It started with a challenge to host for the first time the State Colleges and University Athletic Association (SCUAA) Meet. The decision was based on my belief that the Southern Leyte State University has a chest of talents. Thinking that given suitable assignments and responsibilities you would rise to the occasion.

When I accepted the challenge, recognized this as an opportunity, I knew of the tremendous responsibilities that would go with it. Hard work and cooperation from various sectors which are directly and indirectly connected with this university came into play’.

Early part of the year-long preparation you showed initiative with the raffle fundraising initiated by the Campus administrator of SLSU-Bontoc, pump prime necessary funding requirements of certain activities and projects related to SCUAA. Then after a brainstorm with some of our top university official adoption of a theme was deemed fitting. This led to the birth of “One Region, One Passion” .The theme’s music and lyrics were ingenuously composed by one of us and interpreted together with fellow personnel which in itself, a classic, is signature SCUUA twenty-0-eight.

As months went by, unveiling before me, you worked your task with a passion that was for a while hidden. You went beyond what was expected and even made innovations that time and again prove significant. You went beyond the normal standard and worked for excellence given the resources available. It was a pleasurable revelation indeed!

I noticed that you take pride in your work and many times over continued working, unmindful of the number of hours spent for the tasks that you thought would be best for the university. You avidly participated in SCUAA-related meetings and contributed ideas beneficial to the event. That showed class and professionalism.

The host campuses of bontoc, Tomas Oppus and Sogod transformed beautifully whit landscaped gardens and clean surroundings with the artistic and technical expertise of our colleague from Tomas Oppus campus. All department heads showed admirable leadership. Faculty and staff worked diligently and sincerely that was tagos sa buto. Some shared their children’s talent for the opening program.

Our dear students practice their parts selflessly and contributed time. goods, effort and creativity. Special mention to our Supreme Student Council Officer who exhibited values and attitude attributed to good role models, More so, the body hosted a consultative meeting of all Student Regents in region 8 considered as one of the “fists” and sponsored a superb live band show for the delegations to unwind and relax.

The Gibraltar-like trio at the budget, accounting and supply departments who were barraged with demands from all fronts were steadfast and delivered needed output with their respective team which efforts were matched up by the efficiency of the personnel at the Cashier’s office. With grueling tasks still to be finished under a deadline and having to meet all sorts of people and problems to solve, the AO designate and PPO staff were unfazed and addressed each one in a professional manner.

The Athletic Oval and other athletic venues were painstakingly handled by the planning officer of Sogod and the Engineering Department which took them nearly four months of dedication to complete with the help of the provincial government.

The people behind the solicitation committee have truly helped a lot in raising funds to finance various SCUAA expenses from medals to trophies to other equally important items and activities. Among those are dedicated people who were aggressive enough to solicit funds and focal persons from the 5 campuses, which produced a commendable publication of the Meet’s Souvenir Program.

The five university campuses worked as one. SLSU-Tomas Oppus graciously hosted 3 big delegations. SLSU-Bontoc ably accommodated one of the Meet’s biggest contingents. SLSU-Hinunangan allowed the use of its dump truck and the lent beddings for sports official. SLSU-San Juan gave bundles of cut flowers and the lent beddings as well. In every campus, every employee has shown the graciousness in providing the visitors the best what we have by way of our contribution in lending our beddings and pillows. Employees assigned in the front lines at the accommodation quarters of each delegation exhibited tremendous patience to answer every demand of the visitors. These and many more were shared.

All the programs were exceptionally performed. The pageant night displayed the outstanding technical prowess of our Information Technology Department under the ever innovative and enthusiastic department head and chair of the event. The Opening Ceremony which was led by the Campus Administrator of SLSU-Tomas Oppus and manned by the artistic people of the campus, exceeded all expectations. It was a well sequenced presentation that started with a refreshing theme interpretation from some of our children, transiting to a genuine Filipino ethnic depiction, extremely impressive Sinugdan-adapted presentation, and then highlighted by a breathtaking fireworks display. It was truly awesome.

Our Glee Club during the Devine Service and other programs improved tremendously and outdid their performances. Campus order and security work were competently handled by its chair and the Criminology Department. The campus medical team composed of trained student’s volunteers headed by our campus nurse provided an assuring health shelter. Warm reception and transport accommodation was untiringly managed by the chairpersons of the said committees.

The over-all sports coordinator with sport directors from our four other campuses did a splendid job in insuring smooth flow of athletic events. Our athletes and coaches gave a lot of themselves to fight and put up a good competition.

Dr. Jane Labastida, poised and good natured, hardly led the brilliant and supportive faculty in the assortment of tasks necessary.

Masterful and Jedi-like, Dr. Jude Duarte executed the enormous assignment efficiently and with passion.

Practically all in the SLSU family whom are too many to mention, contributed to the success of hosting the SCUAA 2008, from the top officials down to the Physical Plant Office Staff. Our guests truly enjoyed the fellowship and Competition!

A concerted feedback was that the Southern Leyte State University gave an overall excellent performance that is difficult to surpass. Congratulations! You and I are winners.

The university truly made a giant leap in strengthening our image, status and confidence.

The cooperation that you demonstrated all the more inspires me to seer our university further towards excellence.

SLSU Family, I am proud of you! Thank you for your sincere support.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!

Well done. You did a superb job. Mabuhay tayong lahat!