After deans disapprove SHS return to Intrams
By Achilles Putong and Kean Bagaipo
Amid controversies surrounding the disapproval of Senior High School’s reinstatement in this year’s Intramurals, the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research (VPAAR) confirmed it had not received a copy of the resolution beforehand, affecting further communications.
VPAAR Dr. Lily Ann Bautista said on Feb. 18 that she has not been consulted “at any time” or made aware of the conditions stated on the proposed plan, resulting in it not being officially approved or discussed among administrators.
The resolution was initially passed and approved last Oct. 19, 2025 during the Student Assembly’s 8th regular session, and approved by the SUSG last Nov. 12, 2025, then forwarded to the concerned office pending its implementation.
During that time, Bautista continued to serve as the office’s academic liaison until she was officially appointed on Dec. 10, 2025.
However, Bautista said she only learned of the proposal when SU Student Government President (SUSG) Grylle Adrian Malala emailed her last Jan. 12, requesting the schedule of the deans conference to present the resolution. .
“I replied by asking him to expound as the email was not clear and also asked him if this proposal can be presented by [Athletics Department] Director Coach Dionesio Piñero [and] Dean [of Students] Edna Calingacion,” she stated.
“He replied back, clarifying that they hope to present [the resolution] to the deans; the reinstatement of the SU Senior High School,” she added.
Bautista then discussed the matter at a meeting last Jan. 13, where Piñero was instructed to coordinate with the SUSG on the matter.
“I never heard anything back from anyone, having instructed both Pres. Malala and Dr. Piñero on the next course of action, I assumed that the proposal did not push through,” she furthered.
VPAAR refutes Athletics’ claim
Meanwhile, contrary to Piñero’s claim on receiving the VPAAR’s initial decision to allow the department’s participation, Bautista said the statement did not come from her office.
“They did not reach out to my office. I sent coach [Dionesio] Piñero a private message on February 6 to inquire about this senior high posting I came upon Facebook about them joining the Intramural games,” she added.
Piñero clarified that even with the resolution, the dean’s conference will still have the final say in the decision, which SU Sports and Recreation Committee (SRC) Vice-Chairperson Adrian Remoroza deemed “impossible to happen” a week before the Intramurals.
According to Remoroza, the Athletics Department instructed them to inform SHS of the confirmation of their participation despite the absence of an official document.
“From the Athletics Department, they already told us that they can participate now. So, if there are any issues with that, the next question [being with the] other deans, I think we personally can answer that with Sir Piñero,” he said.
The SHS also released a statement last Jan. 20, affirming their reinstatement.
Deans disapprove SHS return
A deans conference was called last Feb. 10, where an 11-9 vote decision “not in favor” of the SHS’s reinstatement in the Intramurals was upheld.
According to Bautista, the conference was pre-planned and scheduled in advance, however, the SUSG noted that both parties were only informed to present on the same day.
“The SUSG-SRC were not able to see the message and come on time, leaving the SUSHS Student Council to present and were only given ‘5 minutes’ to plead on the case,” the SUSG stated.
When asked on the grounds of their disapproval, Bautista said that one of the deans raised concern on the scheduling conflict with the grade 12 finals examination.
Under the approved SHS calendar for school year 2025 to 2026, the fourth quarterly assessment was scheduled from Feb. 18 to 20 which coincides with the Intramurals week from Feb. 15 to 21.
This came despite the department and student council’s mechanisms to allow grade 12 students to play during their finals week as stipulated in the proposed resolution.
According to SHS student activities coordinator Kim Frances Carmille Ramos, they had already conducted major preparations, including practices, tryouts, merchandise, chaperones, and adjusted class schedules.
Bautista explained that if they approved, their participation would violate the University’s Student Manual, which requires student activities to be scheduled in the school calendar and prohibits activities during closed weeks.
“The calendar is an official document submitted to DepEd, to change it will require necessary approvals and university actions, [including] moving the [Intrams] calendar [by] one [more] week, which will then affect the timeline for graduation,” she furthered.
She also noted that the exclusion of Intramural games in the approved SHS school calendar already suggests that they were “not supposedly part” of it.
The Weekly Sillimanian has reached out to SHS Principal Asst. Prof. McDiery Concepcion for a comment, but he refused, stating he has “decided to move on” from the issue.
tWS has also reached out to the SHS Student Council to confirm other information, but has yet to respond as of writing.
