ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR — Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino has commended the Mindanao Association of State Tertiary Schools (MASTS) for “fostering meaningful connections” among its members through the holding of yearly sports and cultural events.

MASTS is an organization composed of public tertiary-level schools in the Mindanao region of the Philippines and various state universities and colleges.

In a speech delivered at the opening of the MASTS Friendship Games and Cultural Festival held here on Sunday, Tolentino also said the events “promote the value of sportsmanship, cultural appreciation, and mutual respect.”

“Through events like this, we witness the strength of Mindanao’s youth, its culture, and its capacity for collaboration. In a world often divided by differences, your efforts to unite diverse communities through sports and culture resonated deeply,” the senator added.

He urged everyone to continue upholding the principles of fairness, respect, and camaraderie in playing the games. He also reminded spectators and participants that “they are all part of a greater community working towards shared goals.”

Tolentino encouraged students to showcase their skills simultaneously, learn from one another, and “build friendships that transcend boundaries and strengthen the bonds that make diversity a source of pride and strength.”

The senator wished them to be champions of unity, advocates of respect, and pioneers of positive change.

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