University News

VISTA Games 2026 Advances Inclusive Sports through "Forward Together, Beyond Sight"

Rencyliann Macorol, News, Communication Management Office

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Sports became a platform for inclusion as the 13th Visually Impaired Sports and Training Advocacy (VISTA) Games 2026 brought together visually impaired students and participants from various schools and organizations for a day of adaptive sports and shared experiences on September 19, 2026, at PUP Sta. Mesa Campus.

Carrying the theme “VISTA @13: Forward Together, Beyond Sight,” the event promoted meaningful participation in sports among individuals with visual impairments across the Low Vision, Multiple Disabilities and Visual Impairment (MDVI), and Totally Blind categories.

The event was spearheaded by the College of Human Kinetics (CHK) Dean and Overall Chair, Dr. Geraldine C. Miñas, together with Department of Sports Science Chairperson and Project Leader, Dr. Heildenberg C. Dimarucot, and the Parent Advocates for Visually Impaired Children, Inc. (PAVIC) President Rodel Torres, alongside CHK faculty members, student volunteers, and partner organizations.

Participants in the event included: 

• Angeles Elementary School Inclusive Learning Resource Center (ILRC)

• Antipolo City SPED Center

• Bagong Silang Elementary School

• Batino Elementary School SPED Center

• Cecilio Apostol Elementary School

• De Castro Elementary School

• Philippine National School for the Blind

• Quirino High School

• San Pablo City Delegates

• Sta. Ana Elementary School

• Sta. Lucia High School

• Team PAVIC

The event featured goalball, where players roll a bell-filled rubber ball across an indoor court; adaptive swimming, where athletes are assisted by a guide and a series of verbal cues; athletics, featuring long jump, 50-meter sprint, and shot put; chess, showdown, and lead-up games. These activities allowed participants with visual impairments to engage through adapted methods, including auditory and tactile cues.

For Sister Pauline and Sunshine, one of the participants in athletics, they felt the welcoming and inclusive atmosphere that both the University and its volunteers have exuded throughout the whole event.

“I really enjoyed [it]. It was my first time, and I was really looking forward [to] how are you going to manage to lead the blind but I realized that you really have experience because the preparation was good and also, the blind were comfortable,” the South African nun stated.

Meanwhile, Federico Arzadon, CHK Faculty and PUP Sports Management Society (PUP SMS) Adviser and Swimming tournament Chair, emphasized that the VISTA Games should prioritize the participants’ experience rather than competition alone.

“The focus should remain on the participants' enjoyment and experience rather than strict competition,” Arzadon said.

Beyond the competition area, the VISTA Games also provide CHK students– particularly third and fourth-year Bachelor of Science in Exercise and Sports Sciences (BSESS) majors–  with experience in facilitating adaptive physical activities and creating safe and welcoming environments for individuals with diverse needs.

For third-year student volunteer Keanne Tanteo, witnessing the participants complete activities and experiencing joy made the event more meaningful.

“Seeing them accomplish the task even though they have a guide, seeing their joy, it makes you smile,” Tanteo said.

The event also underscored the importance of changing perceptions towards disability as Parent Advocates for Visually Impaired Children, Inc. (PAVIC) President Mr. Rodel Torres emphasized during his speech at the opening ceremonies, reminding participants and organizers:

“We may not be able to change our child’s disability, but we can change the way we see disability,” 

Since its inaugural edition in 2009 at the Philsports Arena (formerly known as Ultra), to subsequent editions at the Marikina Sports Center, and now at PUP for its 13th edition, the VISTA Games has provided children, students, and athletes across different regions of the country with opportunities to discover their abilities, develop their skills, and reach their potential through sports. 

For Dr. Dimarucot, inclusion should be integrated into everyday practice rather than treated as an extraordinary act, emphasizing that sports and physical activity should be accessible to everyone.

“You don't need to sensationalize that we can help. It has to be the norm… Probably, we cannot change the world right now. But changing someone’s world is more than enough,” Dimarucot said.

The principles demonstrated through VISTA extend beyond the event itself, reinforcing that sports and fitness should be accessible to everyone. Through the VISTA Games, CHK continues to advance its advocacy of “Liksi ay para sa lahat,” creating spaces where everyone can participate, learn, develop their abilities, and experience a sense of belonging regardless of disability or impairment.

This commitment contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-being, through the promotion of physical activity; SDG 4: Quality Education, through experiential learning and inclusive sports education; and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities, by providing meaningful opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in sports and community activities.

Anchored in the University's core values of Inclusivity, Respect for Human Rights and the Environment, and Excellence, CHK continues to uphold its commitment to making sports and physical activity accessible to all—moving forward together, beyond sight.

Article edited by: Gicel Roger B. Salvilla, Communication Management Office