#NEWS | PSHSS holds first Ugnayan in 3 years
by Josh Mariano
Ugnayan has returned!
In its first since 2019, the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) System conducted the Ugnayan Sportsfest in Baguio City last November 7 to 10.
All 16 campuses participated in the system-wide event, hosted by the Cordillera Administrative Region Campus (PSHS–CARC).
This year’s Ugnayan hosted competitions on basketball, volleyball, table tennis, track and field/athletics, running long jump, badminton, and chess.
The event also featured a laro ng lahi category, which included hilahang lubid (tug of war), kadang-kadang, and karerang sako (sack race).
Two cultural competitions, choir and Latin dance, were also included.
Students, teachers, and personnel from PSHS — Main Campus (MC) teamed up with the Central Luzon Campus, Eastern Visayas Campus, and SOCCSKARGEN Region Campus delegations to form Team White Kullaaw.
The other 12 campuses were equally divided into three teams, and members from the Office of the Executive Director, Executive Committee, Board of Trustees, and National Alumni Association formed the fifth team.
White Kullaaw finished 4th overall and several members of the PSHS-MC delegation emerged victorious in their respective competitions.
Among those are the chorale team’s 2nd Runner-Up Award, Jaime Palma’s run in the champion team of the 4 x 100m relay, and Sir Jade Alvarez and Ma’am Beth Fabe’s Champion Award in Latin Dance.
“As it was my first time meeting with the teacher-representatives from the other campuses face-to-face, I initially felt reserved, but everyone was very friendly and we cheered each other on during our competition performances,” recounted Sir Alvarez.
While many participants look back on Ugnayan 2022 with fondness, some felt that their experience was negatively affected by its overall organization.
Some reported unappetizing food, lack of a designated dining area, inadequate information dissemination, crowded events despite the Level 2 COVID-19 restrictions in Baguio at the time, and poor scheduling that left students with lots of idle time and teachers working non-stop — from 5am to as late as 10pm for days straight.
A student-participant also noted Main Campus’ seeming lack of preparation for Ugnayan.
According to them, those who signed up faced a tedious process of submitting the required paperwork. A new form or requirement would be announced from week to week, rather than a list of what was needed being provided upfront.
They also remarked that information dissemination for participants was poor, with the competition sign-up sheet tucked away at a corner of the library next to a mere handwritten sign.
“For a campus-wide sports event, it wasn’t hyped-up at all,” the participant said.
The burden of catching up on requirements was also a point of concern for Sir Alvarez, stating that students should be given some academic leeway to reduce their stress, especially after a tiring week.
Despite these organizational challenges, Sir Alvarez remarked that he had a good experience during the Ugnayan and is very motivated to defend the [Latin Dance] title.
Next year’s Ugnayan is set to be held in Iloilo, to be hosted by the Western Visayas Campus (PSHS-WVC).
Below is a list of those who represented PSHS-MC in Ugnayan 2022, along with their final standings in their respective competitions:
Students
Badminton, Singles (Girls), 4th Place — Sophia Anne Gaborni
Table Tennis, Doubles (Boys), 4th Place — Jarvey Meejel London
Volleyball (Girls), 4th Place — Jasmine Jewel Dream Balagtas, Jen Ranielle Santos
Athletics 1,500 meters (Girls), 3rd Place — Chloe Elisha Santos
Chess (Board 2 Boys), Bronze — Hedelito Dollison III
Table Tennis, Doubles (Girls), Bronze — Yanna Lorraine Tenorio
Basketball 3 on 3 (Girls), Silver — Mary Lorraine Fabregas
Basketball 3 on 3 (Boys), Silver — Paul Hudson Rigos
Long Jump, 3rd Place & Relay (4 x 100m), Champion — Jaime Rafael Palma
Faculty and Staff
Track & Field (1,500 meters), 4th Place — Mavel Suficiencia
Basketball, 4th Place — Felipe Del Castillo, Geraldo Bueno
Track & Field (1,500 meters), 3rd Place — Justin Alvarez
Chorale Competition, Bronze — Anthony Ryan Cruz, Edge Angeles, Joselito Englatera, Kornellie Raquitico, Lady Diane Estonilo, Adrian Sumalde, Reynaldo Gonzales, Estela Mary Ayunon, Bernardo Camaya, Bina Fe Dela Peña, Maybelina Pacia, Ma. Heijacinth Castillo, Caryljae Reyes
Chess (Board 1), Silver — Adrian Sumalde
Table Tennis, Doubles (Women), Gold — Arianne Won
Table Tennis, Singles (Men), Gold — Aldwin Roy Fernandez
Volleyball, Champion — Rieziel Ann Bernal, Janica Timpug (Mythical Six and MVP)
Tug of War, Champion — Edge Angeles, Adrian Sumalde
Latin Dance Competition, Champion — Jade Mark Alvarez, Maria Beth Fabe
