24/10/2025
๐๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ | : "๐๐ฒ๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐, ๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ"
Every roar from the crowd, every cheer echoing across the court, and every medal raised high tell only half the story of this yearโs Intercollege Hinampang. The other half belongs to those who stayed long after the games ended, whose names may never grace a scoreboard, yet whose dedication kept the spirit of the event alive.
The measure of Hinampangโs success goes beyond the many wins and scores of each college. It lies in the tireless coordination and the unyielding service that defined each dayโthe collective effort of student councils, marshals, medics, referees, and media teams who transformed an athletic event into a living portrait of what it means to be a true Taga-West.
Behind the event were council officers finalizing logistics and preparations until dusk, committee heads balancing deadlines with academic demands, faculty advisers providing guidance and support, and marshals maintaining peace and order. Medics stood ready at every injury, while coaches remained steadfast at the sidelines, believing in their athletes long before the first whistle blew. Referees and linesmen upheld fairness in every match, and student publications captured stories that gave meaning to every point scored. Beyond the campus, parents silently extended their help. Some cheering from the bleachers, others providing the financial support that allowed their children to compete. Often unseen, these acts of service revealed the endurance and empathy that define true leadership and community.
Some may argue that student-athletes should rightfully remain at the heart of Hinampang. That the event was created to celebrate their discipline and skill. After all, sports have always been a tribute to physical excellence and the competitive spirit that drives every player to give their all.
Yet to isolate the athletes from those who made their victories possible is to overlook the very essence of community. The roar of the crowd means little without those who prepared the stage. It is the harmony of both the players and the people behind them that gives the event its soul. For the true spirit of Hinampang is collective, not individual.
Without the organizers, there would be no schedules.
Without the coaches, no direction.
Without the medics, no safety.
Without the referees, no fairness.
Without the parents, no foundation.
Without the media, no story to tell.
The athletes may be the stars, but every star shines brighter because others chose to hold the light steady.
This year's Intercollege Hinampang stands as a triumph not only of sportsmanship but of solidarity, reminding us that success is never a one-person show. To every organizer, referee, medic, council, coach, faculty member, parent, and media staffer who gave their allโknow that you are the unsung pulse that kept this yearโs Hinampang alive. You may not have worn jerseys or stood beneath the spotlight, but you carried something far greaterโthe soul of this celebration. For without you, there would be no game to begin with.
Photos by Pierre Paul Superio, JC Rey Padilla, Alria Loudine Lacurom, Yoj Frances Chiva, John Hennesy Degoma, and Fritz Jaime Sumbo
