Sports Fest 2025 Recap
Signature batch jerseys, colorful banners, pompoms, tube balloons, and resonant drums revved up the Preschool Gym with excitement as the high school students assembled for the three-day Sports Fest 2025.
Sports Fest 2025 officially opened with a prayer, the singing of the national anthem, and a welcome message from Mr. Andres Ilocto, Student City Organization (SCO) Adviser. In his remarks, Mr. Ilocto encouraged the students to have fun in the Sports Fest by playing the games with joy and courage. He also gave reminders about showing sportsmanship, respect, and cooperation, as well as the guidelines regarding attendance and proper behavior.
Opening message of SCO Adviser Mr. Andres Ilocto
Warming up for action
Despite the warm rays of the sun shining through the court and the cool morning breeze wafting across the venue, the students were still half awake. Thus, to fully wake the students up and to warm their bodies up for action, they participated in a dance exercise. The students followed a simple dance routine that boosted their energy. The exercise was immediately followed by the oath-taking led by SCO Officer Carl Cua. With their right hands raised, they swore to exhibit sportsmanship throughout the Sports Fest.
While getting their bodies and minds ready for action, the students also warmed their voices up to cheer for their players. With the rolling beats of snare drums, the pounding pulses of bass drums, and colorful cheering props, the students performed their batch chants.
Wearing their yellow batch shirts and waving yellow tube balloons and pompoms, the Grade 6 Batch Amariah delivered a delightful performance of their chant, displaying their charm as the youngest batch in the roster. With pink shirts, the Grade 7 Batch Aster kept the momentum through their energetic chant. However, the Grade 8 Batch Soarions stepped up their game as they incorporated a dragon dance performance into their chant. The vibrant colors and flair of the dragon dance matched their fiery orange batch shirts. Complementing the radiant orange glow of the previous grade level, the Grade 9 Batch Kaizen flaunted their royal blue shirts. Yet, their chants are not blue at all; they were rhythmic and could make anyone follow the beat of their chant. Grade 10 Batch Aurion rivaled this performance with red face paints and red batch shirts, embodying the image of warriors. Like warriors roaring their battle cry, the chant leaders marshaled their batchmates into a passionate batch chant. Contrary to their batch color that symbolizes calm and quiet, the Grade 11 Batch Viridians kept the energy up and high. The loud and syncopated beating of the snare and bass drums made their chant powerful. Meanwhile, the graduating class of Grade 12 Batch Sovereign, dressed in purple shirts, proved their reign over chants and cheering. Their enthusiastic chant was so fun and inviting, even their opponents unknowingly jived with the cadent movement of purple balloons and the syncopated beating of the drums.
With bodies and voices warmed up, the junior and senior high students were all ready for action.
Dance exercise
Oath-taking
Batch chant performances
Kicking off the games
Contained yet blazing flames trailed through the midst of the high school students as a symbolic torch made its way to the ceremonial cauldron. The batch presidents of the grade levels, SCO President Samantha San, and Mr. Ilocto all took their turns in parading the torch. Igniting the official start of the Sports Fest 2025, SCO Sports Committee Head Phybie Lee carried the torch to the cauldron and set it ablaze.
As the cauldron glowed, a glimpse of the prizes the students could win was illuminated through a special recognition awarded by the SCO. The SCO gave special awards for the Highest Attendance Percentage and Best Chant of the day. For the first day, Batch Amariah and Batch Sovereign won the awards, respectively. A special award was also given to Batch Soarions for their special effort in their dragon dance performance. These awards show that with hard work and unity, victory is within reach.
With the cauldron lit up, and with eyes set on the prize, Sports Fest 2025 officially kicked off.
Cauldron Lighting Ceremony
Playing with grit
The official start of the games fell into a suspenseful silence as everyone awaited the honorary jump ball. With the quick toss of the ball into the air, the “First Five” of the Grade 11 and 12 basketball teams leapt in sync to tip the ball toward their side. The crowd, especially Batch Viridians, cheered as the Grade 11 players secured the first possession of the ball.
Honorary Jump Ball
School spaces across the campus were transformed into sports venues. The preschool gym hosted badminton, women’s volleyball and 4×4 basketball games. There, swift rallies, coordinated sets and sharp passes reflected the agility and teamwork of the players. Accommodating table tennis, relay, 100-meter dash, and tug of war, the parking areas witnessed the strokes and clacks of paddles, the speedy pace of striding feet, the relentless tugging and pulling of rope, and the seamless taking of relay turns that showed students’ quick reflexes, raw strength and determination. In the high school library, meanwhile, the students competed in duels and showdowns of intellect and strategic thinking through a variety of board games. The library hosted chess, Scrabble and Game of the Generals. On the eight floor of the building, volley strikes dashing across the goal, dribbles and crossovers drove through the high school gym as it held the futsal and basketball tournaments.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Spanning three days, the sports event created memorable and action-packed moments. The highlights of the Sports Fest include the service aces and set assists of Batch Kaizen against Batch Sovereign, which closed the women’s volleyball games with a 2-0 victory. In a similar two-set match, Batch Viridians dominated the men’s volleyball games. Numerous service aces and drop shots secured their victory against Batch Kaizen. In men’s basketball, meanwhile, four ten-minute quarters were not enough to determine the best team. Through well-timed layups, aggressive rebounds, and fast-break assists, Batch Kaizen and Batch Sovereign both scored 40 points by the end of the fourth quarter, leading to an overtime of three minutes. Eventually, through a two-point shot, Batch Sovereign ruled the men’s basketball.
Sports Fest 2025 highlights
As the official games came to an end, the most-awaited part of the sports fest began—the All-Star Games. Here, the best performing basketball and volleyball players from across grade levels played with HCHS faculty and staff. In the Volleyball All-Star Game, countless strategic set assists, precise spikes and effective blocks from both sides were notable. At the end of the three sets, the game stood at 2-1 in favor of the faculty and staff. In Basketball All-Stars, the students and faculty were split into two teams. All-star players who had been teammates in their batches were pitted against each other. Likewise, faculty and staff who were once colleagues became opponents. In the end, the team of the iconic “Sir Pancit Canton” won the game with the final score of 51-48.
All-star games
Cooling down with honor
After three days of intense action, the games finally wound down, and the adrenaline faded. What remained were flushed faces, hoarse voices, sore muscles, and damp jerseys. Despite these physical strains, however, the students exemplified the guiding Bible verse of the event—Isaiah 41:30. Like soaring eagles, they ran but did not grow weary; they walked but did not faint. As they waited on renewed strength from the Lord, they also hoped for favorable outcomes of their perseverance.
For the last two days of Sports Fest, Batch Aster, Batch Soarions and Batch Sovereign were given the Highest Attendance Percentage Award. For day 3, Batch Viridians were awarded Best Chant of the Day. The major awards were, then, presented by SCO Pres. Samantha San. MYP Coordinator Ms. Jhudelle Navarro, DP Class Adviser Mr. Layton Tee, and SHS Academic Supervisor Mr. Arvie Ubarro awarded the medals and trophies. The top three placers in each individual and group sport were recognized. The Mythical Six across men’s and women’s volleyball, the Mythical Four of the 4×4 women’s basketball, and the Mythical Five of the men’s basketball were also named.
Meanwhile, to honor the best batches, the 3Cs awards were presented. The first “C” stood for creativity. The Creativity Award recognized the batch with the most creative batch shirts and banners. The award was given to Grade 8 Batch Soarions. The second “C” was for character. The recipient of the Character Award was the Grade 12 Batch Sovereign. They were the batch that exhibited the best sportsmanship. The last “C” is the Cheerfulness Award. This was awarded to the batch that was consistent in supporting their players through their chants and presence in the games. The award was given to Grade 9 Batch Kaizen.
Rounds of applause and cheers reverberated in the preschool gym as the students received their individual, group, and batch awards. Then, a few moments of anticipation silenced the crowd as the awarding ceremony closed with the moment of truth—the presentation of the Overall Top 3 Batches. Collective drumrolls signaled the loudest cheers of the students as the winners were announced. Top 3 went to Grade 11 Batch Viridians; Top 2 was given to Grade 9 Batch Kaizen, and the Overall Top 1, the Best Batch, was Grade 12 Batch Sovereign.
Awarding Ceremony