Alumni of PH colleges in friendly jousts in Mississauga ‘Summerfest’

Alumni associations of Philippine colleges and universities battle it out in various game, like tug of war, in Summerfest in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. INQUIRER/Marisa Roque

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — The College of the Holy Spirit alumni team pulled ahead of the pack of 14 participating schools and scored 18 points to emerge as solo champion and overall winner of Summerfest 2017 on Sunday, June 25.

“Summerfest,” the annual sports competition sponsored by the Philippine Colleges and Universities Alumni Association (PCUAA), had Central Philippine University (CPU) and Adamson University tied for the honors of 1st runners up at 16 points per team.

Mapua garnered 14 points to be 2nd runner up, and Ateneo University and the University of Santo Tomas (UST) tied for 3rd runners up at 13 points each.

The College of the Holy Spirit alumni team emerged overall champion of Summerfest 2017. INQUIRER/Marisa Roque

“Eight schools participated in the active games and 12 schools in the passive games,” said Ed Panganiban (Mapua), PCUAA chairman.

Traditional rivalries were set aside as the various schools helped other teams out whose members were injured–school shirts were taken off and handed over to replacement players from the competing teams: truly the spirit of Filipino bayanihan in action.

Consul General Rosalita Prospero braves the rain to commend the participants. INQUIRER/Marisa Roque

Mississauga Valley Community Center Park, the recreational hub of central Mississauga, has served as the venue for the yearly event.  Ahead of the games, the representatives of each participating school drew lots to secure the tables on where to place the huge amounts of food meant to share in one gigantic potluck.

A Summerfest tradition is Adamson’s Ciddd Borja going from one school group to the next offering his famous “taho.” INQUIRER/Marisa Roque

The camaraderie was infectious, and friendships were renewed between frenzied cheering for the teams and picking an advantageous location from where to view the events.

Consul General Rosalita Prospero congratulated the attendees and praised the PCUAA on achieving their 15th year of successful planning and execution of the picnic, while helping to secure the ties that bind the Filipino Canadian to the Philippines.

Ed Panganiban reminded all present to save the date for the annual dinner dance of PCUAA in September, where the funds raised go to support next year’s Summerfest. Dr. Solon Guzman served as emcee.