IRIGA CITY -– Bannering the theme, “Criminology Education: Responding to Quality and Excellence Through Formative Campus Activities” twelve different schools in the Bicol Region attended the three day 9th Regional Inter-Criminology Schools Sports and Academic Competition at the campus of the University of Northeastern Philippines last January 30 – February 1, 2008.

        Hosted by UNEP, schools offering Criminology courses from as far away as the island province of Masbate, and four other contiguous provinces in Bicol sent their delegates to a friendly physical and mental competition with their counter parts in each of the represented schools.

        Joining the 9th annual activity and the 2nd hosting for UNEP were the Bicol College of Daraga, Albay, Naga College Foundation from Naga City, Pili Capital College of San Isidro, Pili, Our Lady of Lourdes College Education, Daet, Camarines Norte, Solis Institute of Technology, Bulan, Sorsogon, Osmeña College, Masbate City, Camarines Sur State Agricultural College, Sipocot Campus, Sipocot, Alfelor Senior Memorial College of Del Gallego, Camarines Sur, Ceguera Technological College, Iriga City, the host school UNEP and University of Saint Anthony of Iriga City.

        Day 1 was opened with a mass at the UNEP Campus followed by a parade around the city proper of Iriga with all the participating delegation in attendance.

        The opening program was attended by Dr. Dominador P. Peralta Jr., Regional Director for CHED Region 5 and other University officials of UNEP. Delicia R. Alfelor-Tibi, VP for Finance and Dr. Eleanor A. Osea, VP for Academics raised the UNEP color followed by the raising of school banners by the respective Deans and Heads of all participating schools.

        After the welcome message of UNEP president, Atty. Remelisa G. Alfelor-Moraleda, spotlight was focused on Reymund C. Apon who led in the lighting of the friendship flame together with the Council of Deans. Reymund is a third placer in the regional elimination of the 2007 Milo Marathon and a BS Criminology student of the university.

        The games begun after the ceremonial toss by Dr. Dominador Peralta Jr. and Dean Augusting Z. Camo, of the University of Saint Anthony in Iriga City and President of the Council of Deans for CJE (Criminology) Region 5. The day ended with a Criminology Fellowship Night featuring a Vocal Solo Contest.

        Other than the academic contest (“Tagisan ng Talino”), ball games like basketball for men and women, track events, Taekwondo and Target Shooting were also featured in the three day meet where many of the competing teams earned their respective laurels.

        The overall championship for basketball men were shared by virtue of a tie between Naga College Foundation and Osmeña College.

        Basketball Women was a solo glory for NCF.

        For the track events both UNEP and NCF of Naga City each earned 5 championship awards.

        For target shooting, UNEP held its ground but the female category was won by a sharpshooter of Camu College Inc.

        The Taekwondo Martial Arts competition was hotly contested by the participants of all schools with USANT getting the gold for Seniors Finweight and Welterweight (men), UNEP for the Flyweight, Middleweight (men) and Bantamweight for women.

        Bicol College took the bantamweight, featherweight and heavyweight for men and the featherweight category for women. CSSAC got the Featherweight for men, CCI for Finweight (women) and SIT for Middle/Heavyweight (women).

        The academic contest was a tie between CSSAC Sipocot Campus and Ceguera Polytechnic College of Iriga City.

        This year’s competition had the biggest number of participating schools and individual participants attending. Dean Donald D. Narra of UNEP who engineered the very successful interaction of criminologists expressed optimism that next year’s event will not only equal but exceed this 2008 achievement for UNEP as the host school.