By Lou Gonzales

By AJ Alarcon

Rooted in the Atenean and Lasallian commitment to truth and integrity, game-goers of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament blue–green rivalry — held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, November 26 — donned white as an expression of solidarity amid rising corruption issues in the country.

This followed a joint message from university presidents Fr. Roberto “Bobby” Yap, SJ, and Br. Bernard Oca, FSC, who stated, “Beyond the intensity of rivalry, we are bound by our faith, our love for the country, and our collective mission to teach minds, touch hearts, and transform lives.”

One with the call for accountability, the Ateneo Men’s Basketball Team also sported their white jerseys.

In their halftime performance, the Blue Babble Battalion and the DLSU Animo Squad took to the court to chant together, “Ikulong mga kurakot!”

The game and initiative were postponed from the original November 9 date due to inclement weather brought about by Typhoon Uwan.

UAAP calls against corruption

The UAAP is not new to calling out corruption — starting the season with Sarah Geronimo’s bold statement during her “Ikot-ikot” performance in the opening ceremony.

During which, the Popstar Royalty expressed, “Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman natin na napakaraming nangyari na kaguluhan, kasinungalingan, panloloko ang ginagawa sa ating bansa.”

Moreover, on October 19, the University of the Philippines (UP) Pep Squad and the DLSU Animo Squad set the rivalry aside during their halftime performance to chant, “Ikulong na ’yan, mga kurakot!”

The Blue Babble Battalion had also protested against the flood control anomalies during Ateneo’s October 8 face-off against UP, in which the letters “KURAKOT IKULONG” were spray-painted at the back of their white shirts.

The athletics association is set to stand against corruption once again during the Cheerdance Competition on Sunday, November 29, encouraging watchers to wear white again to express dismay over the corruption in the country.