This speech was delivered by Noli Ayo during the Varsity Night Out of the Ateneo de Naga University on May 24, 2025, at the Avenue Square Hotel in Naga City. First published by the author in Medium.com, May 27, 2025.
We are the caretakers. Our role is fleeting. We have a shelf life. Do what is best while you are here.
Tayo ay ang mga tagapangalaga at tagapag hubog. Mabilis lang ito. Tayo ay may hangganan. Gawin ang dapat habang ang panahon ay atin.
The Varsity Night Out started in 2005. This makes 2025 our 20th year of doing it. I remember the first one — the first four editions were in restaurants and places that are no longer operating today — the one in Balatas Road, the one that used to occupy the space beside Starbucks, Lolo’s Bar in Avenue, and the restaurant inside the Basilica compound that is partly owned by the family of Coach Jec.
It was in our 5th edition of VNO that we decided to make it more formal — coat and tie. It was by accident. It was not part of the plan. However, during the 4th VNO, a few of our players showed up wearing coats. They looked better. And in our basketball program, “better” is better.
You dress like this tonight, men and ladies, because it is what’s better. Thank you for looking good.
Tonight, we celebrate our 19th VNO. Look at that.
As far as I remember, I decided to hold the first VNO to pay tribute to the graduating seniors. Back then, we had one notable “kuya” exiting the program — Mr. Jonathan Cruz, or JR. The first VNO was my way of thanking him and for the belief he gave to me and my coaching philosophy.
JR helped me set the foundation of the Values before Skills culture. Back then it was very vague and unclear — we just wanted to do things on and off the court. Things that we can be proud of. He was also instrumental in being a big brother to Julius Vargas, Joshua Tisoy and Jan Bequillo during their freshman year. Vargas, Tisoy and Bequillo are the numbers 5, 11 and 15 that is now “silently retired” by our program.
I am proud to see this program going forward and wiser through the years. You have discovered better ways of doing things. That I am very proud of. Feel free to evolve. Embrace change. Do this as long as you adhere to the main reason why our program exists — to make better men through the game of basketball. Do what is right not just what is easy.
This year, we celebrate our 19th edition of the Varsity Night Out. So much has changed but the essence of the event remains — that it will be a night of thanksgiving and a night of remembering well. As we say thanks to our graduating seniors, our coaches, teammates and school administrators tonight, allow me to share with some information I can still recall from my memory that is also now being clouded due to time and age.
We are the caretakers. Our role is fleeting. We have a shelf life. Do what is best while you are here.
Tayo ay ang mga tagapangalaga at tagapag hubog. Mabilis lang ito. Tayo ay may hangganan. Gawin ang dapat habang ang panahon ay atin.
Our basketball program has been blessed with people who, during their time with us, made the program better because of their presence. Aside from this generation of coaches and staff, I remember with fondness some of those whom I had the chance to work with during my ten years as head coach:
- Bong Chancoco — Assistant Coach
- Benhz Quilang — Assistant Coach
- Gabriel Joseph Catolico — Assistant Coach
- Dave Salvador — Assistant Coach
- Noli Obed — Student Manager
- Michael Dela Paz — Student Manager
- Kenshee Orozco — Student Manager
- James Hortillas — Student Manager
- Poy San Valentin, Jerome Albrando, Mik Cargullo (Founders of the Cavalry)
- Jogee De Leon — Assistant Coach
- Paeng Bonafe — Academic Coach
- Oskee Nuñez — Student Manager
The names I mentioned are only some of the many whose time with us made the Ateneo Basketball Program what it is right now. In a few years, your presence today will also be measured and felt — hopefully by then, your moments now will make an impact.
In this generation of coaches and mentors, I would like to specially thank Thad Torraldo and Don Razon for exemplifying what generous service we can give to these young student athletes under our care.
Golden Knights, you are blessed with coaches and mentors whose hearts are in the right place, listen to them and learn from them. And in the future, I hope you consider walking the same path they are taking now — be coaches too. If not for Ateneo, for a school in the community where your basketball journey began.
We are the caretakers. Our role is fleeting. We have a shelf life. Do what is best while you are here.
Tayo ay ang mga tagapangalaga at tagapag hubog. Mabilis lang ito. Tayo ay may hangganan. Gawin ang dapat habang ang panahon ay atin.
In 2007, after winning our 2nd straight intercollegiate championship, I invited the then university president, Fr. Joel E. Tabora, to join us for the victory dinner in Molino Grill along Magsaysay. It was a night of euphoria, joy and celebration. It was rare for us to win championships then, more so, a back-to-back.
During the dinner, Fr. Joel was impressed and inspired by the stories he heard of the lives of the student-athletes of that team that before the night ended, before I walked him to his car, he asked me — “How can I help?” I answered him with two things — provide our athletes with scholarships and to fix the then poor state of our university gym.
Now, that scholarship continues and the gym has a brand-new flooring. Yesterday, when I accompanied my son, Anton, to see the Ateneo campus, I saw the new flooring in the gym. Fr. Ari, thank you for making it possible. You are supporting not only a basketball team, you are enriching a program that helps create a better culture in Ateneo and in Bicol.
We have gone a long way; however, we still have a long way to go. Continue setting standards in sports. Continue discovering better ways to do things on and off the court. Remember to always see things beyond basketball.
We are the caretakers. Our role is fleeting. We have a shelf life. Do what is best while you are here.
Tayo ay ang mga tagapangalaga at tagapag hubog. Mabilis lang ito. Tayo ay may hangganan. Gawin ang dapat habang ang panahon ay atin.
Continue to setting standards that elevate how sports can and should be done. Be better ambassadors of the game. Be an inspiration to others.
And when the time comes, help the program the way it has helped you today.
We are caretakers. Our role is fleeting. We have a shelf life. Do what is best while you are here.
Tayo ay tagapangalaga at tagapag hubog. Mabilis lang ito. Tayo ay may hangganan. Gawin ang dapat habang ang panahon ay atin.
The header image shows the author and his son Anton (to his right) proudly posing with VNO 19 which included the College Men’s and Women’s Basketball and the High School Basketball Team of ADNU.
Watch Video
Learn more about the Ateneo de Naga Basketball Program through this 18-minute film made by Mr. Jerome Albrando, one of the founders of the ADNU Golden Cavalry.
Click link/image to view the video.
About the author
A hopeful visionary and an inspiring storyteller, Coach Noli Ayo is a believer that sports, if placed in hands of the right people, has the power to change the world. He is a published writer through the books Winning Still and The Mindanao Peace Games. A leading figure in Philippine sports, he is the founder and convener of the Mindanao Peace Games, Assistant to the President for Sports and Development of the Lyceum of the Philippines University in its Davao, Batangas, and Laguna campuses, and the Mindanao Coordinator of the Philippine Sports Commission.
Emmanuel Rene “Noli” S. Ayo is the eldest child of two Ateneo De Naga alumni – Ramon Nonito Ayo (ADNU HS 1974) and Asela San Andres (ADNU College 1982).