๐’œ๐’ฎ๐’ž๐’ฐ-๐’ฎ๐’ฉ ๐’Ÿ๐’พ๐‘”๐‘’๐“ˆ๐“‰ | ๐™Š๐™ซ๐™š๐™ง ๐™‹๐™š๐™–๐™ ๐™จ ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™๐™๐™ง๐™ค๐™ช๐™œ๐™ ๐™‘๐™–๐™ก๐™ก๐™š๐™ฎ๐™จ, ๐˜ผ๐™Ž๐˜พ๐™-๐™Ž๐™‰ ๐™ ๐™ž๐™˜๐™ ๐™จ ๐™ค๐™›๐™› ๐™›๐™ง๐™ž๐™š๐™ฃ๐™™๐™จ๐™๐™ž๐™ฅ ๐™œ๐™–๐™ข๐™š๐™จ ๐™ฌ๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ ๐™œ๐™ง๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™˜๐™š๐™ง๐™š๐™ข๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™ฎ

With the mist still clinging to the pine-clad slopes of La Trinidad, the Association of State Colleges and Universities - Solid North (ASCU-SN) commenced the week-long celebration of athleticism, cultural pride, and academic solidarity through the Mid-Year Sports and Cultural Festival held at the Benguet State University (BSU) Gymnasium on 15 July.

A vibrant institutional parade preceded the formal program, as participating colleges and universities proudly marched with their banners from the BSU Administration Building to the Gymnasium. The opening ceremony followed, where Dr. Kenneth A. Laruan, BSU President, formally welcomed the delegations.

Inspirational words were delivered by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Dr. Desiderio R. Apag III, ASCU-SN and Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) President Dr. Silverio Ramon DC. Salunson, and CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley A. Agrupis, who graced the ceremony as the guest speaker.

Cultural performances celebrating Benguetโ€™s heritage elevated the atmosphere of unity and pride. These were followed by the symbolic unfurling of institutional banners, the lighting of the friendship urn, and the athletes' oath of sportsmanship. Dr. Salunson then led the official declaration that signaled the formal opening of the event.

In his address, Dr. Salunson encouraged participants to embody the core values of integrity, teamwork, and unity. โ€œToday, we celebrate not just competition, but camaraderie, sportsmanship, and the unbreakable bonds between our institutions. May these games inspire excellence, forge lasting friendships, and remind us that through sports, we grow stronger together,โ€ he expressed.

As the competitions began, participating institutions, including TAU, brought forth their dedication, channeling months of preparation and unwavering discipline into each matchโ€”demonstrating a shared commitment to excellence and regional solidarity.

#SmartTAU #GreenandGlobal #ASCU-SN #Sports #Culture #BSU #Opening #SDG3 #SDG4 #SDG16 #SDG17

Caption and Photos | Information Unit