MABUHAY !!!!

MABUHAY!!! It's our way of greeting visitors to the Philippines. It means "to life" or "long-live". In one word, it encapsulates who we are as a nation. Nowhere else in the world will you find a people with such a zest for life. In times of war or peace, the Filipino will always come out on top. We make light of everything... bad politics, showbiz scandals...even natural disasters... But that is what makes our country UNIQUE. It's the ever present smile on the Filipinos faces that helps us survive. So if you're interested in what makes the Philippines and the Filipinos tick... feel free to read on...



Let's Play Ball!!!

I've been having migraine headaches for two days now. But not even a persistent migraine would keep me from watching the UAAP volleyball games on TV this afternoon. Alright, I confess, I was a volleyball player in my youth. Time was when my back was a lot stronger and so was my spirit.I was a competitive young rascal.

Today's games were University of Santo Tomas against Far Eastern University for the Men's Championships and University of Santo Tomas versus the De La Salle squad for the Women's Division. And though I am not an alumnus of any of the competing schools, I am perhaps the BIGGEST volleyball fan there is.

Okay, so UST won the champinships for both games. What a sweep!!! FEU fought its hardest but they just didn't have their game going. They were at best sporadic in their attacks and most of the support was left to chance. They didn't play as cohesively as UST Men's team did. Too bad... it was a galant fight but way in mid-game you knew they weren't gonna cut it.

The Women's game was far more exciting. UST was obviously in their element. They looked like they were having far too much fun in the court as opposed to La Salle whose game lacked luster compared to the elimination rounds. After the second set you kinda got the idea that They OWNED the championship on this round. Tears of joy and yelps of happiness erupted all around after the La Salle team blew the championship point.

So there must be a great celebration on the Espana Campus after the awarding ceremonies. One of the women players disclosed on cam that they'd be rewarded with a trip abroad if both teams won in their respective divisions. And they did! So there's a great school giving a great incentive to their athletes. Granted the title Royal and Pontifical university of Sto Tomas the Catholic University of the Philippines, UST developed into what it is today from humble beginnings in Intramuros. Originally dedicated as a school to develop young Filipino men for service to the religious orders, the Colegio del Nstra Sra. del Santisimo Rosario was renamed after the great Dominican Theologian St. Thomas Aquinas. Then after 1927 to address the growing number of enrollees, the campus was moved from Intramuros to the current 21 hectare lot in Espana Manila where it stands to the present day.

Too bad, i'm not an alumnus, I would have wanted to join in on the fun... it would be nice to have fun with the men's team... wink, wink! Great work girls and guys!

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