President's Message: All thanks to our partners, sponsors, working committees for making SCUAA Meet 2022 a huge success

My respect to everyone most especially to my fellow SUC Presidents in the region, all the Sports Directors, Cultural Affairs Coordinators, athletes, performers, coaches, and to everyone who took part in this year’s SCUAA Meet 2022, a rainy Friday evening to each and every one.

First of all, allow me to thank everyone for making the comeback of SCUAA Meet happen! If not because of you, this big event will not be realized. The 4-day activity was short but sweet and I want you to know that, win or lose, all of you are winners here because you did your best and you have competed in the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play.

Each of you pitted your skills against your opponents from other teams. But I would like to commend you not just for showcasing your best athletic talent, but also the spirit of comradeship, which is more important.

This year’s theme is “Bayanihan Through Sports” and you just showed to us exactly that—that through sports, we showed that we worked for the common good of our respective universities and in the whole Eastern Visayas. My heart is really in awe of the patience, kindness, generosity, and teamwork you have shown to Southern Leyte State University despite its shortcomings with regard to its humble and modest preparations. We still hope though that it brought you delight.

Sincerest thanks to the following for the immense support accorded to Southern Leyte State University in order to make the Regional SCUAA Meet 2022 successful and memorable:

1. Barangay Zone 5 headed by Bgry. Captain Jessie Nuez for allowing us to utilize your basketball court for the basketball games (women); Barangay Pandan headed by Brgy. Captain Reynaldo A. Paloguer for allowing us to utilize your basketball court for the volleyball games (men) and Brgy. Rizal headed by Brgy. Captain Cornelia Telin for allowing us to utilize your basketball court for the badminton games (men and women); Brgy. San Roque, headed by Brgy. Captain Renil Tadtad, Brgy. Zone 1 headed by Brgy. Captain Arsenio Padecio, Brgy. Zone 3 headed by Brgy. Captain Nathan Gabronino for the assistance in controlling the traffic during the parade; to the Head of the Immaculate Concepcion Parish Church for allowing us to utilize your court for the continuation of the games for volleyball (men).

2. To the provincial government of Southern Leyte headed by Hon. Governor Damian G. Mercado; to the LGU-Sogod officials headed by Hon. Mayor Sheffered Lino S. Tan; to the Honorable Representatives of Districts 1 and 2 of Southern Leyte, Hon. Congresswoman Luz V. Mercado and Hon. Christopherson M. Yap, respectively; to the LGU-Bontoc Officials headed by Mayor Noel Alinsub; to the LGU-Maasin City headed by Mayor Nacional V. Mercado for the all-out support accorded to the University.

3. To the PDRRMO, MDRRMOs, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police-Sogod, Traffic Management Team of Sogod, Emergency Response Teams, Department of Health (DOH), Medics, student volunteers, ROTC, SLSU-SERVE and the SLSU Security Team. Through your support, the Incident Management Team dedicated for SCUAA 2022 has been effective in ensuring the security and safety of all participants.

4. To our sponsors and benefactors for the financial assistance provided that greatly helped the university in making this big event possible.

5. To the very hardworking special push-button committees for SCUAA 2022, for without your commitment and dedication, this event would not materialize.

6. To the Vice Presidents, Campus Directors, College Deans/Department Heads, Directors, Unit Heads, Faculty and Staff, most especially to the General Services and Physical Plant and Development Management Office (PPDMO) staff headed by Dr. Warren D. Cordeta, to the PASCOM staff headed by the Director and at the same time the Overall Chair of this year’s SCUAA Meet, Dr. Eda J. Opina, to the Production Team of the Search for Mr. & Miss SCUAA 2022 , to the team behind the Talent’s Festival and the Dancesports competition for the splendid shows, not to mention the invited judges with high caliber. To the team behind the sports competitions for inviting officiating officials of equal caliber.

7. To the tournament managers for their assistance during the games

8. To all the coaches/trainers for exerting your best efforts in ensuring that the athletes and talents are ready and equipped to their respective events.

9. To all the Sports Directors and Coordinators across the 11 SUCs in the region, sincerest thanks for the unparalleled commitment and dedication in helping the athletes hone and develop their skills which makes them all competitive and quality players.

10. To all the Cultural Directors and Coordinators across the 11 SUCs, my sincere thanks for bringing out the best of every performer making them ready to compete in any given competition.

11. To my fellow SUC 8 Presidents and UPVTC Dean, please accept my warmest thanks for immense support and trust you have given to SLSU to host the return of the SCUAA Meet after 2 years of the COVID-19 scare.

12. To the SLSU Governing Board for the support given through approving our request for realignment of expenditure items and supplemental budget in order to provide budget to this event.

13. To our CHED Commissioner and the SLSU Governing Board Chairperson, Dr. Aldrin A. Darilag and his beloved wife, Madame Maricel Darilag, for gracing the occasion and in giving the Keynote Message for all the SCUAA 2022 participants.

A lyric of this year’s SCUAA Meet jingle, arranged and composed by our very own student Alyssa Labastida, said: Pour your hearts out as you strive for the glory. We don't lose if we unite and tell a story of how the love takes us above.

SCUAA Meet 2022 was a celebration of friendship and unity, hot competitions which united thousands of student-athletes in the region into one big family. But first of all, it was a gift to all of us as a testimony of our capabilities and our ability to move mountains, but only when we are together. Indeed, one team, one region.

As we bid farewell to our new-found friends and people who we built new relationships with, know that this is not the end. We also don’t say goodbye. We say see you later instead. Later in Southern Leyte State University at any time. You will always be welcomed here.

Before I formally close this year's SCUAA, let me leave you a saying to ponder from Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex: When you accept a challenge is real, you can have hope. When you understand your vulnerability, you can become strong. When you are brave enough to ask for help, you can be lifted up. You can start living, doing, feeling – not simply surviving.

Certainly, all of us will look forward to the next SCUAA and may its history be long and glorious. Long live, Region VIII! Mabuhay Eastern Visayas!