Eight years after its last hosting of Mindanao’s biggest sports event and after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Province of Davao Oriental, particularly the City of Mati, once again took the challenge of hosting this year’s prestigious Mindanao Association of State Tertiary Schools (MASTS) Sports and Socio-Cultural Competitions 2022.

On Thursday, November 10, 2022, the three-day sports competition was officially opened with a grand ceremony held at the Davao Oriental State University (DORSU) grounds.

With faces marked with excitement, more than 5,000 delegates from all over Mindanao who are expected to vie in different sports events filled the DORSU grounds during last night’s grand opening.

Dr. Roy Ponce, President of the host University DORSU warmly welcomed the delegates from 28 different participating universities and state colleges.

In his message, he took time to thank the provincial government of Davao Oriental and the city government of Mati for making the hosting of the MASTS 2022 possible amidst the challenges in the preparation, particularly concerns involving the billeting of delegates.

Dr. Ponce said that after several months of preparing for the event, the supposed to be billeting quarters turned out unavailable due to a national directive which resulted in the lack of accommodation.

Addressing the issue, both the city and provincial government doubled their financial support to accommodate the participants. With only less than a week to prepare, the hosts quickly decided to split the events into two segments. The Culture and Arts Competitions were held on November 5-8 while the Sports Competition has been slated on November 10-13.

Mati City Mayor Michelle Rabat said it was the spirit of resiliency and convergence that helped address the challenge. “Iba tayo sa MIndanao … we collaborate and cooperate.”

MASTS President Nelson P. Cabral expressed his gratitude to the DORSU, the City Government of Mati, and the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental taking the challenge of hosting this year’s MASTS.

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗼 𝗢𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹

For her part, Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, who was the keynote speaker during the opening ceremony thanked the MASTS organizers for choosing the province to host this year’s friendship games and for allowing Davao Oriental to the MASTS organizational goal of advancing solidarity, camaraderie, and sportsmanship.

Gov. Malanyaon also expressed her gratitude as this is the perfect time to showcase the beauty of Davao Oriental to guests and visitors. “This is a rare opportunity that not every province in Mindanao could grab.”

“Here in our province, you experience not the glitters of the city but the amazing and unique beauty of nature. Leave nothing but lasting memories! Let memories light every corner of your minds,” she said.

“For Davao Oriental, these sporting events and socio-cultural activities will further boost our tourism industry and provide deeper meaning to our slogan “Davao Oriental, Beautiful,” and signify the strongest affirmation to the achieved peace and security of the province.” By Karen Lou Deloso | Photos by Mark Oliver Alvite