By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – Twelve private universities and colleges in Negros island will be competing in various sports and cultural events in the 1st Negros Island Private Schools Athletic Association (NIPRISAA) which officially kicks off on Friday, April 26 at the STI-West Negros University (WNU) here.
These competing schools are Colegio De Sta. Ana de Victorias, Colegio De Sta. Catalina De Alejandra, Colegio San Agustin-Bacolod, Foundation University, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Bacolod, La Consolacion College-Bacolod, North Negros College, Southland College, STI-WNU, University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos (UNO-R), University of St. La Salle (USLS), and VMA Global College.
In a statement, Dr. Ryan Mark Molina, executive vice president and chief operations officer of STI-WNU, who is also the second vice president of the National PRISAA, said that the summit’s goal is to promote sports development programs as venues for the personality development and character building of student athletes.
He added that the sports event also aims to bridge the gap between grassroots and elite sports by fostering connections between schools and national sports associations.
While the government is looking into the structure of the Negros Island Region (NIR), the academe went ahead when it comes to sports development program, Molina said.
“That’s the reason why we established the Negros Island PRISAA. So, the future is here now. It’s happening,” he added.
Fourteen sports events will take place at various venues including STI-WNU, USLS, UNO-R, Panaad Park and Stadium, SM City Bacolod, and Ayala Malls Capitol Central from April 26 to April 30.
The NIPRISAA organizing committee said that the sports event seeks to provide better opportunities for Negros student-athletes to compete in the National PRISAA and other sports-related events.
A day prior to the official opening of NIPRISAA, the National PRISAA and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) introduced their Sports Grassroots Program during the National Grassroots Sports Summit-Bacolod Leg at the new School of Basic Education (SBE) Building of STI-WNU yesterday.
