Batangas City, Batangas – September 29, 2025. The 26th season of the Batangas Universities, Schools, and Colleges Athletic Association (BUSCAA) officially opened on September 29, 2025, at the Manuela Q. Pastor Auditorium of St. Bridget College, Batangas City, carrying the theme “Bearers of Hope, Camaraderie, and Sportsmanship.”
The festivities began with a Eucharistic celebration at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, followed by a parade along the streets of Batangas City, where fifteen participating schools proudly marched to represent their institutions. Delegates and guests were warmly welcomed by St. Bridget College with a lineup of cultural performances showcasing Batangueño heritage.
Among the highlights of the program was the presentation of school muses, featuring Ms. Ellaine Julia R. Agdon of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Strand, who represented the University of Batangas with stunning grace, youthful energy, and confident pride as she carried the school’s banner.
In her welcome remarks, Sr. Maria Añanita Borbón, RGS, Ph.D., President of St. Bridget College Batangas City, expressed gratitude to the school heads, faculty, staff, students, and guests for their presence and support. She emphasized that the celebration is not only about athletic competition but also about instilling values of character, resilience, and unity.
“We are celebrating the spirit of sportsmanship and the spirit of camaraderie. Thank you, dear school heads, for making this engagement in sports possible for our students. Thank you for believing that holistic formation goes beyond academic excellence, and includes achievement in sports as an avenue that shapes the heart, builds resilience, and nurtures the passion to reach one’s goals.”Sr. Borbón said
She further underscored the relevance of the theme: “Through sports, we learn resilience and perseverance. Through camaraderie, we forge lifelong friendships and relationships. And through sportsmanship, we uphold integrity, respect, and unity. Beyond winning medals and breaking records, our true victory lies in the bonds we build, the character we develop, and the hope we inspire and give in our communities,” she added
The ceremony also coincided with the Feast of the Archangels – St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and St. Raphael–and the remembrance of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first Filipino martyr, which Sr. Borbon highlighted as a spiritual guide for the participants as they carry the values of hope, camaraderie, and sportsmanship throughout the season.
As the opening concluded, the 26th BUSCAA season was officially declared open, marking the beginning of weeks of spirited athletic competitions among Batangas’ leading universities, schools, and colleges, all united under the pursuit of excellence and friendship.