Iloilo welcomes 5,000 athletes to SCUAA meet

MANILA, Philippines - Iloilo City will formally welcome close to 5,000 student-athletes and officials in the 2012 National State Colleges and Universities Athletics Association ( National SCUAA) Olympics slated Feb. 19-25.

“Athletes from participating schools started arriving in Iloilo City since last week and we are working hard for the success of the 2012 National SCUAA Olympics,” said Dr. Pablo Subong, president of the West Visayas State University and one of the three chairpersons of the host committee.

The other chairpersons are Dr. Benny Palma, president of Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC), and Dr. Luis Sorolla, president of West Visayas College of Science and Technology (WVCST).

The opening and closing programs, and most of the games will be held at the Iloilo Sports Complex, but some other venues like the La Paz Plaza football field and Pavia football grounds and facilities of the hosting schools like the WVSU grounds, will also be utilized.

The host schools in Region VI are WVSU, WVCST, Capiz State University, Aklan State University, University of Antique, Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College, Guimaras State College, Carlos Hilado Memorial State College, Iloilo State College of Fisheries NSCA and North Negros State College of Science and Technology (NONESCOST).

One of the most-awaited events of the 2012 National SCUAA Olympics is the Search for the Mr. and Ms. PASUC National, a beauty pageant participated in by all regions in the country.

Delegates from different state colleges and universities from all over the country are now in the city to familiarize themselves with the environment where they will be vying for the championship crown in various competitions and game.

Last Jan. 31, a total of 111 presidents of the various state colleges and universities from all over the country flew in to Iloilo City and met at Hotel del Rio to discuss and deliberate important details about the 2012 National SCUAA Olympics.

The presidents also made a courtesy call to Gov. Arthur Defensor at the Provincial Capitol.

The National SCUAA Olympics is an annual sports competition held among state colleges and universities all over the Philippines.

Since the organization of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) in 1967, the National SCUAA has been an event to look forward to among athletes in various government tertiary schools in the country.

For years now, the National SCUAA has produced many of the country’s top athletes.