Mr. Gail S. Fernandez

After a three-year hiatus, the Lyceum of the Philippines University Cavite brings back the most anticipated University Intramurals launched with its new name, LPU-C Games 2023. This year, the theme is Let’s RISE Lyceans (Rebuild Resilience through Sports and Exercise). This year’s LPU-C Games is even more special as it coincides with the university’s 15th Crystal Founding Anniversary. The seven colleges and the International School (IS) all prepared their team monikers and banners and trained their respective sports teams as they battled it out in nine sporting events, namely, basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, pickleball, chess, cheerdance competition, e-sports, and Mr. and Ms. LPU-C Games.

The moniker, Iron Spartans, was selected for the International School to describe the IS community’s strength and resilience. The opening ceremony was held on April 25, 2023, which commenced the weeklong program. The event began with the colorful entrance parade of the seven colleges and IS. Each team cheered as they entered the campus, welcomed by the administrative officials, faculty members, staff, and students, along with the LPU drum battalion. After the invocation, and the singing of the Philippine National Anthem and the LPU Hymn, the LPU-C Games was officially opened with the grand reveal of the official team banners. Afterwards, Board Member Morit Sison delivered an encouraging talk to the participants of the games and to the entire LPU Cavite community. He emphasized the importance of healthy well-being, especially in this fast-changing world.

The opening program was followed by the most awaited Mr. and Ms. LPU-C Games. Each college and the IS sent a male and a female candidate as team representatives. The candidates battled it out as they graced the JPL lobby in their sports attire. The candidates then showed their wit as they were given a hash tag related to sports and presented their answers to the judges and the audience. The IS dominated the competition as Mr. Ciaran Peter Mulligan, grade 11 student, was crowned Mr. LPU-C Games 2023, and Ms. Ria Angela Guadaña, grade 12 student, was named Ms. LPU-C Games first runner-up. All other sports competitions began simultaneously after the opening ceremony.

For the succeeding days, the players of the IS Iron Spartans competed against the seven colleges in the remaining sporting events. Students from IS showed their support for the delegates and cheered their schoolmates. The ball sports were played in the SHL roof deck gymnasium and the Pirates gymnasium, while the board games were played in the chess room. The e-sports Valorant competition, on the other hand, was played in the COECSA computer laboratory and simultaneously streamed in the COECSA multipurpose hall. The games were also streamed online via the official Facebook page of CFAD.

One of the highlights of the LPU-C Games, the cheer dance competition, was held on April 30, 2023, along with the awarding and closing ceremonies. At the end of the program, the CITHM was hailed as the overall champion, while the IS Iron Spartans placed fifth with five gold, seven silver, and twelve bronze medals.

Here is the full list of winners from the International School.

Mr. and Ms. LPU-C Games 2023
Ciaran Peter Mulligan – Gold Medalist / Mr. LPU-C Games 2023
Ria Angela Guadaña – Silver Medalist / Ms. LPU-C Games First Runner-up
Coaches: Mr. Jhon Ardhen Oliver and Ms. Edelyn Sieryn Alarzar

Pickleball
Christian Cedric Avilla, Bless Jethro Bugnay – Champion / Gold Medalists Doubles Category
Coach: Ms. Liza Mesina

Table Tennis
Margaux Nebrida, Mariella Josephine Bay – Champion / Gold Medalist Doubles Category
Coach: Ms. Divine Graciae Bautista

E-Sports (Valorant)
IS Iron Spartans Team 1 – Silver Medalist
Coach: Mr. John Emmanuel Leuterio

Basketball
IS Iron Spartans Men’s Team – Bronze Medalist
Coach: Mr. Louie Angelo Guarte

Chess
Mark Leo Francia – Silver Medalist (Board 2)
Justine Matthew Santos – Bronze Medalist (Board 3)
IS Iron Spartans Overall Rank – Bronze
Coaches: Mr. Glen Lino Guañezo and Mr. Charles Derick Eser

Cheerdance Competition
IS Iron Spartans – Fourth Place
Coach: Mr. Loyd Asunan

The International School is truly grateful and proud of all the students who participated in the LPU-C Games 2023 and gave their best as they competed in their respective events.