Ramos does famous jump in UAAP opening

FORMER President Fidel Ramos took the time off from his busy schedule to grace the opening of the 75th University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) on Saturday at the state-of-the-art Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Ramos, the guest of honor of host National University (NU), also delighted the crowd with his signature jump he made 26 years ago during the Edsa People Power Revolution, which toppled the dictatorial rule of then President Ferdinand Marcos.

Wearing a blue and yellow polo shirt, the former President did the famous jump when his presence was acknowledged by NU president Nilo Ocampo to the delight of thousands of paying fans, students and alumni.

Ramos took up civil engineering at NU in 1946 but he failed to finish the degree when he went to the United States as a scholar at world-renowned West Point military academy.

Lasting for nearly an hour, this year’s opening rites was peppered with indoor fireworks display and hip-hop performances from eight member-schools.

Founded in 1938, the country’s premier collegiate league groups Adamson University, Ateneo De Manila University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, NU, University of the East, University of the Philippines and University of Santo Tomas. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)