November 15, 2024
by Althea Nicole N. Leoncito
Athletes often undergo months of rigorous training to prepare for a one-time tournament or competition. But what about the individuals behind the scenes who orchestrate the entire event? These unsung heroes, often working tirelessly in the shadows, are the driving force behind every successful sporting spectacle, concert, or festival. Success, after all, is not solely determined by the athletes on the field or the performers on stage but is also a product of the tireless efforts and planning of those working behind the scenes.
The Supreme Student Council (SSC): a familiar fixture in nearly every educational institution. Often seen as the bridge between students and administration, the SSC is uniquely positioned within the school ecosystem. Today’s SSCs are dynamic bodies that actively shape the student experience. What is a voice if not to advocate the needs and concerns of the community? It is about aptitude and not superficiality.
Speaking of talent, the Asian International School of Aeronautics and Technology (AISAT) recently celebrated its 13th founding anniversary with the Aerolympics, a unique event that integrates the school’s annual intramurals and music festival, AISATunggalian and Pasundayag. With the theme “Chase the beat, Conquer the Game”, it showcased the diverse passions of AISAT students in a week-long extravaganza. This year’s event started with a spectacular opening ceremony featuring a torch-lighting ceremony, a parade of creative costumes and mascots, and an inspiring inaugural address by Atty. Myra Ann Wee Toe-Hio.
Yes, the canters and gallops are high in action, but it is not a steeplechase without the barriers. Running for the torch is not without its darkness.
Months before the first whistle blows, the SSC is hard at work planning every aspect of the new intramurals. This year’s Aerolympics was a five-day event planned to ensure a diverse and engaging experience for all participants. Day 1 focused on the opening ceremony, with activities like a team parade, mascot reveal, and dance competition. Day 2 was dedicated to “Pre-games,” including badminton, E-games (Valorant and Tekken), and bowling. Day 3 featured major and minor events, such as volleyball, chess, scrabble, and a motor show. Day 4 was the “Championship” day, with finals for volleyball, basketball, table tennis, and parlor games. Finally, Day 5 concluded the event with a “Music Fest” and an awarding ceremony.
Unlike the previous three-day intramurals, Aerolympics took a lot of time, with the SSC needing to ensure it ran smoothly for five days. They had to coordinate not just the sporting events but also the music festival, which involved a wider range of activities and participants, which meant managing more resources, including equipment, venues, and personnel, thereby adding more complexity to logistics, scheduling, and communication. Moreover, it was observed that staging the beauty pageant, the Mr. and Ms. AISAT Ambassador and Ambassadress of 2024, was difficult due to the limited space within the school gym. Nonetheless, this constraint took careful planning of the stage setup, seating arrangements, and flow of the pageant to maximize the available area and create a visually appealing experience for the audience.
“As the SSC President and the overall in charge, I was very involved in preparing for the intramurals, especially in planning and managing the event with Maam Camelle as the event organizer,” says Clint.
The SSC President, Clint Plaza, emphasized the importance of teamwork and organization in planning. “My role as SSC President,” he explains, “is to guide the overall planning process through setting clear goals and ensuring everyone stays organized.” Dioneen Mariel Aguilar, the External Vice President, played promotions, logistics, and management, handling sponsorships, vendor concerns, and multiple events. She emphasized a collaborative approach, “In assisting my co-student council, I was not assigned to any sport. But I gave my time helping them and taking their spot if they had other matters to finish. We ask each other if they need help, and if they do, we would automatically lend a hand. So that the flow of our event will be smooth.” Similarly, the Internal VP, Melisse Geisha D., managed logistics, including procuring necessary materials and organizing booth vendors.
Clarence Mk Andrae C., as Secretary, played a crucial role in procuring materials and maintaining records. The AVM Representative, Fynnes Chloe C. Tatel, created promotional materials and managed social media engagement. At the same time, Helgeorose R. Villacampa, the 3rd Year Representative, focused on documenting the event through photography and videography and Vince Luiz Antonio P., the 1st Year Representative, was responsible for managing five or more tournaments and competitions.
All’s well that ends well.