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COACH LAYAO, 4th Street , Mindanao State University, Marawi City (2026)

17/09/2026

Great seeing you Kap "Ang bumangga, giba!" Ampa!

16/09/2026

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Hanirefaeh Basher Usman, Mohd Naif Mac Dir, Khukong D KingKhung, Marvy Callanta Sambaan, Marivic Asendiente, Dwight Donald Javerle, Louchendra Payapaya, Jessie Galindo, Kim Balinton, Omicalzom D Abdulrahim, Ronald Logong-Sadiangular Aput, Yubi Robe Jonah, Goy Lags, John Carl Imboy Pulia, Rujess T Slang, Mary Jane Bines Layao, Noronehar Deca, Sansarona Hadji Narra, Hannah Joy Flores, Abdul Basar, Adawiya Unda Magandiall, Ybeth ES, Allan Jay Manaloto, Niko Ampolitod Green, Jovany Naveses, Eagle Jolas Pacasum IV, Riri Coriin, Peter Magsipoc, Carl Miguel Dellosa, Shein Amigo, Mohammad Qauod Maningcara Alawi, Nur Marohomsalic, Joy D. Macatangay, Ahmad Dimaporo Benasing, Prime Am-man, War Rain, Usman Camama, POng Cool Ilaijdah, Isagani Tillo, Ronald Escobido, Duma Boloto, Rhohaydha Myu, Wowie Andagan Muti, Lezandree Macapundag Pundato-Campong, Ryan Amanodin, Paulo Ibra, Sultan Hadji Nor Paporo II, Richard Acosta, Najeb M. Badron, Rocky Calingin

14/09/2026

From SULTANS to PICKLEBALL:
The Journey Toward Lifelong Physical Activity

First of all, ALHAMDULLILLAH AND CONGRATULATIONS to these lovely couples for winning in this tournament:

CHAMPION; Hammad Pacasum & Alice Pacasum
1st Runner up: Halim Sarip & Haiky M. Sarip
2nd Runner up: Bakbak Sumandar & Ammara Sumandar

There is something beautiful about seeing our former SULTANS embracing a new sport. I have been seeing posts of some of our alumni, once fierce competitors on the basketball court, now playing pickleball with their wives, competing in tournaments, and even bringing home victories. And honestly, it makes me happy.

Basketball may have been their sport during their younger years, but life changes. Careers begin, families grow, responsibilities become greater, and the time and energy we once devoted to basketball may no longer be the same.

But perhaps the goal was never to play basketball forever. Perhaps the greater gift of sport is learning to remain active, competitive, connected, and physically engaged throughout life.

This is the essence of lifelong physical activity. The commitment to continue moving, exercising, playing, and caring for one’s health even when our competitive years, schedules, and preferred activities change. So there is no need to feel sorry about moving away from basketball as our main sport.

The basketball court has already given them so much memories, friendships, discipline, confidence, resilience, teamwork, and a love for competition. Now, pickleball is giving them another avenue to stay active, challenge themselves, spend quality time with their spouses and friends, and continue experiencing the joy of sport.

The sport may have changed, but the athlete within them did not disappear. From basketball to pickleball, the game has changed but the love for movement, competition, camaraderie, and an active life remains.

And perhaps that is one of the greatest victories we can hope for as coaches and mentors. Not that our athletes play our sport forever, but that they carry the love of sport with them wherever life takes them.

The ultimate success of sport is not simply producing athletes who remain in one game. It is helping produce individuals who choose to remain physically active, healthy, engaged, and joyful throughout their lives.

Once a SULTAN on the basketball court, now a pickleball competitor. Still an athlete. Still moving. Still enjoying the game. And that, to me, is something worth celebrating.

12/09/2026

WHEN THE STORY FINALLY CHANGED:
A Historic Win for MSU-Maigo

For years, the story between MSU SULTANS and MSU-Martians had been almost predictable. In the history of the MSUSAA, MSU-Maigo had never beaten us. Our games were usually lopsided, and the SULTANS had always been on the winning side. That history became part of the psychological landscape of our matchup. But sports have a way of reminding us that history is never a guarantee of tomorrow.

In 2026, the story finally changed. The Martians defeated us by 25 points, highlighted by a barrage of three-pointers in the fourth quarter that turned the game into a runaway victory. For many people, it may simply be another result in the standings.

But for the MSU-Martians, I know it meant much more than that. It was historic. And it was meaningful because sometimes the most unforgettable victories are those that finally break a long-standing barrier.

We came into the 2026 MSUSAA Unity Games as the defending back-to-back champions, carrying the ambition of completing a Grand Slam. We were considered a juggernaut, the team to beat.

But there is another reality that we must accept in sports. The team that won in Gensan was no longer the same team defending the crown in 2026. Teams change. Players graduate. New players come in. Chemistry has to be rebuilt. Other programs improve. The landscape becomes more competitive.

And perhaps this is one of the greatest challenges of sustained excellence in sports: Winning once is difficult. Winning repeatedly is harder. But sustaining dominance over generations is perhaps the hardest challenge of all. That is sports.

And that is why, despite the pain of losing, I could not help but feel genuinely happy for the Martians, especially for their head coach, Coach Poloy Arumpac.

I have known Poloy's basketball story for a long time. His passion for the game started right here in Marawi, growing up in MSU Fisheries Village. This village has produced notable names in the game such Pakbol, Tata, Jojit, Nasnor and many more. During his college days at MSU, I remember him as a starting point guard for the College of Public Affairs. He was a player with a high basketball IQ, someone who understood the game beyond simply scoring points.

And now, seeing him on the sideline as a coach, I still see that same player. That same passion for the game. The way he reads the game. The way he understands situations. The way he competes. The player has simply become a coach. And as someone who has walked that same road, I understand what this victory must mean to him.

Coaching is not easy. There are countless days when nobody sees the work. Nobody sees the doubts, the sacrifices, the frustrations, the losses and the criticism. A coach carries the responsibility of an entire team, and sometimes, a victory becomes more than just a victory.

It becomes a validation. It gives you respect. It gives you credibility. And most importantly, it gives meaning to all the years you have invested in the game. That is why I am genuinely happy for Poloy.

And as the brother of one of the most popular basketball players in Lanao del Sur, "Tata Arumpac" and one of Lanao del Sur's promising coaches, Champion Coach Emong Arumpac of Amai Pakpak Medical Center, I feel an additional sense of pride seeing another Arumpac make his own mark, not as a player this time, but as a promising coach like his brother Emong..

One Arumpac became a legend on the basketball court as a player, another Arumpac becoming an established name on the sidelines of Lanao del Sur's hardcourt and another Arumpac is now writing his own story from the coaching benches of Lanao del Norte. This is a power trio unfolding before our eyes at the moment.

I am also happy for Chancellor Atty. Jamaloden “Jab” Basar, who has invested so much in the growth and development of MSU-Maigo. For him and for the entire MSU-Maigo community, this victory against the SULTANS was undoubtedly a special moment.

And I am happy for their captain and all their players. For years, they had been waiting for this moment. They had lost to us before. They had probably heard the stories. They knew the history. They knew that beating the SULTANS was something that had never happened until 2026. And when the moment finally came, they did not just win, they broke the story.

That is what makes sports beautiful. The SULTANS may have been the defending champions. We may have been the favorites. We may have been the juggernaut coming into the tournament. But on that day, MSU-Maigo was the better team.

And as a competitor, I accept that. As a coach, I learn from it. And as a fellow basketball man, I celebrate it. Because sometimes, our greatest contribution to sports is not simply winning. Sometimes, it is witnessing another team finally reach a place they have been trying to reach for years and having enough respect for the game to say:

Tonight was your night. Congratulations, MSU-Maigo. You earned it.

And perhaps this is the greatest lesson of all: No dynasty lasts forever. No team owns the future. Every generation has to earn its place in history.

The SULTANS will learn from this. MSU-Maigo will remember this. And someday, when people look back at the history of MSUSAA basketball, they will remember 2026 as the year MSU-Maigo finally broke through.

Congratulations, Coach Poloy Arumpac. Congratulations, Chancellor Jab. Congratulations to their Team Captain Honn Alvinsaint Coyno and the entire MSU-Maigo team. You waited for this moment. You believed in it. And when it finally came, you made history.

Respect!!!

10/09/2026

The SULTANS and the GENERALS!
MSUSAA Unity Games 2026
Kalaro hindi Kalaban
Manalo, Matalo, Matuto!

When your former players are now leading the other team in strategizing how to beat your team.

Nakakatuwang isipin na parang na-multiply mo na ang sarili mo and I am sure they are leading the right way. Job well done Generals Coaches Boltron and Amer.

Time flies faster than you think.

10/09/2026

WHEN EXCELLENCE ACKNOWLEDGES YOU

There are people we admire not because we personally know them, but because their work, leadership, and accomplishments speak loudly enough to reach us from a distance.

For me, Chancellor Alizedney Ditucalan of MSU-IIT is one of those people. I have never had any personal engagement with him before. We do not know each other personally. I first heard his name when he became the Dean of the College of Law and then as the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs here at MSU Main. I followed him on social media because of his inspiring leadership, his accomplishments as an academician, and, most importantly, through the remarkable transformation and continuing rise of MSU-IIT as one of the country's leading institutions of higher learning.

For many years, MSU-IIT has been a flagbearer of academic excellence within the MSU System and beyond. Its achievements, innovations, and continuing momentum have made it a source of pride not only for its constituents but for many of us in the MSU community. Chancellor Ditucalan has become, in my eyes, one of the symbols of that excellence and development.

I have always followed his posts. I enjoy seeing the accomplishments of people who excel in their respective fields. I have always believed that we should celebrate achievers not out of envy or comparison, but out of genuine appreciation for what human beings can accomplish when excellence, leadership, and hard work come together.

Then came this unexpected moment. After the MSUSAA Basketball Men's Championship and all the celebrations on the court, I was standing near the gymnasium gate, waiting for my comrades to come out. The IIT delegation was also making their way out of the gym, and among them was Chancellor Zed.

As they approached, I saw him. What happened next caught me completely by surprise. When he saw me, he nodded and came toward me as though we had known each other for years. For someone who had never personally met him before, that simple gesture meant so much. I immediately asked him for a selfie, and without hesitation, he agreed. He even said "idol." It may look like an ordinary selfie to others. But for me, it was much more than a photograph.

It was a moment of recognition. I stood there feeling genuinely happy not because I was beside a person of great influence and authority, but because someone whom I had admired from afar took the time to acknowledge me. There is something profoundly humbling about being noticed by someone you look up to.

It reminded me that leadership is not always demonstrated through grand speeches, accomplishments, or titles. Sometimes, leadership reveals itself in the simplest gestures, a nod, a smile, a few seconds of attention, or the willingness to make another person feel seen.

That brief encounter will stay with me. I may be only one of the many people who admire Chancellor Zed and what MSU-IIT represents, but for a few seconds that day, I felt that the distance between an admirer and an admired leader disappeared.

We were simply two fellow MSU people sharing a beautiful moment after celebrating university sports. And perhaps that is what made it even more special.

Excellence inspires excellence. Leadership inspires followers. And humility makes great people even greater.

Thank you, Chancellor Zed, for that simple but unforgettable gesture. Sometimes, the smallest moments become the ones we remember the longest. I wasn't seeking recognition, but unexpectedly received it from someone whose excellence I had long admired from a distance.

10/09/2026

MY PERSPECTIVES ABOUT WINNING AND LOSING IN SPORTS
Wisdom I got from Coaching since 2001

First and foremost, winning and losing are both necessary parts of sport but they do not have equal meaning unless we understand what each teaches us.

Winning: More Than the Scoreboard

Winning is the visible reward for preparation, ex*****on, discipline, and teamwork. It gives athletes confidence and validates the sacrifices they have made. But winning should never be the only measure of success.

A team can win a championship while failing to develop character, discipline, or respect. Conversely, an athlete can lose a competition but become better, stronger, and wiser because of the experience.

The scoreboard tells us who won the game. It does not tell us who grew from it.

Losing: The Other Side of Excellence

Losing hurts and it should. Athletes should care deeply about the outcome. But losing provides something winning often cannot: an honest examination of ourselves.

A loss forces us to ask what did we do poorly? What did we fail to prepare for? Where were our weaknesses? Did we give our best? What must we change? How do we respond when things don't go our way?

A champion is not someone who has never lost. A champion is someone who has learned how to respond to losing.

The Real Competition

I believe the greatest competition in sport is not simply Player A vs. Player B. It is who I am today vs. who I can become tomorrow. Your opponent gives you the opportunity to discover that person. Sometimes, your opponent exposes your weaknesses. Sometimes, they force you to reach a level you did not know you possessed. And sometimes, they beat you and that defeat becomes the beginning of your greatest improvement.

Winning With Perspective

I firmly believe that the healthiest sporting philosophy every coach and player well must internalize is this:

Win but don't let winning define you.
Lose but don't let losing destroy you.
When you win, be humble enough to learn.
When you lose, be courageous enough to learn.
When you win, respect the opponent who helped you become better. When you lose, respect the opponent who exposed what you need to improve.

Ultimately, What Does Sport Give Us?

Years from now, athletes may forget the exact score of a game. But they may remember the teammate who never gave up, the coach who believed in them, the training sessions when they wanted to quit. the comeback they thought was impossible, the defeat that changed their mentality and the moment they discovered what they were truly capable of.

So, winning is the outcome we pursue, but growth is the legacy we keep. And perhaps the best definition of a successful athlete is not I won more games than I lost. But because I played this sport, I became a better person than I was before.

That, to me, is the deeper meaning of winning and losing in sports.

09/09/2026

THE LEGENDS & THE LIGHTING OF THE URN
I got goosebumps experiencing this moments

The Lighting of the Urn symbolizes the ignition of the sporting spirit and the beginning of a shared journey of competition, friendship, excellence, and sportsmanship.

The Flame represents the passion, enthusiasm, and the enduring spirit of sport. The Urn emblematizes the competition and the sporting community. The ceremony stands for unity, friendship, and fellowship among participants. The athletes personifies the embodiment of effort, discipline, courage, and excellence. The legends signify the passing of sporting heritage and values from one generation to the next.

So, the ceremony is not simply about lighting a fire. It symbolically says the Games have begun. Let the spirit of sport live among us.

In the MSUSAA Unity Games, the Lighting of the Urn signifies the official beginning of the Games and the awakening of the spirit of unity, sportsmanship, excellence, and healthy competition among all participating athletes.

And the sports legends chosen to light the urn symbolized the past honoring the present and inspiring the future. The legends represent the heritage of the sport, while the current athletes become the next generation entrusted to carry its spirit forward.

09/09/2026

A VISIONARY, A TRAILBLAZER, AND A FRIEND

Atty. Jamaloden Basar, now the visionary Chancellor of MSU-Maigo has become one of my closest friends in the university. But before the friendship, there was a professional relationship forged through a shared commitment to something we both believed in:

- The development of MSU Sports and the opportunities it creates for our students. -

Our story goes back to 2017, when I was elected for the second time as Chairman of the Department of Athletics. At that time, Atty. Jamaloden, whom we fondly call "VP Jam", was the Vice President for Administration and Finance under the administration of then-President Habib W. Maca-ayong, based at the MSU-Main Campus.

Naturally, one of the first things I did was visit his office, introduced myself and brief him about the role of his Office in relation to our Office. I went there to discuss the varsity program, the MSUSAA, and our plans for the development of MSU sports.

It was not the first time that the Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance had played a crucial role in the life of our varsity program.

When the MSU varsity was revived in 2006, during my first term as Chairman of the Department of Athletics, Col. Romeo Magsalos was the VP for Administration and Finance. He was a hands-on partner in our varsity operations, particularly in taking care of the financial requirements that allowed our teams to compete both inside and outside the campus.

That period was significant because, after a long varsity program hiatus, we began rebuilding the foundation of an MSU-wide varsity program. One of the early milestones was the organization of an inter-campus men's basketball tournament involving several MSU campuses—a precursor to what would eventually develop into the MSUSAA.

The revival of the varsity program opened doors that went far beyond our campus. We began participating regularly in major national and Mindanao-wide competitions, including the Philippine University Games (Unigames) which was regularly held in Bacolod City and the Visayas Region, where MSU teams competed against some of the country's strongest collegiate programs from the UAAP, NCAA, CESAFI and other universities. Eventually came our participation in competitions such as the PCCL, SCUAA, PASUC Olympics, MASCUF Games—now MASTS—and many other tournaments.

Through the succeeding administrations, we continued to recognize the importance of having a strong partnership with the Office of the Vice President for Administration and Finance. I still remember one of the most influential figure in our varsity history was the late former VP Rolly Macalandong, whose passion for sports played a very active role in supporting our varsity operations.

So when I returned as Chairman of the Department of Athletics in 2017, I knew exactly where I needed to go. I went to VP Jam. And he did not disappoint. In fact, he exceeded what we expected. VP Jam is a very good boss. He is approachable, easy to talk to, and remarkably accessible. But beyond these qualities, what distinguishes him is his visionary and trailblazing character. He is an action man.

For VP Jam, a plan should not remain a plan. Gusto niya na dapat magawa talaga ang lalabas na plano. If something is worth doing, then it must be pursued, organized, implemented and brought to fruition. And he was always there.

Whenever we organized invitational games, varsity gatherings, or other athletic activities, VP Jam would make time to be present. He would speak to our athletes. He would welcome visiting teams. He would personally engage with coaches and participants.

For someone holding such a high administrative position, that kind of presence meant a lot to us. But there is one particular moment that I will never forget.

VP Jam told me that he would bring me to a Board of Regents meeting in Manila so that we could present the MSUSAA Unity Games and seek its approval as a regular system-wide activity. He also wanted to help lobby for the approval of the proposed budgetary requirements for the varsity program, particularly for system-wide implementation.

I must admit, I was uneasy. I found no time to prepare. It was a very short notice. I still continued preparing my PowerPoint presentation at the hotel where we stayed but unfortunately circumstances did not allow me to use it the way I had planned.

So there I was, presenting without the comfort of my slides. But somehow, we got the message across. We were able to tell the Board about the movement of MSU Athletics, the development of the varsity program, and most importantly, the vision behind the MSUSAA.

What followed was a remarkable journey. The MSUSAA Unity Games got the approval and then it continued to grow. The participation of the campuses became stronger. The organization of the games became more ambitious. The level of competition improved. And VP Jam remained actively involved, personally gracing and participating in the activities whenever his schedule allowed.

Looking back, I cannot separate many of these developments from the leadership and support of VP Jam. He was not merely an administrator who approved requests. He became a partner in turning ideas into reality.

And then there is MSU-Maigo. Perhaps the best testament to the kind of leader Atty. Jamaloden Basar is can be seen in the transformation of the campus he now leads.

I have watched MSU-Maigo evolve from what many people once perceived as a remote, small, little-known and often unnoticed campus. A place that, physically, seemed quiet and ordinary transformed into a vibrant, dynamic and increasingly remarkable university community.

Under his leadership, MSU-Maigo has been transformed. New buildings have risen. Sports facilities have been developed. The campus environment has become more vibrant and alive. Innovations have emerged not only in academics, but also in sports, the arts, student activities and campus life.

What once seemed like a quiet and physically unassuming campus now has an identity of its own. It has a stronger sports program. It has sports facilities that give students greater opportunities to train, compete and excel. It has a musical band, adding color, energy and artistic expression to campus life. And perhaps more importantly, it now projects a different image: a campus that is alive, moving, dreaming and achieving.

That is what visionary leadership can do. A leader does not simply manage what already exists. A visionary leader changes what people believe is possible. VP Jam has demonstrated that vision does not have to remain on paper. It can be seen in buildings. It can be felt in the energy of students. It can be heard through music. It can be experienced on the playing court. It can be reflected in new programs, new opportunities and a renewed sense of pride among the people who call the campus home.

And this is why I consider his leadership truly trailblazing. He did not simply inherit MSU-Maigo. He reimagined it. A visionary sees what others cannot yet see. A trailblazer has the courage to take the first step. But an action-oriented leader goes one step further, he makes it happen.

That is VP Jam. And perhaps this is what makes our friendship particularly meaningful. It was not built in a social gathering or through casual acquaintance. It was built in offices, meetings, athletic events, difficult decisions, ambitious plans, and countless conversations about how we could make MSU sports and our university community better.

From being the Vice President I approached in 2017 for support, he eventually became someone I could call a close friend. Today, Atty. Jamaloden Basar is Chancellor of MSU-Maigo. Knowing the man behind the title, I am not surprised. Because before he became Chancellor, he was already a visionary. Before he became a university leader, he was already a trailblazer. And long before he held his present position, he was already an action man who believed that good ideas must eventually become reality.

For everything you have done for the MSU Varsity Sports Program, for our student-athletes, for the MSUSAA, for MSU-Maigo, and for the larger MSU community, my deepest respect and gratitude.

From one colleague, coach and friend:

All salute to you, Atty. Jamaloden Basar.

Your leadership has helped move MSU sports forward. Your vision has helped us see what is possible and your willingness to act has helped turn that vision into something we can now witness, experience, and celebrate.

Visionary. Trailblazer. Action Man. Leader. Friend.

That is VP Jam Basar to me.

08/09/2026

FROM THE BASKETBALL COURT TO THE DEAN'S OFFICE:
A Champion’s Journey in Leadership

There are moments when we simply have to pause, look around, and recognize leadership when we see it.

As the almost month-long activities of our University Foundation celebration finally come to a close, I cannot let this moment pass without expressing my deep admiration, commendation, and appreciation for our College Dean, Dr. Mirian P. Aman.

For me, this recognition is particularly meaningful because I have known Mirian long before she became our Dean. She was my batchmate and one of the two basketball women superstars of our college generation. I saw her competitiveness, determination, discipline, and passion on the basketball court.

Today, the court may be different, but I continue to see those same qualities in her leadership. The game has changed. The jersey is different. But the champion's spirit remains.

In less than a year as College Dean, Dr. Aman has already demonstrated what purposeful leadership can accomplish. Perhaps one of the most significant things I have personally observed under her leadership is the restoration of our organizational culture especially those things we considered best practices in our college.

She is a visionary leader, but what makes her leadership remarkable is that her vision is grounded in humility and genuine human connection. She is transparent, organized, attentive to details, and down to earth. She does not lead from a distance. She listens to her peers. She listens to her colleagues. Even to those occupying the lowest ranks of the organization are given the dignity of being heard. That is powerful leadership. Because when people feel that they are heard, respected, and valued, they become more willing to participate, cooperate, and take ownership.

And this semester, that leadership was put to perhaps one of its greatest tests. The College of SPEAR faced a gargantuan undertaking as the University Intramural Games and the MSUSAA Unity Games were scheduled only a week apart as part of our University's Foundation Day celebration.

The demands were enormous. Our colleges were conducting their respective tryouts before, during, and even after the enrollment period. At the same time, the Department of Athletics was conducting its own tryouts and intensive preparations for our university athletes competing in the Unity Games. And while all of that was happening, the College of SPEAR was simultaneously preparing for the enormous responsibility of serving as host of the MSUSAA Unity Games.

Tryouts. Training. Meetings. Logistics. Coordination. Documentation. Event preparations. Competitions. Deadlines. And countless responsibilities taking place behind the scenes. It was a season that could easily overwhelm an organization. But the College stood its ground. And we delivered.

Of course, no Dean accomplishes something of this magnitude alone. The success of these undertakings was a product of collective effort, the dedication of our faculty and staff, our students, our athletes, our coaches, and the many people who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.

We are equally grateful for the invaluable support of our own very dynamic, generous and charismatic University President Atty. Paisalin Tago, together with his visionary and very approachable Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Minerva Naga with the strong support of her passionate, hardworking, and brilliant Special Assistants, the Council of Deans, the University Directors whose commitment and assistance became instrumental in helping the College fulfill its responsibilities as host.

This is what makes the accomplishment even more meaningful. Leadership is not about doing everything yourself. Leadership is about bringing people together and making them believe that, together, they can accomplish something extraordinary. And Dr. Aman has shown that.

But the semester was not defined only by the tremendous workload. Under her leadership, the College also achieved two landmark events that deserve to be remembered.

THE NATIONAL SPORTS SUMMIT

In her very first semester in office, the College successfully hosted the National Sports Summit, bringing to our institution distinguished personalities and national leaders in Philippine sports, including Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Pato Gregorio, together with PSC commissioners and presidents of various National Sports Associations.

For a college like ours, an event of this magnitude was no ordinary undertaking. In fact, activities of this national character and scale had not happened in our college for more than a decade. Yet it happened. And it was an astounding success.

More than an event, the Summit opened our College to national sports institutions, leaders, networks, partnerships, and opportunities. It reminded us that our College has a place not only within the University, but also within the larger landscape of Philippine sports.

THE 1ST GRAND ALUMNI HOMECOMING

Then came another historic undertaking, the 1st Grand Alumni Homecoming of the College of SPEAR. It brought together generations of alumni, from the pioneering batches to the youngest graduates. It was more than simply a reunion. It was a reconnection with our history. Old friendships were renewed. Stories were shared. Memories were revisited. Generations of CSPEAR alumni came together. And perhaps most importantly, stronger linkages were created. It reminded us that graduation does not end one's relationship with the institution. Once a member of CSPEAR, always a part of CSPEAR.

And once again, Dr. Aman demonstrated that leadership is not simply about managing what already exists. It is about creating opportunities for something greater to happen.

The National Sports Summit opened doors outward, to national sports organizations and leaders. The Alumni Homecoming opened doors backward, to our history, our graduates, and our institutional memory.

And her day-to-day leadership is opening doors forward, to a stronger, more organized, more connected, and more progressive College of SPEAR. That is why, after everything we have gone through this semester, I feel compelled to say this:

Thank you, Dean Mirian! Thank you for leading with vision.
Thank you for bringing back a culture of organization and collective responsibility. Thank you for being transparent. Thank you for listening. Thank you for remaining humble and approachable despite the enormous responsibilities attached to your position.

Thank you for reminding us that leadership does not have to be intimidating to be effective. Sometimes, the most powerful leader in the room is not the loudest person. It is the person who listens, understands, organizes, inspires, and makes people believe that their contribution matters.

As someone who knew you first as a batchmate and basketball superstar, it is both humbling and inspiring to witness this chapter of your journey. I once saw you compete on the basketball court. Today, I see you competing in an entirely different arena. The arena of leadership, institution-building, and service. And just like basketball, leadership is never a one-person game.

You need a team. You need trust. You need communication. You need discipline. You need people who understand their roles. And above all, you need a leader who knows how to bring everyone together. You have done that.

Perhaps the greatest testament to your leadership is not any single event we successfully conducted. It is the fact that our organizational culture feels alive again. People are working together again. People are reconnecting again. People are seeing possibilities again. And people are beginning to believe again in what our College can accomplish.

The UIG may be over. The MSUSAA Unity Games may be over. The Foundation Day activities may be over. The National Sports Summit has concluded. The first Grand Alumni Homecoming is now a beautiful memory.

But what these experiences have created should not end with the events. They should become part of the new chapter of the College of SPEAR. A chapter characterized by vision. A culture anchored on professionalism and accountability. A college strengthened by collaboration. A community connected to its alumni. A profession connected to national sports institutions. And an organization moving confidently toward the future.

So, to our Dean, Dr. Mirian P. Aman, Congratulations! Thank you! And most of all, thank you for leading us. You know how to lead a team. May you continue to lead with the same courage, humility, passion, and determination.

The game has changed. The jersey is different.
But the champion's spirit remains.

Padayon, Dean!

COACH LAYAO

17/09/2026

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