“The thrill of competing is something that cannot be matched.”
-Rosas, Emerson
URS has been constantly making its name in the world of sports as many student-athletes have been bringing glory and pride to the university by showing their gifts in different fields.
Emerson Rosas, the arnis rookie who just started his career last year showed that the greenest can also put up the biggest fight. He secured a gold medal on full-contact category 5 at the Southern Tagalog Regional Association of State Universities and Colleges (STRASUC) of 2019.
Amid all the glory, he dedicated his win to his friend, 2019 SEA GAMES Gold Medalist CriSamuel Delfin, to his trainers, Nanay Carmenita Aranda, Jj Malanay, Franz Monteroso and to his seniors and captains who shaped and pushed him, who motivated him at times as if he can’t handle the training.
He started playing arnis because of his friend, CriSamuel with the help of his trainer Nanay Carmenita Aranda. He wanted to join the URS arnis team to defend the name of the university against the other universities.
Emerson disclosed that the training was difficult but he soldiered on. Whenever he stayed up late at night studying late because of practice, he reminds himself that he is doing it because he loves it. His perseverance is what helped him to where he is now.
“I can’t imagine what life would be without arnis anymore, it’s like my body, especially my arms are seeking it.”
“All the hardships were worth it. You will see your limitations and you break that. Good memories with your team. I’ve met people who were there to support me in my fights and most of all, to fight with the name of the university at your shoulders”
Arnis taught him life lessons that books and papers simply can not—Perseverance, being able to pursue and strive to accomplish his goal is the most important one.
He wanted to inspire the readers with what he had learned throughout his journey as a student-athlete, “If you are new to a thing and want to excel in it, don’t think that you cannot. Let your trainers help you. Always motivate yourself, just like my trainers said “Train like you never win, Play like you never lose,”.”
Article by Gale Gideon G. Gan
CCS IoN+ 