THE UNIVERSITY will pay homage to its rich cultural heritage with an Olympics-inspired torch relay and ceremonial cauldron lighting during the UAAP Season 88 opening ceremony on September 19, Friday.
Taking inspiration from the iconic London 2012 Olympics opener, the event will highlight four UST sites recognized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts as cultural treasures.
“The campus is our stage… The torch will be passed through national cultural landmarks—the Arch of the Centuries, the Main Building, and the Central Seminary—before reaching the cauldron at the field,” UAAP opening director Marvin Rellamas told The Flame.
The torch relay will begin at the Arch of the Centuries and will be led by four Thomasian alumni athletes, each carrying the flame through the historic structures before it reaches the open field for the ceremonial lighting of the cauldron.
Rellamas said the concept was designed to mirror the grandeur of the 2012 London Olympics relay, while showcasing UST’s cultural identity.
“When we developed this concept, our peg was the London 2012 Olympics. Most of the elements were inspired by that, so we wanted to incorporate those details into the UAAP opening,” he said.
During UST’s last hosting of the UAAP opening in Season 79, the parade of athletes was limited to a short route from the Benavides monument to Plaza Mayor.
“This year the relay will be more expansive and symbolic as it will cover a bigger space,” Remallas said.
“The cauldron lighting is expected to be one of the most anticipated highlights of UST’s hosting of UAAP Season 88,” he added.
Rain or shine
The grand launch will be exclusive to UAAP member schools, with each institution allotted 1,000 slots, 200 of which are reserved for official student-athlete representatives. For security purposes, all attendees will be issued tickets.
Season 88 program committee head Fr. Christopher Jeffrey Aytona said the event would still push through even if there are light to moderate rain showers during the scheduled program.
“One of the major considerations of the committee when planning the opening program was the timing, since it’s scheduled in September, the rainy season,” Aytona said during the league’s press conference on Aug. 27.
He added that in case of heavy downpour, the opening ceremony would be moved to Monday, September 22.
According to Institute of Physical Education and Athletics Director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P., the UAAP committee intentionally prepared an outdoor program to showcase UST’s atmosphere.
“Your UST experience wouldn’t be complete without a little rain or even a storm… That’s part of the Thomasian experience,” Cansancio, also the UAAP Board of Directors President, said. F
