Foundation University opened the nine-day Kasadyaan Festival Friday with the Hara sa FU 2012 Talent Night at the Sofia Soller Sinco Hall at the FU main campus.
Six candidates representing various Colleges at FU are competing for the Hara sa FU crown. They are Kyla Rivera from the College of Nursing, Emma Estores from the College of Business Administration, Joan Coleen Katipunan from the College of Computer Studies, Suselle Librea from the College of Arts & Sciences, Grace Charmaine Vendiola from the College of Hospitality Management, and Akemi Marie Tubog from the College of Education.
The winner will be known on Thursday, Dec. 15 during the Coronation Night.
The Foundation University community also held an opening mass last Saturday with Msgr. Julius Heruela, the FU campus minister, as celebrant. It was a thanksgiving mass for the university, which had just held the successful Dumaguete Adventure Marathon last Nov. 20.
“There are many things to be thankful for,” President Mira D. Sinco said, noting the various accomplishments of the University in academic, athletic and extension fields.
The FU campus, which is currently decorated with colorful and eclectic student booths, also became a venue for Pinoy Fun Games and students’ exhibits. Engr. Marlon Tanilon, dean of student life, said they chose to hold Pinoy games to bring back the fun and excitement of the games which are now in danger of being forgotten. “Hopefully, our students will learn or re-learn these games so future generations of Filipinos will continue to enjoy them,” Tanilon said.
The activities will continue on Monday, with an Eco-Dress and Bag Making Competition at 2 p.m. These activities will emphasize the use of materials which are reused or recycled, in line with the University’s environmental advocacy. A song and dance competition, dubbed, “Sayawit” will be held at 3 p.m., which will be a prelude to the evening’s highlight — a Fashion Show at 7 p.m.
To give students a diversion from endless hours of lectures and study, the University will give them an avenue to show their hidden talents in the show FU’s Got Talent. An adaptation of the widely popular international television show, the talent show will be held on Tuesday at the exhibit area, to give more fun to the celebration.
The main cultural event will be the Pasundayag Night, where songs and dances will be performed by university performers, at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at the Sofia Soller Sinco Hall. This event, which is open to the public, will see the Buglasayaw Dance Troupe and the FU Chorale, among other university talents.
On Saturday, Dec. 17, the FU community will hold a parade around the city starting at 5 p.m. This parade, called the Kasadyaan Parade, was introduced by FU founder Dr. Vicente G. Sinco in the early days of the university, as a localized version of the University of the Philippines’ Lantern Parade. Dr. Sinco had patterned many activities in FU after UP, which he had also served as dean of the College of Law and later, as its 8th President.
On Sunday, Dec. 18, FU alumni will hold a homecoming starting at 2 p.m. which will culminate in the FU Community Party and Celebratory Mass later in the afternoon. For many, the homecoming will be their first visit to their alma mater after their graduation.
“We hope they would visit us more often,” President Sinco said. “Many alumni say they are happy to see the various improvements that we have on campus.”
A non-stock, non-profit and non-sectarian institution, FU, then known as Foundation Institute, was established on July 4, 1949 as Negros Oriental’s first Filipino institution of higher education.