NEWS

The "Rambulan 5.0 Committee" (L-R): Jan Yumul, founding president, the University of Santo Tomas Alumni Association Hong Kong Chapter; Jaerey Velasco, president of One La Salle Hong Kong; Joms Ortega of ADMU; Gary Flores, Treasurer, One La Salle Hong Kong; and Maritess Turingan, President of the University of the Philippines Alumni Association Hong Kong

21st June 2024, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong - More than 70 alumni from the University Athletic Association of the Philippines-member schools and friends, collectively welcomed the revival of the popular family-friendly, fun-and-games event "Rambulan: UAAP sa Hong Kong", which is scheduled to take place this November.

The official announcement was made at the "Rambulan Mixer" held at Enoteca in Quarry Bay on June 21 as part of the preparations for the autumn games with Repulse Bay Beach as the chosen venue this Nov 9 from 9 a.m. onwards and will be open to all UAAP-member schools and friends.

The much-awaited event, now on its 5th edition, will be returning with a Filipino street games theme, dubbed: "Rambulan: UAAP Baranggayan sa HK", inspired by barangay fiestas in the Philippines. Previous Rambulan events organised between 2014 and 2017 were held at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park, and the Repulse Bay Beach.

The mixer was jointly organised by Hong Kong-based alumni representatives from the University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University and the University of Santo Tomas (known as the "Rambulan 5.0 Committee").

Alumni from the Batangas State University, Bicol University, University of Asia and the Pacific, Technological Institute of the Philippines - Quezon City, Mapúa University, and the University of the East were also present at the mixer.

It was the first Rambulan-related gathering of such scale following the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Government's scrapping of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and a committee meeting held at 42nd Davis in Kennedy Town on April 4.

"I am happy to see enthusiasm among overseas Filipino alumni of our top Philippine universities in coming together and staging a unique event in Hong Kong that combines things that us, Filipinos, value the most while we're abroad namely: family, community, culture, and the spirit of healthy competition," said Vice Consul Allan Revote, head of the Consulate's Cultural and Economic Sections and who was among the guests on June 21.

He was also joined by Vice Consul Jose Angelo Manuel and Cultural Attaché Chariza Paras.

The mixer also included a Pinoy-themed quiz game where alumni and guests grouped themselves into animals endemic to the Philippines. The Kalabaw Group" emerged as the lucky winners of scented candles worth $150 each from eco-friendly and Filipino-owned candle shop, Blomstre.

The "Rambulan: UAAP Baranggayan sa Hong Kong" will feature nine games, namely: "Tipanic", a filipino twist on the classic "The Boat is Sinking" as an ice breaker; "Tono Henyo" (Name That Tune); "Third PAArteh" (Three-legged Race); "Hula Hoop Relay Loop"; "Isang Bucket Ka Lang" (Fill the Bucket Water Game); "Hugot Buntot" (Catch the Dragon's Tail); "Putukin Mo Ang Lobo Ko" (Balloon Pop Games); "RamPak!" (A best sustainable dress pageant); and the UAAP 5.0 Cheer Dance Competition.

The Rambulan 5.0 Committee comprises of Maritess Turingan, president of University of the Philippine Alumni Association Hong Kong ; Jaerey Velasco, president of One La Salle Hong Kong; Gary Flores, Treasurer, One La Salle Hong Kong; Joms Ortega of ADMU; and Jan Yumul, founding president of the University of Santo Tomas Alumni Association Hong Kong Chapter.

The committee plans to hold another pre-game mixer, on a date to be announced.

The UAAP was formally established as a permanent sports association in 1938. Apart from UST and UP, its other first members are National University (NU), and Far Eastern University (FEU). Today, it has eight members, including the University of the East (UE), Adamson University, ADMU. The DLSU as the last to be admitted to the league in 1986.

Sponsorship/ Media Enquiries

• UPAAHK: https://www.facebook.com/UPAAHK
• 1LSHK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DLSAAHK 
  
• ADMU: https://www.facebook.com/groups/645566272164592/?ref=share&mibextid=qtnXGe
  
• USTAAHK: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ustaahk