Sporty UP centennial

I’ve been to a few meetings in relation to the centennial celebration of the University of the Philippines (UP), but I did not hear anything about sports until recently.

A few days ago I sat down with fellow UP High School alumni Mic-Mic Bugash and Atty. Ian Sapayan to discuss the staging of competitions in relation to the centennial celebration.

Among the things brought up were the holding of an invitational inter-alumni basketball event and a golf tournament.

Unfortunately UP also often refers to the University of the Poor most especially in terms of the facilities available like our basketball court.  There is a new one though at the place where we used to have a clay tennis court, but still not your court with wooden or Taraflex flooring that would be easy on the knees.

The past several years, many UP High School alumni have asked me if there are plans to do our own league just like that of Cebu Eastern College, University of San Carlos-Boys High and Sacred Heart School for Boys.  The first reason I gave them why nobody started it is the lack of venue at the school.

We did play many basketball games at the old court, which featured so many cracks that sometimes the ball seems to have a mind of its own when you dribble.

While I probably would want to see the UP High Alumni Basketball Association come to life, this event that we‘re planning would entail a limited participation since we have to invite teams from other leagues.

I just don’t want my fellow UP alumni to get overexcited as this is still thinking aloud, but after I write this piece I am heading to a meeting of the various class representatives at our alma mater.

Then there is the golf tournament, which we might do on the week of the centennial celebration.

The aim of such is to raise funds for a scholarship program for the high school and this will be open to both high school and college alumni and everyone else, who would like to help.  This is again thinking aloud.

UP helped make us what we are now.  Maybe we’ve given back already, but nothing can stop us from giving more back in terms of time and energy.  Let’s discuss this over coffee soon

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I’d like to share some trivia to those following the Masters and are confused at the use of names of flowers and plants.

Each hole of Augusta National is actually named after the tree, shrub or plant that lines the fairway.  Here are what the holes are called: 1. Tea Olive, 2. Pink Dogwood, 3. Flowering Peach, 4. Crabapple, 5. Magnolia, 6. Juniper, 7. Pampa, 8. Yellow Jasmine, and 9. Caroline Cherry.

Hole No. 10. Camellia, 11. White Dogwood, 12. Golden Bell, 13. Azalea, 14. Chinese Fir, 15. Firethorn, 16. Redbud, 17. Nandina, and 18. Holly.

Now you understand the “flowery” language they use at the Masters.

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MILESTONE: I’d like to wish my uncle Cipriano F. Quiñones, Jr. a very happy birthday.  Tatay as we all fondly call him is the third son of the family and has served as father to many of us, most especially the children of his two elder brothers, who died in their 30s.

More power Tay!