Alumni of PH colleges meet for friendly games in Toronto suburb

Duane Zambas of Mindanao University (invited by Ed Panganiban) leads exercise dance routine. PHOTOS BY MARISA ROQUE

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Mississauga Valley Park rang out with grunts, squeals, laughter and later, triumphant cheers from revelers of all ages, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 5, Sunday. It was Summerfest 2015.

The annual sports event, sponsored by the Philippine Colleges and Universities Alumni Association (PCUAA), saw some 500 people grouped under their individual university or college banners, cheering eager team members competing in various events.

For the first time in PCUAA Summerfest’s 14-year history, two schools shared top honors:  College of the Holy Spirit (CHS) and Feati University teams are co-champions for Summerfest 2015.

First-time participants in Summerfest– St. Theresa’s College.

The winners’ roster includes UP (first runner up) and CEU (second runner up).  Third runner up position was tied among CPU, La Salle, Mapua, PLM, and USCarlos–again another first in PCUAA Summerfest history.

The sports events are divided into two categories–the active sports of volleyball and tug-of-war and the senior-friendly sports of ball in a basket, balloon toss and closest to the pin.
PCUAA is made up of 17 member alumni associations from the following educational institutions, namely:  Adamson, Ateneo, CEU, CHS, CPU, Feati, FEU, La Salle, Mapua, PLM, PUP, San Beda, STC, UE, USCarlos, UP and UST.

All schools competed in the sports events, except for PUP, UE, and FEU, who were in charge of the children’s games that were run concurrently.

No Summerfest is complete without food! Frank Cruzet conducts a tutorial on how to chop lechon at the CHS “buffet” line.

“St. Theresa’s College of Quezon City is the newest member of PCUAA but did not yet participate in the events,” shared Ed Panganiban (Mapua), PCUAA Chairman.

“St. Paul College Manila (now St. Paul University) and Philippine Normal College (now Philippine Normal University) sent observers.  Alumni from Lyceum, PMI and TIP were also present, but have not yet formally joined PCUAA,”  Panganiban added.

The first-ever Summerfest was held on July 14, 2002, attended by the five founding alumni associations (Ateneo, CEU, FEU, UP, UST) plus St. Scholastica Alumnae Association.

“Summerfest was organized to provide an informal setting for members of Philippine alumni associations to get to know one another, foster camaraderie, encourage interaction, and exchange ideas,” said Bay Bernabe of UP.  “Summerfest attempts to stoke a bit of the competitive fire as the schools engage in various team sports.”

Bernabe hastened to add:  “The payback? Each association can count on the other school groups to support projects and activities, and individual members have expanded our choice network of professional, work and social contacts from other schools.”

Consul General Rose Prospero, PCUAA Summerfest 2015 guest of honor.

“However, it is Summerfest’s unwritten but well enforced policy to not allow any individual, commercial or political endorsements, promotions and solicitations of any form,” he said.

Ed Panganiban added, “The present officers/sports committee are myself as Chairman, Rose Yu (Adamson) as vice chairman, and members Henry Taguba (SBC), Fred Gamboa (UP), Oliver Rey (Feati), and Priscilla Cayford (UST).  We serve for a two-year term (2015-2016).”

Summerfest is free for everyone to attend, and common expenses are paid via contributions from participating schools or through a PCUAA-sponsored once-a-year fundraising event.

To this end, Panganiban invites all members and their families and friends to participate in PCUAA’s Bingo Fund Raising on September 20, from noon to 3:00 pm, at Rama Gaming Centre, 2295 Battleford Rd. at Erin Mills Pkwy.  Tickets are $15 per person and may be purchased by calling Ed Panganiban at 416-805-0356 or emailing him at [email protected].

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