Ballroom in the Blessed Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building on Aug. 27.
Cipriano studied for a year at the College of Commerce and Business Administration before shifting to the Conservatory of Music for a semester. He then left UST in 2005 to focus on the band Callalily.
A year later, Callalily produced their biggest hit, “Magbalik,” a song inspired by a letter the band’s drummer, Lemuel Belaro, received. In a past interview, Belaro revealed the song was written in a jeepney with Cipriano.
The band then became a household name in local music, producing more hits such as “Stars,” “Ex,” and “Pansamantala.”
Just like all his other hit songs, Cipriano believed such a project with UST was God-given.
“I’ve been thinking about what I’m going to do for the past couple of months. What I’m going to do for my 20th anniversary or plans of how I’m going to celebrate it,” he said. “Then this project came to me. Binigay talaga sa akin. It’s like heaven gave it to me. It’s a big blessing.”
“When I found out that I was going to sing the theme song for this year’s UAAP and host UST, it was priceless. It’s one of the milestones in my career.”
According to Cipriano, the Conservatory of Music got in touch with him to offer him the song, a move that caught him by surprise.
“When they were looking for me, I was like, what’s going on? Bakit niyo ako kailangan?,” he said.
“But then I was excited when they were looking for me. They talked to the management. The usual dealings. When we closed the deal, I was like, let’s do it. I was so excited. When I heard the song, I was like, ang ganda nito ha.”
EDITORIAL
Welcome to the UAAP, where there’s more to winning
THE UNIVERSITY Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) returns this September in 88th season, this time hosted by the University of Santo Tomas.
As the oldest Catholic University in Asia welcomes the league back, each athlete is reminded to carry a deeper conviction: that there is, indeed, more to winning.
In his homily during the Jubilee of Sports closing Mass in June, Pope Leo XIV said that there is more to doing sports. What’s beyond the thrill of competitions and pursuits of titles, athletics are moments of encounter with teammates, with rivals, and ultimately, with God.
“Sports can thus help us to encounter the Triune God, because it challenges us to relate to others and with others, not only outwardly but also, and above all, interiorly,” Pope Leo XIV said. “Otherwise, sport becomes nothing more than an empty competition of inflated egos.”
Throughout the years, the UAAP has stood as a living witness to this truth — that in every area, there is character, humility, and solidarity that make each game.
As Pope St. John Paul II, an athlete himself, said, “Sport is joy of life, a game, a celebration. It must be fostered by recovering its sheer gratuity, its ability to forge bonds of friendship, to encourage dialogue and openness towards others.”
In his homily, Pope Leo XIV highlighted areas where sports
Throughout the years, the UAAP has stood as a living witness to this truth — that in every area, there is character, humility, and solidarity that makes each game.
could correct our society’s distortions: solitude, digital isolation, and a competitive society. In a world tempted by these dangers, sports summon us back to the “we.” In the digital age where interactions are confined to screens, the UAAP opens doors to let out and share our spirit, pride, and enthusiasm with one another that echo beyond the court. In a society that glorifies only the strong, the league teaches us to win and lose, and discover hope.
The UAAP may fill arenas, but its greater mission is to fill hearts with the conviction that life, like sports, is meant to be lived with discipline, purpose, and joy. The Pope urged people to see that the sacred is not confined to chapels or rituals; it can emerge in the sweat of athletes, the chanting of crowds, and the quiet dignity of competition embraced with honor.
The Pope concluded: “Dear athletes, the Church entrusts you with a beautiful mission: to reflect in all your activities the love of the Triune God, for your own good and for that of your brothers and sisters.”
As the Tigers roar on home ground, let the new season remind us, in Pope’s words, “that no one is born a champion, no one is born a saint. It is daily training in love that brings us closer to final victory.”
With the privilege of carrying the colors of the University, may we all embody Veritas in Caritate, truth in charity, in the realm of the UAAP.
Go USTe!
Joselito B. Zulueta
Felipe
features an NBA-level court, several facilities for athletes, and a display of general championship trophies.
The Quadricentennial Pavilion, fortress of the Growling Tigers
The state-of-the-art complex inside the UST Manila campus was designed to serve as a ‘sports haven’ for Thomasian athletes.
By Miguel Angelo B. Marco
INSIDE THE 21.5-hectare UST Manila campus stands a worldclass sports facility closely tied to the legacy of the Growling Tigers, the University’s varsity squad that has won more UAAP general championships than any other school.
The Quadricentennial Pavilion (QPav), once called the UST Sports Complex, is a modern four-story facility with courts and training spaces for Thomasian athletes. It caters to all indoor sports with seating for 5,792 spectators.
In an interview with the Varsitarian, UST alumnus Carmelo Casas, chief architect of QPav, said the arena had long been envisioned as an athletes’ sanctuary.
“We had fun doing it, and it is very iconic,” Casas said. “We wanted it to be a sports haven for athletes, and I’m glad, seeing all the performances of our athletes, that it has turned into exactly that.”
Since the QPav’s inauguration in 2011, UST has won all but three general championships. The University owns 48 overall titles at the seniors’ level and 24 in high school — more than all other schools combined.
Casas, founder of Casas+Architects, designed the QPav’s spaces in line with international standards.
“Ang pinakaimportante dito is
really complying with the standard international measurements of the courts. We were given talaga specific areas and sizes, and not just ‘yong horizontal measurements, but also ceiling heights,” he said.
The ground floor, used for smaller courts and gyms, was built with double ceiling heights for ventilation and space. Its elevation also makes it flood-resistant.
“Kasi ‘yong ground floor nito equivalent to two to three floors because of the height. Plus, very important is we have to raise it by 1.4 meters because of the flooding. Kaya tayo puro mga staircase,” Casas said.
At the heart of the Pavilion’s lobby stands the steel artwork “Campeone” (champion), crafted by Thomasian artist Joe Datuin. The piece won at the Olympic Committee Sports and Arts contest in 2008, a year after the Pavilion’s initial architectural design was drafted.
On the second floor, a showcase features UST’s general championship trophies.
The QPav also has a basketball court with maple wood flooring similar to the NBA’s. The court bears the Tigers’ logo and tiger-striped borders, with retractable seating to make way for University events.
Other design features include aluminum composite panel cladding that gives the arena its signature yellow exterior, fritted glass windows for light and ventilation, and louvers that
‘‘
We wanted the QPav to be a sports haven for athletes, and I’m glad, seeing all the performances of our athletes, that it has turned into exactly that.
Carmelo Casas FOUNDER, CASAS+ARCHITECTS
accentuate its facade.
“‘Yong ibang schools, when they heard about this, when they saw this, they wanted to have their own sports complex,” Casas said. “Nakakatuwa na it has become somewhat like a pioneer in sports complexes.”
The QPav’s lot previously housed the College of Engineering’s gym. Ahead of UST’s quadricentennial in 2011, the University expanded its use, leading to the QPav’s construction.
The half-acre facility was built under the guidance of then-UST Rector Fr. Rolando de la Rosa, O.P. and former IPEA director Fr. Ermito De Sagon, O.P.
“They were the ones who were giving us the criteria and the background also,” Casas said. “They knew that in the long run, they really had to demolish the gym. So that required new facilities, and that’s the reason na pinili nila ito, itong site na ito for the QPav.”
Before QPav, Casas and his team also designed the UST Carpark, the Alfredo M. Velayo (AMV) College of Accountancy building, and the redevelopment of the Main Building. They later handled the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, O.P. Building and the Central Laboratory.
Casas said the QPav’s construction faced challenges tied to soil and structural issues.
“Ang pinaka-challenging dito talaga was during construction. The water table here is very high. So kaunting paghukay pa lang tubig na eh. Kaya, no way can we have a base-
ment here,” Casas said.
“Even our underground tanks, there was a time when they floated during construction because of water pressure. And then another challenge din is ‘yong mga cantilevered chillers on top kasi mabigat ‘yan.”
Despite those hurdles, Casas credited teamwork with engineers for completing the Pavilion.
Structural engineering was led by Sy^2 + Associates, headed by UST alumnus Boy Sy. R.A. Mojica and Partners (RAM&P) handled electrical systems, NBF Consulting, Inc. oversaw plumbing, while L.R. Punsalan and Associates managed mechanical work.
“All of them are very vital; hindi lang kami ito,” Casas said. “Kasama lagi sila. So it is teamwork; it’s not only us.”
More than 14 years later, Casas said he was glad to see QPav fully used not just for athletics but also for University events such as solemn investitures, the annual “ROARientation” for freshmen, and the UST Student Awards.
“It was really meant for multi-purpose use by the University for any events,” Casas said. “Tuwang tuwa kami na nagagamit sa ganito.”
The arena has also hosted outside events, including the PBA on Tour, the launch of the Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, and several national and international conferences in academics and religion. It even housed the Commission on Elections’ media server during elections.
► Designed by UST alumnus Carmelo Casas, the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion
— PHOTO BY VIO NEIRO
M. VILLAESCUSA
UAAP SEASON 79
Host school magic?
How UST’s last UAAP hosting played out
By Venerando P. Pagaduan VII
UAAP HOSTING duties return to UST in Season 88, which carries the theme “Strength in Motion, Hope in Action,” following its last stint in Season 79 (2016-17) under the theme “Dare to Dream.”
Nearly a decade after that season, here’s a look back at how the Tigers fared when UST last hosted the league.
The Olympic-style opening ceremony took place on Sept. 3, 2016, highlighted by the launch of ballroom dancing as a demonstration sport, with seven UAAP schools fielding entries except
for Far Eastern University.
A parade followed, capped with a concert that featured Thomasian performers including the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe, the Conservatory of Music choirs Coro Tomasino and Liturgikon Vocal Ensemble, and the Conservatory of Music orchestra. Soloist Neil Morales performed the theme song “Dare to Dream,” written by Neo Hernandez.
In terms of competition rules, then IPEA director and UAAP president Fr. Ermito De Sagon, O.P., announced the removal of the “thrice-to-beat” bonus for elimination round sweeps. Instead, an unbeaten team would advance di-
rectly to a best-of-three finals, while the next three seeds battle in a stepladder playoff for the other spot in the championship.
In its 12th time as host, UST claimed general championship crowns in both seniors and juniors divisions. That season also began a seven-year streak of general championships for both divisions.
On the sand courts, the Tiger Sands swept both men’s and women’s beach volleyball tournaments. UST’s Sisi Rondina and Kris Roy Guzman both earned MVP honors.
In indoor volleyball, the Golden Tigresses reached the semifinals but fell
to eventual champion La Salle, settling for third place. The Golden Spikers, meanwhile, bowed down to FEU in the stepladder semis and placed fourth.
In high school volleyball, both the boys’ and girls’ teams finished second after losing to NU in the finals.
The UST Judokas were dominant, claiming the championships in the men’s, women’s, boys’, and girls’ divisions. The Tiger Jins won the championship in men’s taekwondo.
On the track, the Female Tracksters captured the women’s title.
The Tiger Paddlers ended a four-season drought with a table tennis crown, while the Junior Lady Paddlers earned
their first-ever championship.
The Lady Booters placed second in women’s football, and the men’s squad landed fourth after falling to Ateneo, led by Javier Gayoso, in the semifinals.
In basketball, no UST squad reached the podium. The Growling Tigers went 3-11 to finish last in the eliminations, while the Tigresses and Tiger Cubs both finished outside the Final Four picture.
In Season 88, UST aims to stretch its streak of overall titles, chasing a first-ever 10-peat in the juniors division, as well as a ninth consecutive crown in the seniors level, a run that started the last time the school hosted the league. KURT RUSSEL VINCENT I. MIRANDA
Season 79 opening at UST
How we became the Growling Tigers
Before adopting the moniker, UST secured 20 UAAP general championships as the ‘Glowing Goldies’
By Rob Andrew L. Dongiapon
BEFORE THE most decorated UAAP program in España became known as the UST Growling Tigers, it carried the name Glowing Goldies.
The Glowing Goldies last appeared in UAAP Season 54, when UST was in the middle of a dynasty, securing a fifth straight general championship on the way to 10 in a row. That season, then-UST Rector Fr. Rolando de la Rosa called for a mascot-renaming activity.
Felicitas Francisco, who led the now-defunct PE department, proposed the tiger as the new mascot because of its gold-and-white colors, the same as the Vatican flag, fitting for the Pontifical UST.
When UST hosted Season 55 (1992–93), the Growling Tiger mascot made its debut in the opening
ceremonies. It marked the beginning of decades with Francisco — affectionately called “Mommy Tiger” — as a fixture on the sidelines, cheering, praying, and caring for players as if they were her own children.
Francisco, an Education graduate, began her UST career in 1965 as a supervising teacher at the Education High School. By 1990, she was
PE department directress and later assistant director of the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics.
Mommy Tiger served UST for 50 years before retiring in 2011.
“I was with UST for more than 50 years, and enjoyed my stay at the University. I will surely miss it,” she said at her retirement rites.
THE UST Yellow Jackets (YJ) are not your ordinary pep squad. Like the University itself, they have traditions that define them.
Recognized for its members’ shaved heads and all-white uniforms, YJ has built a culture of discipline, unity, and school spirit that has made it one of the UAAP’s most distinct groups — the heartbeat of the Thomasian crowd.
YJ began in 1993, founded by then-student Michael Ismael Flores as the UST Bangers, with the goal of organizing the school’s cheering support. Flores said the same values guide the group today.
“Para sa amin, hindi lang ito tungkol sa ingay,” Flores told the Varsitarian. “It’s about pride, discipline, and representing UST the best way we can.”
In 1997, the group was renamed the Yellow Jackets in tribute to the University’s official color. The name also nods to the predatory wasp marked by its black-and-yellow body. The organization gained official campus recognition in 2001.
Current president Ralph Canlas said the group’s strength lies in its members’ dedication and willingness to sacrifice.
“Sobrang rigorous ng ginagawa namin, so, hindi pwede ‘yong gusto mo lang,” Canlas said. “Talagang doon mo pinapakita ‘yong commitment mo, sa pagpapakalbo.”
Canlas said the tradition of shaving their heads goes beyond appearance and serves as a test of dedication:
“May kasabihan din kasi kami, ‘If you can’t sacrifice your hair, what more can we expect that you can give your commitment to the organization, to the University, and to the community?’”
Shaved heads became a YJ trademark in the mid-2000s, during Growling Tigers head coach Pido Jarencio’s first stint, when he led UST to the UAAP title in 2006.
“Pag nakitang kalbo, YJ agad ang maiisip,” Canlas said. “As long as you wear the white shirt and the shaved head, pantay-pantay kayo — walang
Another YJ trademark is their all-white uniform. For Canlas, it is a symbol of humility, equality, and unity within the organization.
Over the years, the pep squad has also welcomed more women into its ranks. Once male-dominated, the group now counts female members as drum leaders and cheerleaders, and in 2023, the group named its first female head cheerleader, Raeza Jacob, and first female head drummer, Janaya Manalad.
“We do not look at gender — ang tinitingnan lang namin ay commitment,” Canlas said.
YJ members see themselves as the “sixth man” of every UST team, pushing athletes and firing up the crowd. Coaches and players have long credited them as part of the school’s homecourt advantage.
“Madaming times na din na nangyayari na kapag wala kami, medyo lackluster ‘yong mga nangyayari sa crowd,” Canlas said. “Kapag nandiyan kami, mine-make sure talaga namin na kahit pagod kami, kahit sobrang ramdam na namin na hindi kaya ipanalo ‘yong game, we always think for the best.”
For Canlas, leading the organization is about carrying on that legacy while keeping the group relevant for the future.
“Kung wala kang disiplina, hindi ka tatagal dito,” he said. “Lahat ng ginagawa namin may respeto, may gabay ng mga seniors. Doon nagsisimula ang pagiging pamilya namin.”
“Family kami, brothers and sisters.” KURT RUSSEL VINCENT MIRANDA
NO UST game feels complete without the crowd breaking into chants of “Go USTe!”
The battle cry has become such a fixture that athletes — Thomasian or not — have credited it as a momentum-shifter, and every Salinggawi Dance Troupe routine in the UAAP cheerdance competition concludes with it.
The “Go USTe” chant is now the pulse of Thomasian cheering — loud, catchy, and unmistakably tied to UST pride.
Its roots trace back to Michael Ismael Flores, founder of the UST Yellow Jackets, who once longed for the spine-tingling cheers he heard from rival schools.
Created in 1991, “Go USTe” drew inspiration from Vanilla Ice’s song, “Go Ninja,” which Flores heard while riding in a car. By swapping “Ninja”
Ang ganda rin kasi ng drum beat ng ‘Go USTe’ hanggang sa ‘yon na ‘yong naging staple. ... Etong chant, parang, ‘Eto na, babawi na ang UST.’
Michael Ismael Flores UST YELLOW JACKETS FOUNDER
for “USTe,” he found the rhythm and intensity he had been chasing.
“‘Yong pangarap ko na chant, catchy, two, three words. Hindi mo masyadong pag-iisipan pero pag bumitaw, as in nakakakilabot talaga, as in kakabahan ka na,” Flores told the Varsitarian Flores, then a business management student at the College of Commerce and Business Administration, got his first taste of leading cheers when he was assigned to handle his PE class’s cheer routine.
In 1990, PE professor Felix Michael Silbor recognized his potential and invited him to cheer for UST athletes every Saturday.
That moment sparked Flores’s devotion to the University’s pep squad. His earliest attempt was a simple
mas mataas, walang mas mababa.”
► FILE — A wave of Thomasians chants ‘Go USTe’ during a game of the UST Golden Spikers in May 2025. The chant, created in 1991, is considered one of the most iconic in the UAAP.
► Felicitas Francisco (left), also called ‘Mommy Tiger,’ poses for a photo with UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. (right) at the Santísimo Rosario Parish Church on Aug. 1. Francisco proposed making the tiger the University’s mascot in the ‘90s. PHOTO BY DJENHARD YRENEO RAPHAEL Y. SAPANHILA
► Members of the UST Yellow Jackets pose for a photo at the UST Grandstand. The group serves as the heartbeat of the Thomasian crowd during sporting events, leading the chants. PHOTO BY CHLOE ELYSSE B. IBAÑEZ
By Bjorn Del B. Deade
From painful past, UST basketball cements competitive future
cult all the way from the start hanggang ngayon.”
FR. RODEL Cansancio, O.P., took over as UST athletics director in September 2020, stepping into the role at the height of the Growling Tigers’ Sorsogon “bubble” controversy.
The fallout triggered the departure of several stars who had just carried UST to the Season 82 Finals, while the University itself faced heavy scrutiny for its handling of the issue during a time of strict pandemic restrictions.
The men’s basketball team crumbled in the aftermath. For three consecutive seasons, the Tigers languished at the bottom of the standings, with Cansancio fielding harder questions each year amid constant coaching changes.
“Naku, ang hirap,” Cansancio said of those early days. “Umalis lahat ng players natin…ang gulo sa UST no’n. When I assumed office, talagang nahirapan ako kasi bago lang din ako at the time…Kaya marami rin tayong sakripisyo na pinagdaanan.”
The struggles extended beyond the men’s program.
Before their breakthrough title in Season 86, the Growling Tigresses spent nearly a decade stuck in the middle of the pack. Between Seasons 70 and 79, their best finish was bronze.
The Tiger Cubs endured an even longer drought. After a bronze in Season 75, they failed to reach the podium for 13 straight years.
It was a long, punishing stretch for UST basketball, one that tested the resolve of the school and its programs.
At the time, Cansancio was still new to the Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA), having come from posts as director of the Purchasing Office and regent of UST Junior High School.
Years later, though, the tide has turned. UST made history in Season 87 by clinching podium finishes in all five UAAP basketball divisions — the first school to ever do so.
The Growling Tigers returned to the Final Four and captured bronze in Season 87, with a young core eager to build toward Season 88. The Tigresses, after winning the Season 86 title, stayed competitive and pushed powerhouse NU before settling for silver. The Tiger Cubs
snapped a 24-year title drought, their junior high counterparts bagged silver, and the Junior Growling Tigresses claimed the first-ever solo crown in UAAP girls’ basketball.
What began as a baptism of fire for Cansancio has turned into a spark for the resurgence of UST basketball.
“Ang sabi ko nga, there’s nothing to be ashamed of sa lahat ng mga nangyari,” he said. “It only strengthened our resolve na babalik din tayo sa goal natin na ibalik ‘yong korona sa España.”
”No regrets. ‘Di naman tayo darating sa puntong ito kung hindi natin pagdaanan din ‘yan.”
Patience was demanded not only of Cansancio and the IPEA but also of every coaching staff.
“Hindi naman ‘yan biglang sumulpot lang,” UST girls’ head coach Arsenio Dysangco said of UST basketball’s recent rise. “I’m very happy na ngayon nag-harvest na tayo ng ating program. Of course, ‘yong patience natin dapat parating nandyan for these kids. And if we do things right, we’re quite positive na magkakaroon ng ganitong result palagi for our University.”
Since replacing Chris Cantojos in 2016, Growling Tigresses head coach Haydee Ong has witnessed several generations of players come and go. Some squads reached the podium, one captured a championship, and others fell short.
But Ong has never embraced the term “rebuild.”
“Minsan nga natatawa ako sa coaches ‘pag sinasabi nila parati na rebuilding sila. Hindi na sila natapos sa rebuilding [phase],” Ong said. “For me, as a coach, I think every year, your team should be as competitive as your last year.”
Continuity, however, has never come easy. But instead of banking on a “rebuild,” Ong believes in building team culture — an abstract idea she argues delivers truer results, beginning with recruiting players who fit the program’s identity.
“Ang sabi ko nga, I’m getting players, not the best ones, but the right ones for my program. Are they the right student-athletes na magta-thrive sa kultura namin dito sa women’s basketball team?”
“You have to be intentional in creating an environment [where the players]
UAAP as much as he did back in college, when he was an avid spectator of the Growling Tigers.
Cipriano knew the project had a great foundation, especially as the song is about bringing hope in united action.
“I knew they would take care of the project. It wasn’t that painful,” he said. “All I had to do was sing. The message was truthful din and noong narinig ko ‘yun, sabi ko, I wanted to be part of it.” Also a sports fan, Cipriano admitted he no longer watches the
This season, he hopes to be a spectator once more, especially as he has become the voice of the season’s theme.
“My friends and family know that I want to watch UAAP games. So when I found out that I’m a part of it this year, I asked them how I can access it,” he said.
“Sports have always been in my heart. I hope I get to represent UST well through this theme song.”
will care for each other. I think ‘yong ‘yong main importance ng program — to be relational, not transactional.”
For the men’s team, a turning point came in 2023 when San Miguel Corp. (SMC) pledged support for the program, offering much-needed help in recruitment and player development.
Leading the effort was Thomasian and former Glowing Goldie Alfrancis Chua, SMC sports director, who was named “Special Assistant to the Rector for Basketball.”
With SMC’s backing, UST had the power to recruit big names, including Season 85 champion Forthsky Padrigao and UE star point guard Kyle Paranada.
Perhaps the biggest boost, though, came in coaching. Alongside returning head coach Pido Jarencio came consultant Bonnie Tan, team manager Waiyip Chong, and, in January 2024, four-time UAAP champion Juno Sauler and PBA assistant coach Peter Martin.
SMC’s support gave Tigers fans a fresh sense of optimism, especially with Chua and company fresh off guiding Letran to back-to-back NCAA titles.
“I think I have mentioned na by far, he’s our biggest recruit at the time kasi iba rin ‘yong drawing power niya,” Cansancio said of Chua, who, upon his appointment, promised UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P. a Final Four berth — and delivered in Season 87.
“Isa rin sa nagpapalakas ng ulit na power natin, not only the network, ‘yong managers, coaches natin. I think one of the main factors is si Coach Al (Chua) din.”
*****
CALLING the Junior Growling Tigresses’ Season 87 run “historic” would be an understatement. After a five-year pause in UAAP girls’ basketball, UST roared back with a 62-point rout of DLSZ in their opener, then followed with an 88-point thrashing of Ateneo.
The Junior Tigresses even set a record with a 124-point demolition of Ateneo, the largest winning margin in UAAP girls’ basketball history.
But Dysangco stressed their rise was not overnight.
“A lot of people probably, ‘yong mga nanonood, notice things like ‘yong games na panalo tayo via blowout, but in reality, it was hard work,” he said. “It was diffi-
New events
class coaches,” he said.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, 22 Filipino athletes competed in athletics, boxing, golf, gymnastics, judo, rowing, swimming, and weightlifting. The country achieved its best-ever haul with two gold and two bronze medals.
Currently, the UAAP features basketball, badminton, athletics, beach volleyball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, judo, baseball, softball, volleyball, football, fencing, tennis, 3x3
One hurdle Dysangco will never forget was the pandemic, which halted the then-newly introduced girls’ basketball tournament, forcing UST and Adamson to share the Season 82 crown.
Though still declared champions, the Junior Tigresses paid a heavy price during the five-year hiatus, losing momentum in training, development, and recruitment.
“It was very difficult. Maraming tayong sinubukan na player. Tapos, marami ring nawala sa program because of one reason or another,” Dysangco said. “But everyone really gave us their support, and I’m happy with that.”
In Season 87, high school standouts Karylle Sierba and Gin Reliquette moved up to college, giving younger players the chance to shine. MVP Barby Dajao led the charge with Mythical Five member Rhiane Perez and key cogs Kat Insoy, Grachelle Boteros, Giorgina Anonuevo, and Jannah Wenceslao.
“Three years of hard work….and it was all worth it because nakuha natin ‘yong atin,” Dysangco said. “We believed in the program. We got players who can thrive. And then we just continued on.”
For the Tiger Cubs, the wait was even longer. After two decades, they reclaimed the UAAP title in March 2025, edging powerhouse NU-Nazareth School in overtime of a do-or-die Game 3.
“We are just happy that we are able to give back to the UST community by winning the championship,” head coach Manu Iñigo said. “We knew what we wanted, so we just kept our focus, stayed true to our program, and slowly we were able to achieve what we wanted.”
Iñigo joined UST in March 2023 with assistants Noli and Andy Mejos. All three had been part of the San Beda Red Cubs staff that was dismissed in 2022 despite leading the team to the 2019 NCAA title — a feat they sought to repeat in the UAAP.
In his first year in Season 86, Iñigo steered the Tiger Cubs to an 8-6 record while guiding their younger counterparts to fourth place in the junior high demo tournament.
By Season 87, his system clicked, with Koji Buenaflor, Racine Kane, Charles Bucsit, Joaquin Ludovice, and Carl Manding
basketball, chess, and esports.
Only four member universities — UST, Ateneo, De La Salle, and UP — participate in all 19 sports, while basketball, volleyball, beach volleyball, and athletics are the only disciplines joined by all eight schools.
Despite these challenges, Cansancio sees the inclusion of more Olympic sports as an opportunity to develop talent and provide international exposure.
“It’ll boost our already successful and thriving athletic program and enable us to contribute to the country’s
powering UST back to the UAAP throne. In the junior high ranks, Noli Mejos led the Cubs to silver.
Iñigo stressed the long-term vision is continuity — keeping players within the UST system from junior high through the seniors, despite aggressive poaching by rivals.
“I’m just here to develop the players and make sure they are ready for the next level. Now it’s up to Coach Pido who among the players he’d want to move up to him,” he said. “We will just continue what we’ve started.” *****
AFTER Season 87, the only way forward for UST basketball is onward and upward.
Earlier this year, UST secured additional support from Frank Lao-owned Strong Group Athletics and Thomasian-owned firms Archipelago Builders and Archi Cast.
With deeper resources and a strong talent pipeline, UST is again in position to chase UAAP titles — though challenges remain.
In Season 88, Jarencio’s three-year deal comes to an end. Cabañero and Padrigao enter their swan song. For the Tigresses, veterans Kent Pastrana and Eka Soriano gear up for one final campaign.
The Tiger Cubs, meanwhile, bid goodbye to Buenaflor, Bucsit, and Manding, while standouts Dajao and Canapi move up to higher levels.
Season 88, which UST will host, could define the school’s trajectory in UAAP basketball — whether it continues its climb back to glory or slides again into the low point it endured five years ago.
UST remains the only UAAP school to sweep all basketball divisions in one season, ruling the men’s, women’s, and juniors’ tournaments in Season 57 (199495). It also remains the winningest program in UAAP basketball with 43 titles, three ahead of FEU.
Season 87 showed the summit is within reach. But as UST’s coaches remind, any return to the top won’t come through shortcuts — only through the lessons of a long, grueling climb.
“You cannot produce a successful team or a championship team overnight,” Cansancio said. “Hindi tumitigil ‘yong program natin; lagi tayong nagsisipag.”
national sports development initiatives,” he said.
“It will definitely enhance the grassroots programs of the national teams. Players and coaches will receive the necessary training and valuable exposure, along with access to the required facilities and equipment.”
Looking ahead, Cansancio said UST is prepared to participate in these sports and will make the necessary preparations.
“UST is more than ready; we will procure the necessary equipment for these sports.”
What keeps UST’s longest-serving coach on track? Manny Calipes leans on wisdom, perspective from
decades of experience with Tiger Tracksters
By Clyde Leanne M. Salamatin
AT UST, where commitment is highly valued, no coach has served longer than Tiger Tracksters mentor Manny Calipes, who has led the squad for 36 years.
For Calipes, it has been a journey of victories and challenges, of athletes who became family, and of passion that continues to burn today.
“Sa athletics, hindi naman malaki ang pagkakitaan, talagang calling lang siguro,” Calipes told the Varsitarian. “Kasi noong naglalaro ako, masyado akong articulate sa training, talagang pinag-aaralan ko.”
An industrial engineering graduate, Calipes first joined UST as an athlete from 1976 to 1980, where he captured one championship.
He later returned as coach in 1989, answering what he considered a calling.
Looking back, Calipes recalled that UST, particularly its women’s squad, was far from being a contender when he first took charge.
“Parang they just joined para makasali lang. … Ayaw ko naman ng gan’on, kasi I’m always a winner. Hindi ko masikmura na parang sal-
ing-pusa,” he said.
Within four years, the Tiger Tracksters dethroned three-peat champion Adamson University in UAAP Season 55 in 1993, then claimed the Season 56 crown as well.
Beyond athletics, Calipes also served as strength and conditioning coach for the Growling Tigers, including during their last UAAP men’s basketball title run in 2006.
Now 65, he continues to carry the same drive and determination he had in his early years.
“‘Yong wisdom, nakukuha ‘yan sa experience,” he said. “Ganyan ang coaching, may mga nadi-discover pa akong mga bagong technique, how to improve. It keeps evolving… ‘Yan ang passion ko.”
Calipes guided the Female Tracksters to five straight championships from Seasons 76 to 81. The Tiger Tracksters, meanwhile, ended an eight-year podium drought in Season 87.
In juniors’ play, he led the Junior Female Tracksters to their first UAAP girls’ athletics title in Season 85, before repeating in Season 86.
Calipes’ credentials were cemented when he earned a Level 5 certification from the IAAF Coaches Education and Certification System (CECS),
‘‘
‘Pag nakikita ko ‘yong athlete na nagsu-succeed in life kasi naging part ka ng buhay nila, I am very proud. Kaming UST coaches, ‘yon ang legacy na gusto namin.
Manny Calipes LONGTIME UST ATHLETICS COACH
the highest standard in the sport.
In total, Calipes led UST to eight women’s athletics titles, one men’s crown, and six juniors championships. However, he said nothing brings him more pride than seeing his players graduate.
“‘Pag nakikita ko ‘yong athlete na nagsu-succeed in life kasi naging part ka ng buhay nila, I am very proud,” Calipes said. “Kaming UST coaches, ‘yon ang legacy na gusto namin.”
Season 85 girls’ athletics MVP and Season 86 women’s Rookie of the Year Jeanne Arnibal expressed gratitude for his steady guidance throughout her rise.
“Kahit minsan hindi kagandahan ‘yong performance na nabibigay namin, kahit hindi namin naabot ang expectations niya, tinutulungan niya kaming maging malakas sa mga bagay na may kulang pa kami,” she said.
As another season begins, Calipes said he is still amazed at how quickly the years have gone by and how UST continues to inspire his love for coaching.
“Hindi ko napansin, parang flashback lang. Parang kakapasok ko lang sa UST,” he said. “Napakasaya sa UST, hanggang ngayon.”
while illustrating our ability to unite on common ground.”
“The elements capture the essence of what Season 88 stands for: a celebration of the strength we possess when we move as one, and the difference we make when we act on our shared hopes and goals.”
Kalaw added that the flame element captured the spirit of “Strength in Motion.”
The idea is to use 88 as a key visual element, combining the handwriting movement of 88 to construct the image of a fire or flame. Combining the strokes symbolizes strength — strength in movement,” he said.
CFAD Dean Mary Christie Que said the design team sought to integrate Thomasian identity in the design.
“It’s the character, the culture of the University. So we also have to be loyal to who we are. We should consider that because that’s your flavor, that’s your brand. So of course, we also considered that it’s aligned with the identity of the school.”
The last time UST hosted the UAAP was during Season 79, when the theme was “Dare to Dream.” WITH REPORTS FROM BJORN DEL DEADE
What’s in a name?
In 2022, UST unveiled a new tiger statue and block letters at Plaza Mayor. Over the years, administrators have used the tiger symbol to inspire Thomasians to live by its traits.
“Be like a tiger that has strength, ferocity, and power. It is fast and agile, making it invincible,”
UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang, O.P., told students during that year’s Welcome Mass for freshmen.
“These traits will provide you with your coping mechanism. They may be considered explicitly as the new core values of UST.”
Facilities Management Office
Director Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P., added that the tiger reflects the character of Thomasians.
“Tigers and Thomasians are very adaptable. Both are able to blend and excel in a given environment,” he said.
Where is Mommy Tiger now?
Mommy Tiger last visited UST during the Mass for the 75th anniversary of the Education High School at the Santísimo Rosario Parish Church on Aug. 1. Though early signs of dementia have started to cloud her memory, her heart remains with the Growling Tigers, said her daughter, Gina.
“Medyo nakakalimutan na niya, since nasa old age na siya, pero UST and ‘yong Growling Tigers still live in her heart,” Gina told the Varsitarian. “Since more than five decades nga siya sa UST, ‘yong life niya, nag-revolve na rin sa pagtuturo sa UST (at) sa pagsuport sa Tigers. So, talagang hindi mawawala ‘yun.”
Both Gina and her brother Gerald played for UST basketball teams. Gina suited up for the women’s squad, later became an assistant coach for the Growling Tigers, played for the national team, and was chosen by the U.S. State Department in 2014 to join the Basketball Sports Visitors Program, where she coached youth athletes.
Gerald played for the Growling Tigers in the UAAP before moving to the PBA. Their father, Ben, was an Olympian in basketball and volleyball, most notably helping the Philippines capture bronze at the 1954 World Basketball Championship.
With that rich sports background, the Francisco family has always carried UST’s varsity pride with them.
“Sinasabi ni nanay noon pa lang, ‘Maglaro para sa nakasulat sa harap ng jersey, hindi para sa naka-
sulat sa likod,’” Gina said. “Alam na alam namin kung paano mahalin ni nanay ‘yong UST…Palagay ko naipasa na nga rin ‘yon sa amin.”
Beyond sports, Mommy Tiger also instilled in her children a strong faith and sense of responsibility, lessons they are now passing on to the next generation.
“‘Yong pagiging God-fearing talaga ang naituro niya sa amin, and then ‘yong pagiging responsible sa ginagawa namin. ‘Yon din naman ‘yong nakita namin sa kanya growing up.”
For today’s and tomorrow’s Thomasians, the Francisco family hopes the Tiger spirit never fades.
“Sana magtuloy-tuloy pa din tayo sa UST sa nakasanayan natin na pride, ‘yong Tigers spirit, ‘yong proud pa rin and responsible manalo man o matalo,” Gina said.
“Gusto ni nanay makita na maipagmamalaki pa rin ang UST.”
“hey-yo” paired with a drumbeat. But he soon realized UST needed a signature battle cry that could rival the spirited cheers of Ateneo and La Salle.
“Si ‘Go USTe’ started noong naghahanap ako ng similar to ‘Go Ateneo’ and ‘Go La Salle,’” Flores recalled. “So nakasakay ako sa sasakyan, tumugtog sa car radio ng dad ko ‘yong ‘Go Ninja, Go Ninja Go. Go Ninja, Go Ninja Go. Go, Go, Go.’ Sabi ko, ‘Parang astig ‘yon ah.’” Flores then began teaching cheer sessions at UST and repeatedly lobbied for the office to provide drums for the squad.
“I was hoping na mag-stand out ang UST noon. But then I just relied on simple yet unique cheer para madali lang din ituro,” Flores said.
The chant exploded in popularity during the 1994 UAAP cheerdance competition, when Salinggawi captured the first of its back-to-back titles.
“It started with (Salinggawi) na nag-champion. Mula noon, kapag tumutugtog na kami, ‘yong Viva Santo Tomas, We are the Tigers, ‘yong ‘Go USTe,’ naka-remix siya,” Flores said.
“Ang ganda rin kasi ng drum beat ng ‘Go USTe’ hanggang sa ‘yon na ‘yong naging staple.” Its lively energy became so widespread that even supporters of rival schools could be heard chanting “Go USTe” from their own bleachers during UST games. Through time, the chant developed into multiple variations. But the cheer’s true purpose, Flores said, was to boost the athletes whenever the team faced difficulties.
“Naghahanap ako ng something that can boost ‘yong morale ng mga players, lalo na kung lamang ‘yong kalaban. Etong chant, parang ‘Eto na, babawi na ang UST,” Flores said.
“This is not for me, not for the Yellow Jackets, or the cheer dance squad. This is for the athletes and the whole Thomasian community.” LILAH MIKAELA S. PAREDES
Growling Tigers
