A Feast of Talents, Talks, and Treats

Students and faculty basked in the fun and colorful halls of Velez College as the school celebrated its 57th Founder’s Day last December 6-7, 2023 with the theme “Embracing Cultural Bayanihan”! The two-day jamboree was jampacked with activities organized by the Supreme Student Council and different Student Body Organizations.

𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙨. Commencing the annual celebration is a mass held in honor of the school’s founder, Dr. Jacinto Velez, Sr. at the Cebu Memorial Park on the morning of the first day. Representatives of the student body, faculty, and loved ones gathered at his resting place and offered flowers as tribute.

𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖 𝙀𝙭𝙝𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙩. Color painted the blank halls of the Arts and Sciences Building as each department decorated their respective floors with their memorabilia. Each floor was packed with gimmicks and trips down memory lane as it highlighted significant marks of each college, and from grilled liempos and barbecues to Pinoy kakanins, every Velezian was invited to feast on the salo-salo at the ASB 5th floor! Students also got the chance to participate in different Pinoy games, reliving the Filipino childhood in them.

𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙜𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨. Day 2 then commenced with the Recognition Ceremonies honoring each department's top-performing students, recognizing their dedication throughout the school year. The College of Arts and Sciences, College of Medical Technology, College of Nursing, and College of Physical and Occupational Therapy each had their moment in the spotlight!

Intermission numbers, themed as "Dance Evolution," added a vibrant touch to the ceremonies. Dance performances ranged from faculty presentations set to popular tunes to departmental troupes showcasing various dance styles spanning different decades.

The closing address by the registrar, Mr. Ariel Valle, emphasized the importance of consistent dedication to academic pursuits in the challenging journey of college life.

𝙑𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙯 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙩 𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙩. The grand finale featured representatives from each department engaging in an OPM musical competition. Performances ranged from solo acts to group performances. The Occupational Therapy Department showcased a solo performance of "Para sa Akin" by Sitti, while the College of Arts and Sciences presented classic OPM songs including Eraserheads, Francis M, and Yeng Constantino.The Nursing Department dedicated their performances to instructors and peers, including renditions of Rivermaya's “Himala” and “Liwanag sa Dilim.” The Medical Technology Department added a comedic touch to their performances, engaging the audience with skits between songs. The Physical Therapy Department, clad in traditional Barong Tagalogs, delivered a powerful mix of pop, rock, and rap music, securing the first-place position in the competition, and receiving a cash prize of ₱2500.

Other winners included Nursing in second place receiving ₱2000, Medical Technology in third with ₱1500, College of Arts and Sciences in fourth, and Occupational Therapy in fifth, wherein the last two departments received ₱1000 each! The event concluded with a Dance Sport presentation and announcement of winners, with cash prizes generously provided by the Velez College Alumni Association.

The Founder's Day celebration concluded with a spectacular showcase of academic excellence and artistic talent. With a week before finals, this special moment also serves to remind us to take a breather from all the hardwork and dedication we’ve put all throughout the semester. It was indeed a refreshing and fun feeling to be able to celebrate what it’s truly like to be a Velezian!

Photos by: Maria Dela Cruz, Ralph Justin Villegas, Danie Kangleon, John Lloyd Sibunga