The MVP...

er made it to the finals in all the five years that Santiago played for the team in the league. Offseason success did not translate to championship trophies in the UAAP as the Lady Bulldogs reached the semifinals thrice, in Santiago’s first two years (2014-15) and now on her final year, when they crumbled against eventual champion De La Salle.

“I am a bit disappointed because I wasn’t able to bring my team the championship. That has been my main goal. I shared that goal with my Ate Dindin (Santiago) when we first entered NU. It’s painful but as a player, that’s how it is. You win sometimes, you lose sometimes. If there’s one thing I can say I have achieved, that is I was able to help my team. I trust that they will be able to make it next season,” said Santiago.

Throughout the Lady Bulldogs’ ordeal, from their strong 6-1 start in the eliminations to their second round struggle when they racked up more losses at 1-6, Santiago chose to be the steady force, the glue that kept her teammates together.

“My mindset at the start of the season was to give my all. Whether we win or lose, I will support my teammates. I will motivate them and I won’t show them that I feel down. During our second round, the team became emotional. We all felt tired and discouraged. But I told myself, that should not be the case. Every time we lost, I would talk to my teammates and encourage them,” said Santiago.

It is this imprint that she leaves with people she encounters that matters most to Santiago. More than any individual recognition, the legacy that she wants to leave behind is the goodness she has shown to people.

“When they say Jaja Santiago, probably what they would recall is my height,” said Santiago in jest. “But what I would want to leave in the UAAP is the goodness I have shown to people, how I was able to help them as a person and how I was able to inspire them. The awards will be gone, but it is how you are to others that will be remembered.”

Santiago may have taken her final bow in her collegiate career, but she will continue doing what she does best, with plans of bringing her volleyball prowess to the international arena this time.

Santiago, who also loves to travel (she considered taking up tourism, aside from engineering and physical therapy, before finally deciding on psychology), will take some time for much deserved rest and relaxation.

“I will try out with a team in Japan later this month. I also plan to have an out-of-the-country vacation. I want to enjoy this time that I have to tour around the world,” said Santiago.