The torch burns with a blazing ember and the stage has now been set in fiery motion. Salingkusog 2025 has finally been put into play after several pauses. The factions are now pulling out their best cards, all with the same goal — domination. Yet despite intense competition and the sheer drive to conquer, the very essence of the Salingkusog games remains the same. Here to remind us of that is a lineup of star players and noteworthy characters in this year’s Salingkusog episode. Leading the light this Salingkusog are Gian John Lucino, Niña Joy Pacabis, Ana Mae Albesa, Xander Johanne Canin, and Jessely Reyan Roman — torchbearers and forerunners in igniting the flame.
Gian Lucino: Ace of the Game
Gian Lucino, a sophomore BS Agribusiness (BSAB) student, is the first among five in this year’s lineup of torch bearers, with tennis as his sport. His dedication and discipline earned him a triumphant gold in the 2023 Regional SCUAA (State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association) and an impressive silver in 2024 National SCUAA.
At just four years old, he was already introduced to tennis by his older brothers. Trained consistently from a young age, tennis became more than a habit; for Gian, it became the sport meant for him. As a torch bearer for this year’s Salingkusog, he feels both pride and responsibility. For him, carrying the torch is more than recognition; it is a way to give back and motivate others to pursue their dreams. Inspired by those who have supported him, he credits his achievements to his family, friends, idols, fans, and most especially God, as well as his own determination. Their encouragement fuels his perseverance and serves as his motivation to continue training, improving, and in turn, inspire other athletes.
Niña Joy Pacabis:Striking Gold Thrice in a Row
Junior BS in Agribusiness student, Ms. Pacabis is second in line to receive the torch after Mr. Lucino. As a back-to-back champion in the SCUAA from 2022 through the most recent games in 2024, she secured three gold medals in the Women’s Table Tennis Category. Continuing her impressive run, she proudly stood on the podium at the 2025 National SCUAA, bringing home a well-earned bronze medal.
In an interview with Amaranth, she shares that what started off as curiosity eventually became a way of expression. “...I express how I feel through this sport, and I want to show everyone that I am capable of achieving something that can make others feel proud.” Being a torch bearer to her means “being a source of strength and guidance to others by leading with courage, responsibility, and shared strength in every possible way.” More than just portraying the epitome of a true athlete, Ms. Pacabis clearly and undoubtedly demonstrates excellence and competitiveness in her field of play. Standing as her own source of inspiration, she brings pride to the Viscan community and is deemed a noteworthy model in the field of sports.
Ana Mae Albesa: Aiming for Center
Ms. Albesa is the third to receive the torch, a Senior taking up BS in Agriculture with a Major in Plant Protection, Specialized in Entomology. As one of this year’s torch bearers, Ms. Albesa reigns over archery as her sport. She earned four silver medals, two bronze medals, and a gold medal in several events from the Women’s Category during the Regional SCUAA. These events included 30 meters, 40 meters, 60 meters, and 70 meters archery, along with team events and an olympic round event.
Beyond archery, Ana is a multi-sport enthusiast, engaging in chess, cycling, badminton, volleyball, speed cubing, and recently exploring powerlifting, marathons, and trail runs. Yet archery remains the sport that shaped her most. She was drawn to it by her sister’s success, but starting out wasn’t easy. Equipment and support was limited. Despite these challenges, she trained every dusk after classes, and though her mother worried about the costs, she supported Ana because she saw the joy the sport brought her. Because of this, being named a torch bearer for this year’s Salingkusog holds a deep personal meaning. Carrying the torch reminds her of the competitions she has faced, the people she has met, and how much her character was shaped through the sport. Long before the medals came, she recalls, “A lot of people inspired me in my archery journey, and every time I’m on the field competing, I remember when I first started.”
Xander Johanne Canin: Making Ripples
Ms. Canin is a Senior in the degree program BS in Marine Biology. Making incredible ripples through the tide, she has won four gold medals, two silver medals, and a bronze medal in multiple stroke events in the Women’s category for Swimming during the Regional SCUAA 2023. These included medley and freestyle relays, as well as butterfly and freestyle stroke events.
The type of athlete that Ms. Canin embodies is one that prioritizes camaraderie, constantly mentioning the people in her life – her teammates, her friends, her coach, and her family – as the foundations to her attained success. Gaining the title of a Torch Bearer was as unexpected as it was honorary to Ms. Canin, but one of the first things she thought of was letting her friends know. She gracefully acknowledges those closest to her as the reason she has come so far in her sport, claiming they have seen her through her “ups and downs.”
Jessly Reyan Roman: Conquering the Five Battles
At the very end of the lineup, Mr. Jessly Reyan Roman was the last of the torchbearers, recognized for his various achievements to light up the friendship urn. Mr. Roman is a freshman BS Mechanical Engineering student, and a member of the Philippine National Team for Modern Pentathlon. He is one of the youngest torch bearers for this year's Salingkusog, after earning multiple national and international medals. In 2022, he earned gold in the Under-17 Men’s Biathle and Tetrathlon, silver in the Under-17 Men’s Triathle, and bronze in several senior and junior-level competitions, including triathlon relays, laser run mixed relays, and fencing events. Internationally, in 2023 and 2024, he earned bronze in Pentathlon in South Korea and performed strongly at the Biathle/Triathle World Championships in Bali, Indonesia, placing fourth. These accomplishments span swimming, triathlon, fencing, and modern pentathlon.
Jessly began sports at an early age with swimming and later moved to triathlon, until the pandemic paused competitions. During this break, he discovered Modern Pentathlon. After initially failing to make the national team, he persisted and earned his spot in 2023. To him, carrying the torch is more than just recognition. It symbolizes his personal transformation, from once hating sports because of how exhausting it was, to finding meaning in the struggle. Through faith, perseverance, and self-improvement, he learned to embrace the process. Rather than crediting a single inspiration, Jessly attributes his journey to his inner drive to become the best version of himself and to follow the purpose he believes God has set for him.
Embodying the Epitome of Salingkusog
This year’s torch bearers blazingly and tirelessly embody the essence of Salingkusog in their respective sports. Reflecting the meaning of the term Salingkusog in Bisaya, the torch-bearing event symbolizes how strength passes over.