Minda SUCs hold sports meet in Camiguin ahead of Sea Games

By Jigger J. Jerusalem
Correspondent .

MAMBAJAO, Camiguin — As the country prepares itself for the Southeast Asian Games, athletes from the state universities and colleges (SUCs) in Mindanao have converged here to compete in the 30th Mindanao Association of State Tertiary Schools (Masts) Friendship Games from Nov. 24 to Nov. 29.

About 4,000 delegates from 29 out of 31 SUCs from all over Mindanao arrived in the island as early Wednesday (Nov. 20) aboard buses and vans.

Delegates came from areas as far as Tawi-Tawi from the western part of Mindanao.

The Masts Friendship Games, consisting of 24 sports events, dance contests, performing arts, literary, pageant, musical and visual arts competitions, will wrap up just as the SEA Games will kick off on Nov. 30.

Dr. Milabel Enriquez-Ho, Masts president and Western Mindanao State University president, said this year’s theme is “Masts at 30: A legacy of leadership, unity, and passion through sports, cultures and the art.”

She said the Masts Friendship Games is the time where “we express the holistic aim of all SUCs to provide education and training together with sports.”

For his part, Camiguin Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo said the Masts games will be a sort of a “prelude” to the SEA Games, as it is the best time to show to other Asian nations that the country, particularly Mindanao, is peaceful contrary to news reports of violent extremism and armed insurgency in some parts of southern Philippines.

“This proves that peace can be achieved, that there is no need for violence. Why fight when we can be diplomatic? If you can talk, then do it. If you want to enjoy sports or tourism, then promote it,” Romualdo told the delegation gathered at the Pedro P. Romualdo Memorial Sports Complex in Mambajao town during the opening ceremonies Saturday evening.