The 31st season of the Negros Occidental Private Schools Sports Cultural Educational Association Meet opens tomorrow at the University of St. La Salle Coliseum in ceremonies that will feature sporting and cultural talents from NOPSSCEA member – schools.

Themed, “One@31”, this year’s competitions will underscore the common vision among the member-institutions to advocate for quality education among young Negrenses, advance cultural promotion and champion excellence in sports, NOPSSCEA president Dr. Rosario de Guzman said.

To keynote tomorrow’s opening rites is former local hardcourt standout Teodorico “Boyet” Fernandez, who donned the Colegio de San Agustin colors during his college years.

Fernandez, current head coach of NLEX Road Warriors in the Philippine Basketball Association, had a sterling career in the PBA, transforming himself from a provincial-based varsity player to a national athlete and to a professional cager.

Tapped to join the national team, he was able to represent the country in numerous SEA Games stagings and international age-group events.

“Fernandez is one of NOPSSCEA’s shining ambassadors to the national sporting arena. He best exemplifies what our association advocates and stands for — excellence,” De Guzman said.

She added that Fernandez did not only excel in the hardcourt but also in the academics as passed the nursing licensure board after completing his B.S. in Nursing studies at the CSA-B.

De Guzman also reminded the different NOPSSCEA contingents to assemble by 1 p.m. at  St. John’s Institute with the parade going to St. La Salle starting at 1:30 p.m.

Leading the doxology and the singing of the Philippine national anthem is the La Consolacion College Bacolod Chorale, to be followed by the NOPSSCEA theme, welcome address by Dr. de Guzman, and greetings via audio visual presentation by Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.

The NOPSSCEA president will award a plaque of recognition to Fernandez with Fr. James Bumangabang, OAR, association vice president and concurrent chair of the Committee on Culture, assisting.

Also highlighting the opening rites are the hoisting of the NOPSSCEA banner  to be led by De Guzman with the Board of Trustees; aerial dance presentation by St. La Salle students; lighting of torch, Mary Anthony Diesto, athletics gold medallist in the recent PSC-POC National Games; oath of sportsmanship, Giselle Tan, member of the USLS-IS volleyball squad that won the 2011 Palarong Pambansa crown;  the official declaration of the opening of the 31st Season, cheerleading and awarding of prizes of the drumbeating competition.

Hosting this year’s NOPSSCEA opening event is Mark Christopher Duenas of USLS.*

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