Glory and gore

EYES WIDE OPEN

- IRIS GONZALES

Somewhere between Roxas Boulevard in Manila and the University of the Philippines Diliman campus in Quezon City, a giddy feeling came over me. All of a sudden, I had a hunch – UP would be champions again that night. I had that same feeling in Season 84. I felt it, so I drove just a bit faster to make sure I’d make it in time before the buzzer sounded.

It was game night, and I was on my way to the viewing party at the University Hotel to watch the UAAP finals between the UP Fighting Maroons and the De La Salle Green Archers. I came from a dinner Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr. hosted for former banking reporters. The dinner was done by 7 p.m. because he had to head off somewhere. Perhaps the former UP School of Economics professor was going to watch the game, too? I didn’t know for sure.

Gore

At the University Hotel, I could hear the wild cheers of the UP faithful even before I could reach the parking lot. A former colleague saw me as I rushed to the event and excitedly shared that we were leading with a few minutes left in the game.

UP was going to be champions again. Everyone was feeling it already, at least at that moment that night under the bright stars of the Diliman sky. I stood there watching and felt it too.