By Joaquin Luis E. Quesada and Trisha Marie L. Abuyan

The Far Eastern University (FEU) officially presented the Sports Hall of Fame (HOF) Room last September 21 via Zoom Conference, which featured the 43 FEU Sports Hall of Famers and the memorabilia from the greatest athletes and moments of their stay in the university. The HOF room is located on the first floor of the Admissions building.

The FEU Publications also launched the second book of Prof. Ed Garcia entitled “Volleyball Diaries” – it contains Sir Ed’s journals of the Lady Tamaraws from University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) seasons 78-81.

Honoring the Greats

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held by FEU’s President Dr Michael Alba, Senior Vice President for Corporate Affairs Atty. Gianna Montinola, Athletics Director Mark Molina, and Alumni Relations Office Director Celmer Santos to officially open the Sports HOF Room.

FEU has been known for producing athletes that compete in international and local competitions. The 43 athletes who were inducted into the FEU Sports HOF brought glory in Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, Chess, Football, Gymnastics, Softball, Tennis, and Weightlifting.

FEU Board Representative in the UAAP, Anton Montinola, said that the Sports HOF Room serves as a “tribute to all our past and present FEU athletes.” 

He then added, “we have produced Olympians [and] champions in all levels of international sports, as well as in the UAAP.”  

Multiple former FEU athletes donated their awards and trophies for the HOF Room, like Johnny Abarientos’ 1996 Philippine Basketball Association’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy and his 1991 UAAP MVP award. Also, Rachel Anne Daquis’ framed jersey that was given to her by Shakeys V-League back in 2015, and her 2014 MVP award from the same league were added to the collection.

The FEU Sports HOF started back in 2008 but it did not have a place to celebrate the achievements of the past FEU athletes.

“This Sports Hall of Fame Room will be our permanent venue to honor and remember all the FEU athletes who have brought great honor to our university,” Montinola said.

Sharing the Diaries

Alongside the unveiling of HOF Room, FEU launched “Volleyball Diaries” by Prof. Ed Garcia which highlights the hardships and learnings of the Lady Tamaraws in Season 78-81. 

According to FEU Publications Manager Lance Caperal, the book features the life lessons of the Lady Tamaraws from their unfortunate run towards the championship. 

“Learn to draw courage out of defeat. This is what struck me the most after reading the volleyball diaries… Defeats and loss like history have their lessons.  Most importantly, I think it leads [to] hope we should never forget. We can embrace our own defeat and still emerge as champions. This is what volleyball diaries is all about,” Caperal said. 

Garcia is honored to witness the journey of FEU student-athletes in his post-retirement and mentioned his gratitude to all the people who made the publication possible. 

“In sports and in life one of the most difficult things to do is to bounce back after a defeat… As we often said in the dugout after a defeat, “defeat is often a better teacher than victory.” It helps to build character,” Garcia said. 

This is the second book written by Garcia following the “Dugout Diaries: The Championship Run,” which featured the men’s basketball team championship run back in 2015. 

(Photo courtesy of FEU Publications)