FIRST THINGS FIRST: Rest in peace, Uncle Phil. After four years of being in our beloved University, the thought of San Beda being the last school on my list is now a distant memory overshadowed by the Bedan experience.
My four-year stay so far in the University – and possibly more, has seen its fair share of winning moments in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Seasons 100 and 99 saw our sports teams bring back championships to Mendiola. Our university’s sports teams have continued to showcase the winning culture that is always associated with San Beda.
Despite the pride and joy we feel during sporting events, it is undeniable that we, the student body, have a long way to go when it comes to being champions in school spirit. Prior to being a Bedan, I spent 12 years of my academic life in the Blue-and-White school along Katipunan Avenue, hence the reference to their alma mater hymn.
“This place may not be your first choice, it may not be your dream school, it wasn’t mine as well, but make it your dream to love San Beda.”
Being there from a very young age automatically instilled the sense of school spirit and pride felt within and beyond athletic events. To be fair, it wasn’t that hard to feel a sense of pride while I was there – It is The Ateneo after all.
However, I’ve observed that San Beda is playing catch up when it comes to showcasing school pride from its current student body. Yes, I am aware that over a decade of experience is an unfair comparison, but the contexts of the athletic programs of both schools are not so different on the surface.
While school pride and spirit go beyond sporting events, the NCAA and the other competitions of our sports teams serve as a gateway for us to rally behind our school and experience the culture that comes with being a Bedan. Unfortunately, many of us right now pick and choose when to be proud and support our sports teams and university as a whole.
This being evident during the recent Volleyball Tournament games conducted in our very own gym. Despite being a school day and the games being held on our campus, empty seats greeted our Men’s and Women’s teams; only having their fellow student-athletes to show support for them.
University Cheers are responded with silence during sporting events, a problem unique to the Manila campus. Our brothers and sisters in San Beda University – Rizal and San Beda College – Alabang are known to have more school spirit and pride than the school’s historic Manila campus.
Many do not give themselves the chance to fall in love with our university – San Beda not being their first choice, being the main culprit as to why. With this, I ask the student body to give San Beda a place in our hearts. Use the NCAA and other tournaments as our introduction to being a full-blooded Bedan.
While we may not have the allure of the “Big 4” schools, San Beda University is a proud institution heralded for its success in many fields along with athletics worthy of the pride and support that has been lost in recent years.
This place may not be your first choice, it may not be your dream school, it wasn’t mine as well, but make it your dream to love San Beda.
Email me at thebedan_sportseditor@sanbeda.edu.ph