By Lou Ellen L. Antonio
ILIGAN CITY (PIA) — More than a thousand student-athletes from 11 local colleges and universities across Northern Mindanao competed in the Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU) Games 2025, held from April 28 to May 2 at the Mindanao Civic Center Grandstand in Tubod, Lanao del Norte.
This regional sporting event brought together young athletes to showcase their skills in a variety of sports, including basketball, volleyball, badminton, sepak takraw, arnis, and chess. A socio-cultural segment featuring dance contests and performances also added a vibrant touch to the festivities, providing participants an opportunity to display their talents beyond the sports arena.
For many athletes, such as Aaron Joseph R. Sarque, a second-year Criminology student from Colegio de Kapatagan in Lanao del Norte, the ALCU Games represented more than just a competition. Sarque, a basketball enthusiast since childhood, saw the event as an opportunity to push his limits and pursue a lifelong dream.
“Na-learn nako nga kinahanglan na mu-trust sa process aron makuha nimo ang imong mga pangandoy,” Sarque said.
(I’ve learned that you need to trust the process to achieve your dreams.)
Participating in the ALCU Games allowed Sarque to experience firsthand the discipline, teamwork, and resilience essential to competitive sports.
Jipce Queen B. Collantes, a chess player from Don Carlos Polytechnic College in Bukidnon, has made a name for herself in the sport. Having started playing chess in elementary school under the guidance of her father, Collantes has competed in the ALCU Region 10 Games since her first year. Now in her third year, she remains undefeated in the chess division of the event.
“Akong sport is chess. Nag-start ko’g chess since elementary gitudluan ko sa akong papa and na-enhance ra sa high shcool, naa ko’y coach,” she said.
(My sport is chess. I started playing chess in elementary school, taught by my father, and my skills were enhanced in high school, where I had a coach.)
For Collantes, chess isn’t just a competition but a reflection of the strategic thinking and focus that sports require. Her journey in the ALCU Games is one of continuous growth and perseverance.
Sanctioned by the Commission on Higher Education, the ALCU Region 10 Games not only aim to hone the skills of student-athletes in their respective sports but also foster leadership, discipline, and personal growth. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
