ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY (PIO) — The university sports festival fired up the city during its opening ceremony, witnessed by over twenty thousand individuals, held at the Joaquin Memorial Sports Complex on November 11, this year.
In its third-year observance as a festival, the College of Physical Education and Sports (CPES), through the Sports Development Office led by Dr. Dexter T. Paclibar, leveled up the sports contests and annual shows of the Field Demonstration by the Physical Activity Towards Health and Fitness (PATHFIT) students, the creative ‘saludos’ of the respective colleges and extension unit, and the over ten-minute fireworks display – signifying the start of the grandest competition and convergence of the university campuses in the Zamboanga Peninsula archipelago.
Zamboanga City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso graced the event, sending his message of support to the administration, brains of the festival, and most importantly to the students.
“Let’s promote youth empowerment, sports development, and cultural preservation – because when young people are active and engaged, they inspire the city’s future and the future of Zamboanga City is in you,” Hon. Olaso affirmed.
The Office of the Department of Education Secretary, Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, underscored the passion and commitment of the office to sustain the athletic excellence and produce world-class athletes in the university.
“Since 2018, nagbibigay po ng support si Secretary Sonny Angara sa taunang intramural ng ZPPSU. Huwag din po natin kalimutan si Senator Pia Cayetano dahil galing po ang pondo ngayon sa kanyang tanggapan. Parehas po sila ni Secretary Angara na patuloy na nagbibigay suporta at supporters ng Philippine Sports. Sana po by next year maging katuwang parin natin siya,” Sec. Angara representative Mr. Jasper Nuñez said.
Further, Assistant Majority Leader of the 20th Congress and Zamboanga City District I — Congressional representative Katrina “Kat” Chua aspired and ensured every young local of the city would have fair and good access to education.
“El di ustedes presencia, dedicacion, y tiempo bien comendable. Por medio de este, ta aspira yo para segura que kada unu di ustedes, maskin donde man chene buen access para en buen educacion. Please know that I am always with you in all your endeavors. Umaalay, gumagabay, at laging nakikiramay. Mabuhay ang ZPPSU!” the representative of the congresswoman Mr. Vilmar Bucoy Marquez, stressed.
[Your presence, dedication, and time are highly commendable. Through this, I aim to ensure that each of you, wherever you are, has good access to a good education.]
Through this observance, the ZPPSU aims to promote teamwork, enthusiasm, and a spirit of camaraderie among the ZPPSU community, while reaffirming its dedication to holistic development and institutional pride with the theme “Unleashing greatness for cultural authenticity and sports excellence through discipline, teamwork, and respect.”
Finally, ZPPSU President Dr. Nelson P. Cabral expressed utmost gratitude to the esteemed guests, and officially opened the weeklong ZPPSU Sports Festival 2025. (JRA/ABC/Photos: JBM/Public Information Office)