The 2025 Division Athletic Meet officially opened today with a grand opening ceremony at San Jose City National High School (SJCNHS), where athletes from Core Gateway College, Inc. (CGCI) were among the stars ready to be showcased in the week-long competition.
Dynamic and engaging Masters of Ceremony, Oscar L. Tambalque, Jr. and Rosalie G. Patiag, hosted the event, expertly guiding the program with a smooth flow and a captivating atmosphere throughout the evening.
The celebration started at 4:00 PM with the Parade of Athletes, during which the CGCI delegates marched enthusiastically and purposefully with other schools, manifesting the theme of the event: "School Sports: Fueling Dreams, Fostering Unity, and Igniting the Spirit of Excellence.
The entrance of colors opened the ceremony, inspiring the SJCNHS-SHS Rover Circle 08 and Chorale in their stirring musical performances, captivating the audience, and thus, setting the tone for the whole event.
CGCI Chess Coach Aldine Jay M. Raytan emphasized that mental preparation is crucial, “𝑶𝒇 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍-𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕—𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒌𝒂𝒔𝒊 𝒃𝒖𝒌𝒐𝒅 𝒔𝒂 𝒑𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒌𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝒏𝒊𝒍𝒂 𝒚𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒅𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒉 𝒌𝒂𝒔𝒊 𝒔𝒂 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒂 𝒂𝒌𝒐 𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊 𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍, 𝒕𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒅 𝒔𝒂 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒏𝒂 𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒉𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒂𝒏 𝒌𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒌𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒂𝒚𝒐𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒌𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍-𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂 [𝒓𝒊𝒏] 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒈𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒐 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒂 𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒂𝒂𝒚𝒐𝒔.”
Dr. Vilma C. Nuñez, School Principal IV, warmly welcomed the athletes and spectators, emphasizing how the event fosters discipline, teamwork, unity, and the spirit of sportsmanship, creating a platform for young athletes to excel on and off the field.
Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Josie C. Palioc challenged the athletes to be filled with integrity and passion, citing that the meet is not just a competition but also an opportunity for personal growth.
City Vice Mayor Hon. Alexis G. Salvador also delivered an inspiring message, urging the values of respect, fairness, and camaraderie to be brought outside the playing field as true keys to athletic success.
The lighting of the Friendship Cauldron by Palarong Pambansa 2024 medalists symbolized unity, resilience, and the competitive spirit, reminding everyone of the strength and solidarity of the athletic community.
The ceremonial raising of school banners signalled their preparedness to don the jersey with pride and tenacity-a picture of dedication to excellence and doing things right.
The much-awaited 2025 Division Athletic Meet has finally opened with the official declaration by Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Ericson S. Sabacan, promising thrills of well-hailed spirit that builds up resilience, unity, and relentless pursuit of excellence.
With proper preparation, not just mentally but physically as well, CGCI athletes are set and ready to take over and embody what this esteemed sporting event truly represents.
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