PRISAA
Loading PRISAA content...
PRISAA Sports Foundation, Inc.
Powered by CCDI Sorsogon: the leading I.T. school in Bicol!
Loading PRISAA content...
About PRISAA
A long-form record of PRISAA’s founding, revival, national games, institutional shifts, and continuing role in Philippine private school sports.
The Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) was organized on February 17, 1953 through the initiative of Dr. Manuel Carreon, then Director of the Bureau of Private Schools. Its creation encouraged private schools across the Philippines to participate in organized sports and academic competitions.
The first PRISAA Meet was held on March 8–10, 1953 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila. Events included basketball, chess, cycling, football, gymnastics, lawn tennis, softball, swimming, table tennis, track and field, and volleyball — sports officially recognized by the Southeast Asian Games and the Olympic Federation.
From 1956 onward, annual PRISAA Meets were hosted by different cities and provinces nationwide. Over the years, PRISAA became a source of pride for students, faculty, and communities, producing athletes who represented the Philippines in international competitions.
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1953 | PRISAA was officially organized on February 17. |
| 1953 | The first PRISAA Meet was held at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila. |
| 1959 | The 5th National PRISAA Meet was hosted in Naga City by the University of Nueva Caceres. |
| 1972 | The last annual PRISAA Meet before suspension was held in Bacolod City. |
| 1973 | PRISAA was suspended to explore integrated sports competitions for public and private schools. |
| 1990 | PRISAA was revived through an organizational meeting at Centro Escolar University. |
| 1991 | The first National Games after revival were held in Pampanga, with over 4,000 participants. |
| 1991 | PRISAA entered a unified tertiary sports arrangement with SCUAA and UAAP under the name PRISSAA. |
| 1993 | PRISAA returned under its original banner after SCUAA became independent. |
| 1997 | PRISAA resumed its own National Games in Cebu City after years of deferment. |
| 2000 | A membership-based accreditation scheme was approved to sustain PRISAA programs. |
| 2001 | National Games resumed under the new structure. |
| 2004 | PRISAA aligned with CHED and SCUAA in a renewed effort toward unity in tertiary sports. |
| 2005–2009 | National Games continued in various host cities, expanding events and participation. |
| 2011 | PRISAA held its National Collegiate Games in Zamboanga and began institutional renewal. |
| 2012 | Renewed vision, mission, and organizational reforms were prepared for implementation. |
After its early decades of success, PRISAA’s annual meets were suspended in 1973 as part of efforts to integrate sports competitions for both public and private schools, including out-of-school youth.
PRISAA was formally revived on July 2, 1990, when sports leaders from fourteen regions gathered at Centro Escolar University (CEU). The revival was supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), led by Chairman Cecilio G. Hechanova and Commissioner Anthony R. Nicanor.
Soon after, DECS Order No. 104 was issued on September 13, 1990, directing regional education officials and private institutions to organize and revive PRISAA in their respective areas.
The PRISAA National Games 1991 marked the association’s full return. Held in San Fernando, Pampanga, the event gathered more than 4,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from across the country and featured sixteen sports recognized in international competitions.
In the years that followed, PRISAA continued to adapt to the changing landscape of tertiary sports. It entered partnerships, experienced periods of suspension, and repeatedly re-established its commitment to independent athletic competition.
In 2000, PRISAA adopted a new membership-based accreditation system to ensure continuity in its programs and competitions. This reform allowed only accredited member-schools to collect PRISAA fees and participate in official events.
The association also renewed its direction through strategic planning workshops, governance reviews, and institutional reforms, especially in the period leading up to 2011–2012.
Since its founding, suspension, revival, and reorganization, PRISAA has played an important role in Philippine tertiary sports. It has produced athletes, coaches, sports leaders, and institutions committed to excellence in both competition and character formation.
Today, PRISAA continues to uphold its mission of developing the talents of student-athletes and strengthening the role of sports in nation-building.
The Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) was organized on February 17, 1953 through the initiative of the Director of the Bureau of Private Schools, Dr. Manuel Carreon, who encouraged private schools all over the Philippines to join PRISAA for the purpose of promoting sports and academic competitions.
The first PRISAA Meet was held from March 8–10, 1953 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, in front of Harrison Park in Malate, Manila. The events participated in by the different regions included:
The sports conducted were those officially recognized by the Southeast Asian Games and the Olympic Federation.
Starting 1956, the annual PRISAA Meets were held in different cities and provinces throughout the country. PRISAA became a source of inspiration and pride among students, faculty, and the viewing public. It developed several outstanding athletes who represented the country in international competitions. Among them were:
From February 15–21, 1959, the 5th National PRISAA Meet was hosted by the University of Nueva Caceres in Naga City, Camarines Sur, and spearheaded by the first woman President of the Board of Governors of PRISAA, Dr. Dolores H. Sison.
The last annual PRISAA Meet before suspension was held in 1972 at the PAGLAUM Sports Complex in Bacolod City.
In 1973, PRISAA was suspended to experiment on the integration of sports competitions for public and private schools, including out-of-school youth.
On July 2, 1990, sports leaders representing fourteen (14) regions of the Philippines attended an organizational meeting at Centro Escolar University (CEU) to revive PRISAA. This was sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and spearheaded by Chairman Cecilio G. Hechanova, assisted by Commissioner Anthony R. Nicanor.
On the same occasion, the election of the National PRISAA Officers for school year 1990–1991 was held, where Dr. Emmanuel Y. Angeles was elected National President. As unanimously agreed upon, the election of PRISAA Regional Presidents was held in August and September 1990.
Shortly thereafter, PRISAA was organized in different cities, provinces, and regions. On September 13, 1990, DECS Order No. 104 was issued by then Education Secretary Isidro D. Cariño, directing all DECS Regional Directors and heads of private schools, colleges, and universities to organize and revive PRISAA in their respective areas.
City, provincial, and regional meets were held from October 1990 to January 1991 to determine the regional champions who would compete in the national games.
The PRISAA National Games 1991, the first after its revival, were held from February 3–9, 1991 at the Pampanga Sports Complex, San Fernando, Pampanga. More than 4,000 athletes, coaches, and officials from different regions participated in sixteen (16) sports officially recognized in international competitions:
The different sporting events were held in cooperation with their respective National Sports Associations (NSAs).
On August 23, 1991, two major sports associations—State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association (SCUAA) and University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP)—signed a Memorandum of Agreement with PRISAA to implement unified sports, academic, and cultural competitions at the tertiary level.
PRISAA became known as Private and State Schools Athletic Association (PRISSAA) with the collaboration of the three sports associations. An election of National and Regional PRISSAA Officers was then held.
The PRISSAA National Games '92 were held from February 5–11, 1992 at the Iloilo Sports Complex, Iloilo City, with fifteen (15) regions participating in twenty (20) sports/events:
In school year 1992–1993, SCUAA decided to become an independent association, leaving PRISAA and UAAP to continue unified sports, academic, and cultural competitions under the PRISAA banner.
The PRISAA National Games 1993 were held from February 21–28, 1993 in Zamboanga City, with President Fidel V. Ramos as Guest of Honor and Speaker during the opening ceremonies at the Joaquin F. Enriquez Jr. Memorial Sports Complex.
Fourteen (14) regions participated in eleven (11) sports/events:
From school years 1993–1994 to 1995–1996, staging of the PRISAA National Games was deferred and integrated with the Palarong Pambansa. However, this objective was not realized for various reasons.
In school year 1996–1997, PRISAA decided to conduct its own National Games again, as agreed during a meeting of the National Officers and Regional Presidents held at the Quezon City Sports Club on January 30, 1997. CHED Chairman Dr. Angel C. Alcala was also invited.
The PRISAA National Games '97 were held from May 18–25, 1997 in Cebu City, with House Speaker Jose V. De Venecia as guest of honor and speaker during the opening ceremonies at the Abellana Sports Complex.
Twelve (12) regions participated in twelve (12) sports/events:
To achieve PRISAA’s objective of self-reliance, a Strategic Planning Workshop was conducted at Angeles University Foundation, Angeles City, from August 15–17, 1997. National Officers, Regional Presidents, and collaborators from media and government sectors attended. A dialogue with CHED Chairman Dr. Angel C. Alcala also took place.
For school years 1997–1998 to 1999–2000, PRISAA competitions were again suspended due to lack of funds.
In 2000, the Board approved a new scheme for the continual conduct of PRISAA’s programs and activities: PRISAA accreditation by membership. Only duly accredited member-schools could collect PRISAA fees from students and participate in PRISAA competitions.
Thus, during school year 2000–2001, PRISAA competitions resumed at the city/provincial, regional, cluster, and national levels.
Held from March 6–10, 2001 in Angeles City, Clarkfield, and San Fernando, Pampanga, with PSC Chairman Carlos "Butch" Tuazon as guest of honor and speaker.
Four areas—Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and NCR—participated in nine (9) sports/events:
Held from April 20–27, 2002 in Cebu City, with PSC Chairman Eric R. Buhain as guest of honor and speaker during the opening ceremonies at the New Cebu Coliseum.
Sixteen (16) regions participated in four (4) sports/events:
Held from April 4–8, 2003 in Angeles City, Clarkfield, and San Fernando, Pampanga, with PSC Chairman Eric R. Buhain as guest of honor and speaker.
Thirteen (13) regions participated in three (3) sports/events:
The PRISAA National Games 2004, scheduled in Dagupan City and Lingayen, Pangasinan, were suspended in favor of PRISAA’s participation in the CHED National Palaro 2004 held in Bacolod City due to:
During the CHED National Palaro 2004 opening ceremonies, graced by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the covenant of cooperation was expressed through the signing of the “Pledge of Unity in Tertiary Sports” by:
Responding to this call of unity, the PRISAA national leadership, through the efforts of Dr. Emmanuel Y. Angeles, organized the PRISAA Strategic Planning and Workshop in Clarkfield, Pampanga from June 18–20, 2004.
The workshop produced a covenant of cooperation:
Thus, during school year 2004–2005, PRISAA competitions resumed in different levels and eventually the national games.
Held from April 11–16, 2005, with POC President Jose "Peping" Cojuangco as guest of honor and speaker.
Fifteen (15) regions participated in twelve (12) sports/events:
Held from February 5–11, 2006, with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as guest of honor and speaker during the opening ceremonies at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center, Lingayen, Pangasinan.
Fifteen (15) regions participated in twelve (12) sports/events:
Held from April 14–21, 2007, with PSC Chairman William L. Ramirez as guest of honor and speaker at the Iloilo Sports Complex.
Fifteen (15) regions participated in twelve (12) sports/events:
Two (2) demonstration sports were introduced:
Held from April 8–14, 2008, with PSC Chairman William L. Ramirez as guest of honor and speaker at the Joaquin F. Enriquez, Jr. Memorial Sports Complex.
Fifteen (15) regions participated in fifteen (15) sports/events:
Judo was introduced as a demonstration sport during the competitions.
During the incumbency of Dr. Emmanuel Y. Angeles as Chairman of CHED from September 2008 to July 2010, Dr. Gonzalo T. Duque, PRISAA National Board Co-Chairman and President of PRISAA Region I, assumed the chairmanship of the PRISAA National Board of Trustees.
Held from April 19–25, 2009, with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as guest of honor and speaker during the opening ceremonies at the University of Nueva Caceres Sports Palace.
Seventeen (17) regions participated in sixteen (16) sports/events:
Boxing was introduced as a demonstration sport during the competitions.
The PRISAA National Games 2010, scheduled in Tacloban, Leyte, were suspended in favor of the CHED National Games 2010, held from February 22–28, 2010 in Metro Manila with PSC Chairman Ambassador Harry C. Angping as guest of honor and speaker during the opening ceremonies at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Malate, Manila.
The CHED National Games were in response to the request of CHED Chairman Dr. Emmanuel Y. Angeles to integrate sports competitions among Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), both private and public.
During school year 2010–2011, PRISAA competitions again took place in different levels, eventually leading to the national games.
Held from April 8–14, 2011 in Zamboanga, with City Mayor Celso L. Lobregat as guest of honor and speaker during the opening ceremonies at the Joaquin F. Enriquez, Jr. Memorial Sports Complex.
Fifteen (15) regions participated in eighteen (18) sports/events:
The PRISAA Board, as unanimously agreed during the Regular Board of Trustees Meeting held on April 9, 2011 at the Garden Orchid Hotel, Zamboanga City, conducted a Planning Meeting from May 27–28, 2011 in Cebu City to:
The planning meeting aimed at institutionalizing PRISAA’s management and operation and was participated in by National Officers, Regional Presidents, Treasurers, and Sports Directors.
Thereafter, the crafting of PRISAA’s renewed:
was undertaken for implementation effective Academic Year 2011–2012, in time for the forthcoming PRISAA National Collegiate Games 2012 scheduled to be held in April 2012 in Cebu City.
Twenty years after its revival in 1991, PRISAA had developed several outstanding athletes, coaches, and sports leaders who excelled in national and international competitions.
PRISAA continues to pursue its commitment to harnessing the potentials of member-schools’ athletes, trainers, coaches, sports directors, physical education instructors, technical officials, and other stakeholders for excellence in sports in order to help build a competitive and stronger republic.