FOR MANY years, Ateneo has constantly preached the value of magis which directly translates to “more” or “greater.” While this can be slightly misunderstood to mean quantitatively doing more, the word refers to fulfilling more than what is expected and calls for a commitment to something bigger than ourselves.
As Ateneo hosts this year’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 82, the theme “All for More” was chosen for the athletic season. The UAAP essentially challenged competing athletes and organizers alike to channel the spirit of magis and aim for achievements beyond the realm of sports.
The organizing committee set the bar long before the first buzzer sounded by redefining the very symbol of athletic success: The awards.
This season, the trophies and medals were composed of recycled plastic wrappers and metal scraps sourced from communities in Taal and Biñan as well as bullet casings collected from the aftermath of the 2017 Marawi siege. The lanyards of the medals were also woven by members of the Maranao tribe.
The incorporation of these materials was as much an external triumph as it was an internal one. By involving different Filipino communities and furthering environmentally-friendly initiatives, the UAAP extended its impact beyond athletics. Internally, representatives from every participating university pooled networks to source materials and connect various groups of people from different backgrounds.
This initiative demonstrated that the “All for More” theme was not just applied in breadth, making an impact on a range of sectors and people, but also in depth, reflected in the united front it took to execute this vision.
For people and planet
Ateneo University Athletics Office Director Emmanuel Fernandez shared that the idea was inspired by an article he read detailing Japan’s Tokyo 2020 Olympics proposal, which included retrieving materials from discarded electronics to produce medals for the Games.
“Once paglabas nun, tinawagan ko yung agency: ‘Makakahanap ba kayo sa Pilipinas na kayang gumawa niyan?’ (When I saw the article, I called the agency and asked if they could find anyone in the Philippines who could do that,)” explained Fernandez.
With a plethora of UAAP events across men’s and women’s seniors and juniors divisions, the impact of sustainably manufactured awards is far from insignificant. Upwards of 2,000 trophies and medals were made. Should these awards have been produced through conventional means, the UAAP would have missed a great opportunity to contribute to conservation efforts and set a new standard moving forward.
Using bullet shells and metal scraps from Marawi curbed the need to mine for materials. Furthermore, recycling plastic trash contributed to environmental conservation and featuring Maranao-made lanyards promoted the natives’ rich culture. Even the trophies themselves made use of repurposed wood that an Ifugao woodcarver brought to life. To accomplish this feat, Ateneo collaborated with Junk Not, an interior design company led by Wilhelmina Garcia, that develops plastic waste into fully functional and sustainable furniture.
In committing to this approach, the UAAP set an example of how fulfilling its duties as an organizing body can can be carried out through responsible social action. Ultimately, this move gave the awards a greater purpose than simply distinguishing winners from losers.
Support after the siege
Besides its impact on the environment, the awards take on a special symbolism because they were born, in part, from the aftermath of violence.
Two years ago, a five-month long armed conflict between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Maute Group ensued in Marawi City, leaving thousands dead and hundreds of thousands homeless.
The scars of the conflict and the dire situation the people of Marawi at present add weight to the repurposed bullet casings winning athletes will wear around their necks and raise in triumph. What was previously a symbol of the horrors of violence has been transformed into a symbol of solidarity.
In the UAAP Season 82 Opening Ceremony, University President Jett Villarin, SJ painted the victory of an athlete as a triumph for the initiative’s partner communities as well.
“The trophy might be yours if you win whatever competition, but you will also win this for a community in Marawi. You will win this for a community in Taal and a community in Biñan because they make your trophies,” he said.
The UAAP’s efforts to broaden its impact beyond athletics imparts two learnings: Community must come before competition and the pursuit of glory has to include more than just ourselves. “We see our rival, and we say thank you, because you will help me become a better, not just a better athlete, but a better person. So, we say ‘All,’” said Villarin.
At the end of the day, a trophy in sports is still just a trophy, but transforming the awards into a symbol of victory through cooperation amongst competitors, victory for the betterment of the environment, and a victory in spite of violence and hopelessness deepens what defines success.
As Father Jett said, “We say more, because our heart is bigger.”
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