Pop star Sarah Geronimo waxed poetic in a message to the UAAP community revolving around hope as she helped usher in Season 88.
Sarah Geronimo spoke volumes in a speech during her performance at the UAAP Season 88 opening ceremonies on a rainy Friday evening at UST’s España campus in Manila.
Geronimo, who capped off the opening ceremony program with a set list of her hits like Kilometro, Tala, and Dati-Dati, recalled her days in UST as a high school student and expressed her desire to finish her studies — hopefully in UST.
[RELATED: UST kicks off Season 88 with festive opening ceremonies in España campus]
“Alam niyo gusto ko lang i-share sa inyo, minsan din akong tumapak sa unibersidad na ito. First year and second year high school po ako nag-aral dito sa UST Education High School at mahal na mahal ko ang UST at ang mga naging kaklase ko noon,” she said.
“Miss na miss ko at pinangarap ko po talaga na one day makapagtapos ng kolehiyo dito sa UST. Sana, one day.”
‘Pag-asa ng bansa’
But the pop star took her message a step forward as she spoke to the UAAP community about the message of the theme, which is also in line with the Catholic Church’s Jubilee of Hope.
Spurred by the current affairs of the country, Geronimo urged those in attendance to keep steadfast.
“Masaya po ako makasama kayo ngayong gabi. 'Di naman po lingid sa kaalaman natin na napakaraming nangyayaring kaguluhan sa ating bansa,” she said.
“Let us all be reminded na kayo, the one to put the pressure on you, ang ating mga kabataan, kayo ang pag-asa ng bansa, ng ating bayan. One day, kayo ang magbabago ng bansang ito,” she continued.
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Her message connected the UAAP theme to movement by the youth to search for a better future for the country.
“Huwag kayo mawalan ng pag-asa. Huwag tayo mawalan ng pag-asa. Kumapit tayo sa hope at magtiwala. Patuloy na magtiwala na balang araw, uunlad din ang ating mahal na bansang Pilipinas,” she said.
“Hindi na natin kailangan umalis ng bansa parang makapaghanap ng magandang trabaho dahil nandidito na lahat ng oportunidad. Patuloy nating ipagdasal ang ating bansa. Nakakatuwa dahil angkop na angkop ang theme ng UAAP Season 88 — Strength in Motion, Hope in Action.”
Apart from Geronimo’s performance, highlights of the UAAP Season 88 opening ceremonies include a drone show, a fireworks display, and a well-attended parade of student athletes across all eight UAAP member schools.
Hostilities begin with the basketball and football tournaments kicking off on Saturday, September 20.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.