By: Ella Consunji, 11-3 & Cha Lavastida, 11-3
June 5, 2023
Assumption Antipolo’s annual Intramurals are finally back onsite and better than ever.
With the theme “Recognizing our student-athletes as symbols of hope and courage,” the
Intramurals made a comeback with the new hybrid set-up. The event kickstarted with the opening
ceremony last February 6, Monday. Ms. Grace Magtaas led the opening remarks, in which she
expressed her gratitude to the organizers of this event: Ms. Barbi Paraguya, Creative Arts, Sports,
and Technology (CAST) Team Leader and Ms. Joselyn Baldago, Ms. Joanne Bibat, and Sir Rodel
Español, PE teachers.
The current SCAA Vice President, Regina Aquillo, facilitated the official welcome and
explanation of the theme. Our student-athletes were chosen as the inspiration for this event, for
they have continuously shown camaraderie despite intense competition.
It is an AA tradition to invite empowered female athletes to give a speech to the students
during the open ceremony. This year, Sobe Buena of the Ateneo de Manila University Women’s
Volleyball team and Old Girl of AA was invited to share her speech for the first onsite Intramurals
since the pandemic. Relating to the theme of the Intrams, she shared that hope and courage are
essential in helping us achieve our goals. She said, “Feel the fear and do it anyway.” In the process
of getting to where she is today, she undoubtedly felt moments of anxiety and fear but all that’s
needed is a few seconds of courage and belief in yourself to achieve what you put your mind to.
She shared her journey as an athlete and by so doing, served as encouragement to all students to
have hope and courage during the Intramurals and in their everyday lives.
Each batch had its own team in each sport or event. Many of the classic sports were brought
back such as swimming, basketball, frisbee, soccer, and volleyball. The students brought back the
traditional way of supporting their batchmates, in the form of wearing face paint, cheering, and
playing various percussion instruments to keep the hype up. Many students also took pictures and
updated one another on events that were ongoing to show their support.
The winners of the Intramurals were announced about a month later, on March 31, during
the first-ever onsite high school assembly in two years. The entire high school student body first
watched each of the participating batch’s cheers, wherein they all showcased their enthusiasm and
support for their own level through energetic chants. Then, Ms. Paraguya took the opportunity to
officiate the awarding ceremony. It was then announced that the Grade 12 swept the awards for
this school year, having won the AA Spirit and Overall Champion. The team captains and the
Grade 12’s Batch Representative, Maggie Paraguya, went up the stage to claim their award, as
well as to take a picture to commemorate the moment. Thus concluded the awarding ceremony.
The high school body left the Multi-Purpose Building feeling fulfilled to have witnessed and
practiced camaraderie and sisterhood this Intramurals season.