USPF relives Univ Days; puts students on a tightrope

Reigniting the USPian spirit and paying homage to the institution’s founding legacy, the University of Southern Philippines Foundation (USPF) celebrated University Days 2023 with cheers and woes. The 74th edition of the University Days carried the theme, “USPF@95: Marching on Building Futures” which happened last February 13-16 featuring an array of competitions, congress, symposiums, and a notable mix-up wherein students had to attend classes in spite of the celebration.

Students were put to a test as they tried to go back and forth attending the events and checking on the classrooms for attendance as per instruction of the College of Teacher Education, Arts, and Sciences (CTEAS) who holds all the minor classes of the university.

During the run of the University Days, no statement or amendment of decision was made by CTEAS. Regardless, the University Days remained steady as all the events for the four-day feat kept going.

The celebration started with the Memorial Mass and Flower Offering held at the Cebu Memorial Park. Later that day, the Opening Ceremony happened at USPF Gymnasium, and within the program was the HipHop Competition participated by various college and highschool teams. Ending the first day was the Mental Health Scientific Lecture conducted at the Theatre for Performing Arts.

Subsequent was the day of love, February 14, where a Valentines Day program was conducted titled “To Sir and Ma'am with Love and From Sir and Ma'am with Love”. In the afternoon, a vocal showdown occurred as the Vocal Solo Competition was conducted at the USPF Gymnasium.

The third day was dedicated to the student and faculty research congress which took over the whole day. Two categories were organized including the Podium and Poster Contest.

Finally, the last day began with the School of Business and Accountancy Partnership Day simultaneous with the literary competitions from Poster and Slogan making, Essay writing, Declamation for elementary, Oration for highschool, and Balak for college.

Winners were recognized for all the University Days competitions. Here are the panthers who emerged victorious in their respective fields:

HIPHOP

1st Place: SBA

2nd Place: CEA

3rd Place: Junior High School Mabini Campus

VOCAL SOLO COMPETITION College

1st Place: Aurestilla, Aubrey (CHS-Pharmacy)

2nd Place: Ijan, Sean Airy (CTEAS)

3rd Place: Capisnon, Lutzie (CHS-Nursing)

High School

1st Place: Ortega, Mecca Jen (LAHUG SHS)

2nd Place: Orbeta, Shanna Leigh (Lahug JHS)

3rd Place: Lumayag, Luke (Mabini JHS)

4th Place: Limosnero, John Simon (Mabini SHS)

Elementary

1st Place: Geraldez, Mary Angelique (Mabini)

2nd Place: Ranay, Krystelle Athena (Mabini)

3rd Place: Tabal, Ezekiel (Lahug)

4th Place: Espana, Jewel (Lahug)

DECLAMATION

Champion: Vista, Gavin Alfonso (Lahug)

1st Runner-up: Guinocor, Alianny Therese R. (Lahug)

2nd Runner-up: Villamor, Mhiel Jayne (Mabini)

3rd Runner-up: Laborte, Mary Joy (Mabini)

ORATORICAL

1st Place: Cleofe, Sofia Julien E. (SHSLahug)

2nd Place: Canete, IzL Deniel (SHS - Mabini)

3rd Place: Labrador, Julian Kristoff S. (JHSLahug)

BALAK

1st Place: Generosa, Noel (CHS - Nursing)

2nd Place: Lisondra, Vinz Khenny A. (CEA)

3rd Place: Palapar, Maiko (CTEAS)

ESSAY WRITING

1st Place: Cena, Mary En (CHS-Nursing)

2nd Place: Dicdican, Kenshee (SHS-Mabini)

3rd Place: Abuhan, Sarah Mae (CTEAS)

POSTER MAKING

1st Place: Sandot, Vanessa and Malate, John (CHS-Pharmacy)

2nd Place: Manceli, James David V. and Alabanza, Amormia L. (SHS - Lahug)

3rd Place: Sabuero, Siphia Eunice and Puyod, Alexsandria Chelsey (JHS - Lahug)

SLOGAN MAKING

1st Place: Orillaneda, Aine (JHS - Lahug)

2nd Place: Somontan, Cindy C. (SHSLahug)

3rd Place: Sy, Jhone Rose (CSW)

RESEARCH CONGRESS

Student Podium

1st: CSW (Surviving COVID-19: Lived Experiences of Social Workers in Metro Cebu)

2nd: CHS Nursing (Emotional Responses and Self-Protective Behaviors Among Adults with Comorbidities during COVID-19 Pandemic)

3rd: SBA (The Viability of Social Entrepreneurship Project in Barangay Luz, Cebu City

Faculty Podium

1st: CCS QA (Awareness, Acceptability, and Relevance of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation Vision, Mission, Goal, and Core Values of the Information Technology and Computer Science Programs)

2nd: CCS ICT (Where Are The Computing Graduates of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation?: A Tracer Study)

3rd: CTEAS (Issues, Challenges, and Coping Strategies of Teachers in Adapting the Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education)

Student Poster

1st: CTEAS (The Implementation of Online Learning and its Effects on Education Students’ Academic Learning)

2nd: CTEAS (Awareness of the Accountability System of the Government by the College of Teacher Education, Arts and Sciences Students of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation)

3rd: CSW (Surviving COVID-19: Lived Experiences of Social Workers in Metro Cebu)

Faculty Poster

1st: CCS ICT (Where Are The Computing Graduates of the University of Southern Philippines Foundation?: A Tracer Study)

2nd: CCS EduTech (Training Needs of Faculty in Current and Emerging Technologies: A Faculty Development Program)

3rd: SBA (Consumers’ Preference Between Online Food Delivery and Dine-In Restaurant Facilities in Barangay Lahug & Apas, Cebu City Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic) Capping the event was a universitywide cookout where different colleges organized a booth where all its staff and students got to partake in a food reception. “Worthwhile”, said Amiel Aguilar, a second year BS Geodetic Engineering student who experienced the University Days for the first time.

He noted that it was refreshing to see his schoolmates from different departments gathered to celebrate such an event that honors the founding of the university. Aguilar ended with saying that his experience was wholesome.

Despite the turmoil of having classes, University Days was still held successfully giving USPF its moment of resurgence after years of the event’s drought due to the pandemic; the last commemoration was 2020, marking a 3-year halt.