Cheers, music, colorful lights, and superb performances gave life to the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) Miagao, Iloilo campus as faculty, staff, and students celebrated the most festive events of the year – the Lantern Parade and the Christmas program – on Dec. 16, 2022.
With much anticipation, those who participated in this year’s events barely had enough time to catch their breaths as a series of contests and performances marked the peak of this year’s Paskua celebration.
Eight competing groups and some non-competing groups – accompanied by their respective chants, dances, and lights – walked from the Tomas Fonacier Hall (College of Arts and Sciences Building) to the UPV Covered Court during the Lantern Parade.
The competing groups performed in front of judges at designated areas en route to the UPV Covered Court. Loud music was blasted and their teammates sang and cheered in unison to hype them up.
A live band welcomed the groups as they entered the venue. The decibel levels increased as the number of people filled the seats.
A grand production number set the festively jovial mood at the venue from the start of the program until it concluded. It was participated by faculty, staff, and students.
The crowd sang and danced along to popular Christmas songs during the production number while waving their improvised handheld lanterns and phone flashlights.
Dr. Alice Joan Ferrer, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and Paskua 2022 Steering Committee chair, opened the program with a message to the UPV community. This was followed by words of inspiration from Chancellor Clement Camposano, who actively participated in three segments of contests held that evening.
The highlight of the night was the Sing and Dance Caroling Contest where competing groups gave their twist on Christmas songs with their unique gimmicks.
CAS pulled away as the best-performing group, followed by the Office of Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE), which finished second and third, respectively.
The UPV Mr. Christmas Charm was awarded to Mr. Romnick Sulit of the Department of Chemistry, who represented CAS. His partner, Ms. Kristelle Kythe Almoguerra of the Department of Education, was named Ms. Christmas Charm.
CAS bagged the Best in Costume as well, while the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences (CFOS) received the Most Participative Group award.
The following competing groups also won awards for the Lantern Parade:
Big Lantern Contest
1st – CAS
2nd – College of Management (CM)
3rd – CFOS
Handheld Lantern
1st – CAS
2nd – School of Technology (SOTECH)
3rd – CFOS
Best Parade Performance
1st – CM
2nd – CAS
3rd – SOTECH
The crowd during the last segments of the program, mostly composed of students, danced near the stage as the live band performed.
The theme for this year’s Paskua was “Pagsaulog sang Kabuhi kag Kadalag-an” (Celebrating Life and Victories). (Mr. Carlson B. Alelis, IPO)
