📜 The History and Revival of the Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA)
I. Founding and Early Years (1953–1972)
The Private Schools Athletic Association (PRISAA) was organized on February 17, 1953, through the initiative of Dr. Manuel Carreon, Director of the Bureau of Private Schools, who encouraged private schools nationwide to join PRISAA to promote sports and academic competitions.
- First PRISAA Meet: Held on March 8-10, 1953, at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Malate, Manila.
- Events Competed: Basketball, chess, cycling, football, gymnastics, lawn tennis, softball, swimming, table tennis, track-and-field, and volleyball.
- Note: The sports conducted were those officially recognized by the Southeast Asian Games and the Olympic Federation.
- Annual Meets: Starting 1956, PRISAA Annual Meets were held in different cities and provinces across the country.
- The fifth PRISAA Annual Meet was held on February 15-21, 1959, in Naga City, Camarines Norte, hosted by the University of Nueva Caceres and spearheaded by Dr. Dolores H. Sison, the First Woman President of the PRISAA Board of Governors.
- Last Pre-Suspension Meet: The last PRISAA Annual Meet was held in 1972 at the PAGLAUM Sports Complex in Bacolod City.
II. Suspension and Notable Athletes (1973–1989)
Starting 1973, PRISAA Annual Meets were suspended to experiment on the integration of sports competitions for public and private schools, including the out-of-school youth.
PRISAA became a source of inspiration and pride, developing several outstanding athletes who represented the country in international competitions. Among them were:
- Josephine dela Viña (Cebu) - Noted shot put and discus throw athlete.
- Mona Sulaiman (Mindanao) - Renowned sprinter.
- Rogelio Onofre (Pangasinan) - Prolific sprinter.
III. The Revival of PRISAA (1990)
On July 2, 1990, sports leaders representing the fourteen (14) regions of the country were invited to attend an organizational meeting at the Centro Escolar University (CEU) to revive PRISAA.
- Sponsors: Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), spearheaded by Chairman Cecilio G. Hechanova and assisted by Commissioner Anthony R. Nicanor.
- New Leadership: Dr. Emmanuel Y. Angeles was elected National President for school year 1990-1991.
- Organization: Shortly thereafter, PRISAA was organized in the different cities, provinces, and regions, with the election of Regional Presidents taking place in August and September 1990.
- DECS Support: 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.
Since the revival, PRISAA provincial/city and regional meets were held all over the country to determine the regional champions for the Annual National Games.
IV. Challenges and Accreditation (2000–2004)
- Funding Challenges (2000): Due to lack of funding, the PRISAA National Board of Trustees approved a new scheme: PRISAA accreditation is by school membership.
- Only duly accredited member-schools can participate in competitions and collect PRISAA fees, which must be used exclusively for PRISAA-approved programs.
- Tertiary Sports Unification (2003-2004): The conduct of the Annual National Games faced a new challenge with the call of then CHED Chairman, Dr. Rolando R. Dizon, FSC, to unify tertiary sports competitions between CHED, PRISAA, and SCUAA.
- During the CHED 2004 National Palaro, a “Pledge of Unity in Tertiary Sports” was signed.
- The PRISAA National Board of Trustees forged a covenant to continue PRISAA Annual Competitions with or without government support, and committed to participate in the CHED Annual National Palaro and DEPED Palarong Pambansa.
- Starting school year 2004-05, PRISAA competitions resumed at the provincial/city, regional, and national games levels.
V. Continued Integration and Formal Registration (2010–Present)
- 2010 Suspension: The PRISAA 2010 National Games was suspended in favor of the CHED 2010 National Games held in Manila, co-sponsored by CHED and PSC, in cooperation with PRISAA, SCUAA, and LCUAA. This was in response to the quest of then CHED Chairman, Dr. Emmanuel Y. Angeles, to integrate sports, academic, and cultural competitions among Higher Education Institutions (HEI's).
- Starting school year 2010-11, PRISAA continued the conduct of its annual competitions.
- Registration as Non-Profit Foundation: The PRISAA National Board of Trustees unanimously approved the registration of PRISAA as PRISAA Sports Foundation, Inc.
- Registered with SEC on February 4, 2014, and with BIR on February 18, 2014, as a Non-Stock, Non-Profit Sports Association.
- Current Status: PRISAA now operates as a Non-Stock, Non-Profit Sports Association. It boasts to be the largest sports association in the Philippines, comprising no less than four hundred (400) member-schools across the sixteen (16) regions of the country, and is the only association conducting nationwide annual sports competitions for private educational institutions in both secondary and tertiary levels.
