Written by Angelie Yu/StoryLab
Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (CESAFI) gears up for Season 26 with a press conference introducing this year’s Miss CESAFI candidates, including the University of the Philippines Cebu’s Christine Mae Saladaga representing the college division and Ansherina Alquizar for the high school division.
Held Wednesday, August 26, at Marco Polo Hotel Cebu, the press conference brought together CESAFI officials and representatives from participating schools ahead of the sports league’s official opening on Saturday, August 29.
The theme for CESAFI Season 26 is “One spirit, one goal: rising together in excellence,” which Saladaga, a fourth-year BA Psychology student, said aligns with the University of the Philippines’ maxim of “Honor, Excellence, and Service.” In a post-press conference interview, Saladaga said she intends to carry UP’s values throughout her Miss CESAFI journey and hopes to advocate for the inclusion of Paralympic competition in future CESAFI seasons.
Meanwhile, UP Cebu Senior High School student Alquizar said she hopes to inspire other young girls to trust themselves and embrace new challenges and experiences through Miss CESAFI.
Saladaga and Alquizar will each compete against 12 other candidates for the Miss CESAFI 2026 crown, representing UP Cebu alongside the Fighting Maroons as CESAFI Season 26 gets underway.
The press conference also unveiled new developments for the season, including a larger field of 18 participating schools and a new digital ecosystem. CESAFI.ph will serve as the league’s new virtual home for game livestreams, statistics, athlete profiles, and other CESAFI-related content, as the organization seeks to make the league more accessible while putting athletes’ stories at the center.
CESAFI Season 26 is set to run from August 29 to December 15, 2026.