Ateneo Sports Club Sector reactivation in talks

BY JOAQUIN BAANG AND CHAEZIE CHARIZ CABEL

TWO YEARS after the Ateneo Sports Club Sector (ASCS) decided to go on a hiatus, sports organizations have begun seeking the sector’s reactivation to better deal with logistical and financial concerns.

The Sanggunian Department of Administrative Affairs (DAA) and the acting ASCS representatives Iya Javelosa and Luis Aguilar primarily vie for better representation of non-varsity sports teams and their use of the Ateneo name and symbol.

Should the sector be reactivated, DAA Chairperson Ivan Nabong said that they could propose budgets to the Sanggunian and be reimbursed for club activities, including transportation, training, and venue fees. The sector will also have a seat in the Central Assembly (CA).

NEW YEAR, NEW PROBLEMS

When the University shifted to the online setup, ASCS representative Jerard Afable said that many students lost

The Sports Club Sector is an important part of the community. They are a group of students who have formed a community within themselves, bonding over their love of sports. These are things we have to nurture as a student government.

IVAN NABONG

the sector’s structure to be able to have a seat in the CA. Hoping to have a more established body for the sector, Javelosa said that different sports clubs met during the

Atenean Futsal Club, the Atenean Volleyball Club, and the Atenean Ultimate Club.

“Right now, it’s mostly every man for himself in the group chat. We’re just asking our representative when we have issues. Nothing really direct to really establish or re-establish the sector,” she noted.

Nabong remarked that gaining sectoral accreditation entails a long and bureaucratic procedure, which begins with the preparation of certain documents, namely the sector’s bylaws and code of internal procedures. Afterwards, the Loyola Schools student body must vote in a sectoral referendum determining whether the sector will be renewed

“Up until the (sectoral referendum’s) electoral code is revisited and revised, I think that there will still really be that high barrier because even just documents, I needed help from so many people to get that Constitution going. It’s a daunting process,” Afable noted regarding his experience facilitating the sector’s renewal.

Building A Stronger Community

To prepare for sectoral reaccreditation, Nabong advised electing a legislative liaison to help the sector representative. He said that the liaison will assist

Afable shared his hope that when the ASCS returns, it can achieve its short-term goals before the pandemic. These include sports clubs members being exempted from Physical Education classes and participating in the cheer rally—similar to what varsity teams do.

He mentioned that these goals are in line with his overarching goal, where all sports can be viewed equally both by the students and by the administration.

“The only way to do that is to provide ample support, and the colors of the school is already something that, you know, shouldn’t be debatable because as students of Ateneo you’re already training for this sport to represent this school.”

Although Nabong mentioned that he cannot predict when the ASCS can return to full operations, Nabong hopes that by AY 2023–2024 the ASCS will be part of the CA to participate in legislation and gain further representation.

BY ISABEL CANDIDA GONZALES PHOTOS BY MIKYLA REYES