WHAT happens when it rains over in España?
It pours, and most times, it floods.
READ: Host UST defends home court vs reigning champ UP in UAAP Season 88 opener
University of Santo Tomas pledged its readiness to deal with inclement weather conditions once UAAP Season 88 goes underway in September, a time usually known for more frequent rains.
As Rev. Fr. Rodel Cansancio, O.P. said in jest: “Hindi kumpleto experience niyo sa UST kung walang ulan o bagyo. Kasama ‘yun sa Thomasian experience.”
But for the opening ceremony proper at UST on Sep. 19, set to take place at the school grandstand’s open field, the severity of rain will determine whether the evening festivities featuring performances, fireworks and drone shows will push through.
“Isa sa mga major considerations ng committee when we were planning for the opening program, dahil September na nga yan at panahon na yan ng rainy season with La Nina expected to develop, isang firm decision na ginawa ng committee ay tuloy ang opening ceremony kung ordinaryong ulan lang,” said Fr. Christopher Jeffrey Aytona, UST director of communications.
“Of course, hindi naman ‘yung delubyo kasi wala talagang Plan B.”
Should torrential rains occur, UST and the UAAP will be forced to decide on-the-spot to postpone the ceremonies.
“Ang Plan B, just in case hindi talaga kakayanin, it will be moved on the next Monday. Sept. 19 is a Friday, so ‘yung Monday na susunod, that will be the rescheduled opening ceremony,” Aytona said.
“In case of heavy rains, we will reschedule the opening on Sep. 22, 2025. Now, kung talagang bumagyo at tuloy-tuloy yung ulan, we will find another time to hold the opening of the UAAP,” Cansancio added.
“We really prepared an outdoor opening program and we really want it diyan sa grandstand, sa open field.”
Similar weather-related contingency measures will be in place for the UAAP Season 88 basketball tournament matches, some of which to be played at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.
Rain or shine, UST is set to defend home court to begin its Season 88 campaign against defending champion University of the Philippines in men's basketball.
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