By: Justine Anne Gaerlan
Tragedy struck Far Eastern University-Diliman just weeks before the UAAP Season 89 High School Girls’ Volleyball Tournament, leaving the Lady Baby Tamaraws with a heavy burden to carry into the new season.
Jamie Ignacio, who had transferred from Arellano High School to FEU-Diliman last August, passed away last September 15 before she could see her new team begin its UAAP campaign.
For FEU-Diliman captain Cathlyn Umal, the loss remains difficult to process.
But as the Lady Baby Tamaraws move forward, they hope to honor Ignacio by playing the way she did — with joy and passion.
“First of po, it’s been really heavy for us, and we’re still slowly getting back up on our feet. We want to give our best for this season to dedicate to Jamie po because she also wanted to play, and we’re going to play for her. But right now, we’re still slowly building up ourselves as we get past what happened last time,” Umal said after FEU-Diliman fell to University of Santo Tomas, 25-21, 25-21, 25-20, on Sunday.
Although Ignacio had only been with the team for a short time, Umal said the newcomer quickly became someone the Lady Baby Tamaraws could easily connect with.
“She’s really easy to be with; she’s fun, she’s easy to talk to. Parang madali lang po namin siyang makausap kasi mabait po siya and understanding. And ayun, ‘di po namin inaasahan na deep inside, may dinadamdam na rin po pala siya. Parang na-sad lang po kami na sa short time na nakasama po namin siya,” she said.
Ignacio’s presence also brought plenty of laughter to the team, with Umal remembering her as someone who could lighten the mood with her spontaneous personality.
“She brings absolute laughter po, like ‘yung mga pagka-random niya or unhinged sa court na bigla siyang magsasalita sa gilid or magtatanong ng something unhinged,” Umal said.
For the Lady Baby Tamaraws, keeping Ignacio’s memory alive will be about more than remembering her personality off the court; it’s also about how she approached the game.
“Part po siguro ng ma-ca-carry on namin siguro ‘yung the way po siya maglaro sa court na she’s just enjoying herself,” Umal said.
The team also received support from FEU and the players’ families as they dealt with the tragedy.
“Yes po, we received a lot of support from FEU and some parents. They gave us time to process everything that had happened and gave us everything that we need, counseling and everything,” Umal said.
Now, the Lady Baby Tamaraws want to assure Ignacio’s family that her short time with the team will not be forgotten.
For Umal and her teammates, a championship would carry an added meaning — not only as a reward for their work throughout the season but also as a way of honoring the teammate who never got the chance to play her first UAAP game with them.
“Super po, super. Parang words can’t describe it enough, but maybe our actions can, but maybe right now, we can’t feel it yet kasi first game pa lang and may mga na-miss po namin na training, but we will get back on our feet and absolutely do it with our actions na ipanalo po and i-dedicate kay Jamie for this season and for her family din po kasi they also wanted to see her play,” Umal said.
FEU-Diliman may have opened Season 89 with a loss, but for the Lady Baby Tamaraws, the season is about more than wins and losses.
It is also about carrying Ignacio with them every time they step onto the court.
