| • Past Perfect: UAAP History |
One is as strong as its beginnings. The character of an organization is shaped by the struggles and victories it experiences over the years.
The UAAP, our league, would not be as phenomenal and prestigious as it is today without having navigated its challenges and triumphs. from uaapgames.com In the summer of 1924, Dr. Regino Ylanan, the Physical Education Director of the University of the Philippines (UP), recognized the need to regulate and establish athletic policies among tertiary institutions of the time. As a result, he extended invitations to private schools in Manila to form an athletic association. Several institutions responded, including the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Manila University, National University (NU), De La Salle College, Ateneo de Manila University, and the Institute of Accounts (now known as Far Eastern University). One week after its initial meeting, the group formally adopted a constitution and by-laws, calling itself the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). For six years, the NCAA served as a platform for interscholastic athletic competitions among its members. However, universities tended to dominate events due to their larger student populations. In 1930, the NCAA Board of Directors decided to file incorporation papers with the Bureau of Commerce. This move raised concerns within UP, the only public institution among the member schools, about potential commercialization. Both NU and UST shared these concerns. Before the start of the 1930-1931 NCAA Season, Prof. Candido C. Bartolome of UP requested permission for three universities—NU, UP, and UST—to conduct a triangular meet. The NCAA board approved this request on the condition that NCAA scheduled events would take precedence over the use of sports facilities. The three universities agreed, with Mr. Dionisio D. Calvo of UST, Mr. Leon G. Tirol of NU, and Prof. Candido C. Bartolome of UP (all Directors of Physical Education) signing the Article of Agreement. They tried a home-and-home format, where games were played at each of the three campuses. This arrangement, known as the Big 3, was a success, and on April 6, 1932, its Article of Agreement was renewed. During this period, the three universities decided to secede from the NCAA. The Big 3 continued for the next six years until the Board of Directors of the UP Alumni Association suggested to then UP President Jorge C. Bocobo that a new inter-university athletic association be established. With UP’s prior initiatives with both the NCAA and the Big 3, it was natural for them to take the lead once again. Representatives from the three universities, along with Far Eastern University—already a dominant force in sports—met at the PAAF Office. They formally organized the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) on September 27, 1938. The first sports events in the UAAP included basketball, women’s volleyball, baseball, football, swimming, and track and field. The University of the Philippines (UP) won titles in baseball and track and field, while the University of Santo Tomas (UST) claimed titles in football and swimming. Far Eastern University (FEU) took home the championship in basketball. As the organizer, UP representatives Dr. Antonio G. Sison and Bartolome served as the first officers, with Sison as the president and Bartolome as the secretary-treasurer of the UAAP. To allow member universities the chance to learn about conducting and managing athletic events, Prof. Bartolome proposed a rotational hosting system for the UAAP, which was unanimously approved. Lots were drawn to determine the order of rotation, resulting in UST, FEU, and National University (NU). It was also decided to create the position of Vice President from the succeeding host university, allowing the Vice President to learn on the job. Since 1938, the UAAP has conducted athletic events, although operations temporarily halted in 1941 due to the outbreak of war. In 1952, additional universities were admitted to the association to encourage more competition. On March 29, 1952, the University of the East (UE) was admitted on probation. On May 5 of the same year, Adamson University (AdU), the University of Manila, and Manila Central University followed suit. Out of these four new applicants, only AdU and UE achieved permanent membership. Ateneo de Manila University joined the UAAP in 1978, followed by De La Salle University in 1986. The UAAP has provided student-athletes with high-quality competitions, with camaraderie and sportsmanship as its main objectives. Well-conducted events have allowed talented athletes to catch the attention of national sports associations, with some joining national teams. Outstanding athletes have also had the opportunity to participate in international competitions, such as the Universiade and the ASEAN University Games. The UAAP began with UP as the host university, and it was fitting that UP also closed the 20th century as the host. During the 63rd Opening Ceremonies on July 10, 1999, a dance specially choreographed by premier choreographer Douglas Arthur P. Nierras, titled “Bigyan Katuparan, 'Sang Kalikasan,” was presented in tribute to the mascots of the member-universities at the Philsports MultiArena. The UAAP reached greater heights with improvements in broadcasting the games. In the new millennium, Studio 23 obtained the rights to televise men's basketball games, with UST hosting the season. In 2005, the UAAP expanded its coverage to include volleyball playoffs, which were also televised. The following year, regular season games for volleyball were televised in the second semester. Beach volleyball became a demonstration sport, while judo and taekwondo were introduced in the first semester instead of volleyball. By 2007, beach volleyball was officially added as a sport, contributing to the overall championship tally. In the league's 76th season (2013), poomsae in the sport of taekwondo was added as an official UAAP championship, featuring a mixed pair category, making it the first coed discipline to become a regular event. With the aim of supporting the national sports program and encouraged by its national sports association, the league included 3x3 basketball in its sports roster. After serving as a demonstration event during Seasons 80 (2017–18) and 81 (2018–19), it was set to become an official sport in the following season, but this transition was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eventually, 3x3 basketball became the only sport (alongside poomsae) that featured both male and female student-athletes competing in Season 84 (2022), and it has since been included in the UAAP calendar. This objective may also lead to the inclusion of several Olympic sports in the calendar. Weightlifting and gymnastics—two sports in which the Philippines has already achieved Olympic golds— are among the potential candidates for future UAAP events, alongside golf and shooting. |
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