Cliche: Fairness and Camaraderie

  MY EXPERIENCES DURING THE FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY

I have long come to terms with the fact that  practically anything that involves body movements is a big no-no for me. Thus, I have never been a fan of sports or dance crazes that have become popular in my generation. 

       But the Foundation Week, specifically the Field Demo, is an exception. For every TUMCSian, the celebration of the founding anniversary is not just the proud display of their skills in dancing, cheering and sports, it’s a rivalry, a battle of physical prowess, talent and style against the other year levels. And even for someone like me who has two left feet and no knowledge whatsoever of sports, the Foundation Week is everything. Besides, I am the class president of IV-David. I simply cannot bear to see my section lose. 

            February 15 marked the beginning of the competitions. Everyone, even the teachers, had their game faces on. Rivalry was tangible in the air. 

            It wasn’t until later in the afternoon did I feel a visible shift in the mood of every TUMCSian. Everyone had their game faces on, trying to silently intimidate the other levels by sheer costume and presence alone.

            Then, the first years performed. Next to present were the sophomores then the juniors, respectively.

                Not surprisingly, whispered critiques, disdainful eye-rolls and even a few boos erupted from the audience, the opposing year levels. It’s sad that I was part of THIS audience. 

                When I heard Sir Jandy announce that it was finally the seniors’ turn to take center stage (figuratively), ask anyone and you’ll know that I was hyperventilating. It was only my second time to dance in front of my fellow TUMCSians and the fact just put me on edge about the performance. What was scarier is that there are almost ten seconds into the dance where I was made to stand in the center, partying, while everyone else takes their position. Yes, those were the most dreadful 10 seconds of the day. It’s almost funny that I completed the routine without falling, slipping or worse, ruining the whole dance number. :)

       Minutes later, the results were revealed. Every senior who participated in the modern dance was ecstatic when we found out that we were hailed champions. As expected, 
the juniors were victors in the cheer dance and ballroom competitions. And how can they not win? It was obvious from their remarkable performances that they really gave every ounce of their time and energy to wow the judges and audience alike. Now if you ask me if fairness was exhibited during the field demo, whether by the teachers, judges and students, I would have to say yes. The champions deserved their awards. No one can deny that.
             

              For the next three days, the basketball, volleyball, badminton and chess games  heat up the court as the freshmen compete with the sophomores and the juniors battle the seniors in each level's pursuit for the championship titles. But as in all battles, a winner emerges and one would always know that the loser was the one with his shoulders slumped down in defeat and with eyes downcast. However, this same loser somehow always finds a reason to say he was cheated. My question is, WHY? Why does he need to justify his loss as a consequence of his opponent’s cheating? To save face, perhaps? Or to give the audience the grounds to doubt the victory of the winner? But what if the so-called winners did contend dishonestly? 

               I see no reason for me to claim that this team cheated or that the other fought fair and square. I was merely part of the audience, you see. A half-blind spectator, in fact, for I was not wearing my glasses and without it, I could not see clearly, let alone identify a cheater from an honest player. I am not even knowledgeable in sports to see if the referee or the committee was correct in recording the scores or calling a foul.

Nevertheless, Melanie’s scraped knee, Jesie’ swollen eye, Rustic and Diorella’s sprained ankles and both IV- David and IV-Solomon’s wounded pride and shouts of “Foul ‘yun ah!?” were enough for me to believe that some were lying when they swore to vie for the championship with all honesty. So was physical prowess exhibited during these days? Definitely. Did every student have a firm grasp on competitiveness? Yes. But was fairness shown? Sadly, no. It wasn’t.

Now as for the audience who only wish to support and cheer on his favorite team, why don’t WE all just keep our mouths shut if we are completely aware that our jeers, boos and sing-song taunts are only doing more harm and damage than help? Isn’t it that we take pride in the fact that every TUMCSian has been educated and trained since childhood to act with good manners and right conduct? But judging from what I’ve seen and heard, a lot has chosen to forget their GMRC. Yes, you won, you’re now known as victors in the court, but aside from that title, do you want to be known as ill-mannered too?

 The celebration of the 26^th founding anniversary was rewarding, but challenging. It was difficult, elaborate, and complicated in so many ways, but so simple: twelve sections/teams, tens of players, three courts. I saw many of the qualities I pride my batch on: fairness and camaraderie, then focus, enthusiasm, and being a hard worker displayed during this week. Amidst everything, it brings tears to my eyes (literally) that this was my last Foundation Week in TUMCS but I know that my batch has done nothing but do our best for God’s glory.