Salingkusog 2026 | Message from the Guest of Honor

To our University President, Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes; our Vice Presidents; our Faculty Regent and Student Regent; the Director of the Sports Development Office; the Head of the Institute of Human Kinetics; the President of the Administrative Personnel Association; the University Supreme Student Council-Baybay; our faculty and staff, coaches, and meet officials; my fellow student-athletes, the entire VSU community, and the friends of the university, good afternoon!

Honestly, standing here in front of all of you is a little nerve-racking. I'm more used to competing in front of people than speaking in front of them, so please bear with me.

When I was invited to speak here today, I wasn't really sure what to say. I mean, what could I possibly tell you that you haven't already heard before?

We've all heard people say things like "work hard," "believe in yourself," and "never give up." And while those things are true, I think there's a lot more to the story than that.

As a student-athlete, I've learned that things don't always go the way we want them to.

There are days when training feels great, when everything seems to be going according to plan. But there are also days when no matter how hard you try, things just don't work out.

And I think that's something we can all relate to, whether you're an athlete or not.

Sometimes, you study so hard for an exam, only to get a score you weren't expecting. Sometimes, you put everything you have into something, and it still doesn't turn out the way you hoped.

I've had my share of those moments too.

But one thing I've come to realize is that failing at something doesn't necessarily mean you're not good enough. Sometimes, it just means you still have something to learn.

In modern pentathlon, one bad event doesn't end your day. You still have the next one, and the one after that.

And that's okay.

Because if there's one thing sports has taught me, it's that progress isn't always something you can see immediately.

Sometimes, progress is simply showing up for training even when you're tired. Sometimes, it's choosing to try again after a disappointing performance. And sometimes, it's just making it through a difficult day.

Being a student-athlete has also taught me how difficult it can be to balance responsibilities.

There are classes to attend, assignments to finish, exams to prepare for, and training sessions to complete. And somehow, we're expected to find time to sleep in between all of that.

But despite everything, I wouldn't trade those experiences away, because they've helped me grow not just as an athlete, but also as a person.

And that's something I want to share with everyone here today.

Whether you're competing in this year's intramurals, supporting your friends, or simply enjoying the event, I hope you remember that you don't always have to be the best at something for it to be worth doing.

Not everyone here will win a medal. Not everyone will become a champion. But that doesn't mean your effort means any less.

Sometimes, the most meaningful victories are the ones that nobody else sees.

Like finally understanding a lesson you've been struggling with, improving at something you once thought you couldn't do, or simply finding the courage to try something new.

And to my fellow student-athletes, I hope you enjoy every moment of this year's intramurals.

Compete with everything you've got, respect your opponents, and most importantly, don't forget to have fun.

Because years from now, you might not remember every score or every result, but you'll remember the people you met, the friendships you made, and the experiences you shared.

Before I end, I'd like to leave you with a simple reminder, something I've been thinking about for a while: "There's no shame in failing, only in giving up."

So don't be afraid to try, don't be afraid to make mistakes, and don't let one bad experience stop you from pursuing something that matters to you.

And with that, I wish everyone a successful and memorable Sálingkusóg 2026.

Thank you, everyone, and good luck to all the participants!

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