Silliman University (SU) and Southville International School and Colleges (SISC) opened a historic chapter in their shared commitment to sportsmanship, values, and community with the first-ever Founders Day Dual Meet, held at the SU Gym on Monday, August 18, 2025, as part of the university’s 124th Founders Day celebration.
The opening program featured an inspirational message by Dr. Mae Brigitt Bernadel Villordon, Assistant to the President for Institutional Affairs, who emphasized that the event was more than just a competition.
“Today, we gather not only for a sporting event, but for a celebration of unity, discipline, and shared values. This meet is more than a competition, it is a testament to commitment and perseverance,” Villordon said.
She noted that the meet bridges not only the distance between Dumaguete and Las Piñas, but also the mission of both institutions in developing young leaders who will make a difference in the world.

𝘼 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧

The schedule of games, running from August 18 to 19, includes basketball, volleyball, and football matches for both men and women.
SU Athletics Director Dr. Dionesio V. Piñero II formally declared the opening of the dual meet, underscoring its role in continuing a rich tradition of athletic exchanges that dates back to 1913, when Silliman hosted Cebu’s baseball team.
In her speech, Villordon also highlighted the broader purpose of athletics at Silliman: “The court is more than a space to play; it is a proving ground of character. It teaches us to rise after every fall, to strategize under pressure, to respect opponents, and to give our all regardless of the score. True greatness is shown in humility, fairness, and the willingness to lift others up.”

𝘾𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨

The partnership with Southville signals a revival of the dual meet tradition with a fellow institution that shares Silliman’s ethos of whole-person education and Christian values. Villordon closed her message with a call for the athletes to embrace not only the games but the lessons they bring. “Play well, play fair, and let the light of both Silliman and Southville shine in every move you make. May this first Founders Day Dual Meet be the start of a lasting tradition of fellowship, growth, and shared victories,” she said.

𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚

Following the ceremonies, the much-anticipated opening basketball match unfolded. Silliman led the first quarter, but Southville gradually took control with the combined strength of Riley Smith and Dwayne Martin Cabrera. The Monarchs sealed the win at 73–60 against the Silliman Stallions.
With the opening day concluded, the dual meet is set to showcase not just competition, but camaraderie, resilience, and the spirit of excellence that binds both institutions together.
Southville holds deep ties to Silliman. Its founder, Dr. Genevieve V. Ledesma-Laurel, is an alumna of SU, while two of its presidents, including the current President Dr. Jocelyn P. Tizon, are also Sillimanians.

(𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘔𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘑𝘰𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘢 𝘈𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘢; 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘳. 𝘔𝘢𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘵𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘓. 𝘝𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘰𝘯)