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Mei Elijade Galang

SAS Days 2024 presents the Seasonal Warriors

By Mei Elijade and Kayel Salvador | December 5, 2024

Bringing together the four seasons of the  School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) in pursuit of a bright and unified amity.


From October 10 - 11, 2024, students from the said department celebrated SAS Days 2024 with the theme “Four Seasons, One Spark: Crafting a Mosaic of Seasonal Harmonies,“ organized by the College Student Council of the SAS (CSC-SAS) department. It was headed by the Governor,  Alexis Delfin, and Vice Governor, Krishane Santiago, with the competitions facilitated by different councilors, associates, and junior officers.


The Four Seasons 


This year’s SAS Days represented transitions in students’ lives, with the houses being inspired by the ever-changing seasons. This two-day event is meant to ease their passage from high school to college, especially with the freshmen who have been graced with their first college days experience.


“Actually napagbotohan siya ng mga… ng whole SAS community kung ano ba yung want nila na... na theme, and yung napili is Four Seasons. And yung kaya naman Four Seasons yung napili, is also to represent transition... Kumbaga. [‘Yong] seasons in our life and so far, uh, parang this SAS Days is just focused on… uh… I mean parang transitioning to college and just having fun in general,” Laurence Sagun, the Associate Director for Events Management and Logistics and a second-year BA Communication student, explained in an interview.


Sagun further stressed that they wanted to encourage students to take a breather through this event. 


“The primary objective or advocacy of SAS day is about... Uhm, parang ma-lighten and ‘yong—since it’s been a very stressful finals, midterms and all—the council would want na magenjoy lahat ng mga students,” Sagun added. 


The Psychology and Communication programs were merged and divided into four houses. Each house was meant to showcase the programs' colorful dynamics and characteristics, as elaborated in CSC-SAS’ Facebook post. 


Starting with the House of Amber Cloves, which represented the season of Autumn, this house wanted to manifest its renewal as it traversed toward its success. 


Secondly, the House of Burgeon Willows depicted the season of Spring—they are the foundation of strength, resiliency, and growth potential–never backing down from any difficulties. 


The third house is the Crystal Cascades which portrayed the season of Winter—proving that they are more than their stillness as they showcased their fluid movements in every moment. 


The last house is the Sunburst Mavericks, which drew the season of Summer. They are known to radiate optimism and creativity, which blended throughout their journey. 


The Cycle Begins


The two-day celebration finally started as excitement filled every student. However, this year’s college days of the department strayed away from its annual parade tradition as it was discontinued at the last minute due to the shortage of attendees. 


“Actually, I’m a bit disappointed sa [delay] ng parade opening, wala man nga talagang parade na nangyari sa campus eh. Kaya, I’m a bit disappointed na ang konti lang din ng mga nag-attend sa opening ng SAS Days.” Lament of a first-year Psychology student who attended the events.


Despite the foiled commencement, the original schedule was pushed through without the parade. With the assembly of students at the Immaculate Heart (IH) Gymnasium, each one was ready to participate with their best in the prepared events. 


The first day included a mass at the Sister Josefina Nepomuceno Formation Center. Then by 10 AM, the following events kicked off with the simultaneous start of the Esports competition, Valorant, Basketball, Volleyball, and Badminton games. During the afternoon session, the Volleyball and Basketball exhibitions followed, along with another Esports competition, Mobile Legends. 


Truly, it was a busy day for everyone because even in the field of academia, students took part in a quiz bee competition. Also, versatility was showcased when the solo singing competition launched simultaneously at the IH Gymnasium. 


When the clock struck 6 PM, the biggest event of the day, the Mr. and Ms. SAS finally came as the IH Gymnasium became packed with enthusiastic students carrying colorful balloons representing their own houses. 


The colors shone even brighter on the second day as competitions resumed with the Best Dance Crew commencing, in which a sole group from the House of Amber Cloves performed. The culminating event, which was the Battle of the Bands, was the most anticipated as it brought together a huge crowd. 


Ultimately, it all ended as the triumphants were recognized on stage. Names were called one by one starting from the very first day and the audience went wild as they cheered on for their respective seasonal warriors. 


The Challenges Faced

Throughout the series of events, some of the students, including the CSC-SAS officers, experienced delays. 


One of which was recalled by Sagun who mentioned how they encountered difficulties with various circumstances with the judges which led to the hold up of the Battle of the Bands competition.


“Hindi pinapapasok ‘yong mga judges namin na mag-park kahit na nandoon na sila, uh, hindi pinapayagan ng guards kasi nagkaroon ng mishap in terms of the letter,” Sagun revealed. “Actually, uh, it’s still in time but isa sa kinadelay is because of the judges mismo na wala pa sila kaya nadelay ng around 30 minutes to one hour yung sa Battle of the Bands.”


Francheska Luis Rosales, a junior officer of the council and a second-year BA Communication student, was also interviewed regarding any specific troubles she faced during the preparation of the event. 


“One of the notable challenges is time management, since the event was pushed back a lot of times and some school [work] were also given during this week,” Rosales stated. 


Additionally, an interview with a House Manager also indicated that they had faced confusion and became unadapted due to the late deliberations of the events. 


“Well, 'yung organization ng event hindi naman masyadong magulo, pero hindi rin super smooth. Imagine, wala man silang deliberation. Wala na raw time for deliberation per event, specially nung Mr. & Ms. SAS. Plus, the flow of events was posted the day before the SAS Days, kaya ang hirap mag-adjust kinabukasan,” the House Manager said in an interview. “I think per event dapat may deliberation for transparency lang. Isa lang kasi na event 'yung naging transparent sa scores and deductions ng bawat house.”


Meanwhile, a first-year Psychology student pointed out how the venue wasn’t as lively as before and forwarded suggestions such as adding more props to accommodate it. 


When asked about Sagun’s advice to the future organizers of this significant event, he emphasized that always being heedful and taking the actions of the councilors now as inspirations for improvement. 


“Siguro to advice the future organizers, siguro gawin nilang inspiration yung ginawa ng mga councilors right now because they really, they were really effective talaga sa ano sa event,” Sagun expressed. “Siguro ano, there might be improvements sa kakailanganin gawin, but yung isa sa best advice is to see and to observe what–kung ano yung ginawa ng current councilors natin.”


Presenting the Seasonal Warriors


Throughout the event, many Eagles have competed rigorously to bring glory to their respective houses, hence why during the awarding ceremony, the competitors who secured their win entered the stage and bowed down for their medals with a beam of joy. 


Starting with the Esports, Valorant, where the representatives from the House of Sunburst Mavericks triumphantly won with a score of 2-0. The House of Sunburst Mavericks also won the Mobile Legends championship against the House of Amber Cloves. 


Riomae Gabarda from the House of Amber Cloves reigned as the champion for the Badminton singles female category. At the same time, Chenson Roque from the same house won the singles male category. Meanwhile, Luke Peña and Nicolle Tayag from the House of  Sunburst Mavericks won as champions for the mixed category. 


The House of Amber Cloves won by default for girls' Basketball due to a lack of other houses’ participants, while the House of Burgeon Willows successfully dominated the Basketball championships for the male category against the House of Sunburst Maverick. 


For the girls’ Volleyball competition, the House of Burgeon Willows’ representatives won by default against Sunburst Mavericks due to their lack of players. The same goes for the Volleyball boys’ representatives from the House of Sunburst Mavericks who won by default due to the lack of team members of the opposing team, the House of Crystal Cascades.


Furthermore, the short film “You’re Gone, But We’re Still Here,” by the House of  Sunburst Mavericks from the Short Film Competition won out of four entries and also secured special awards in this event such as Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Design, and Council's Choice. The House of Amber Cloves landed as the first runner-up followed by the House of Burgeon Willows as the second runner-up in this category.


Additionally, the House of Amber Cloves’ representatives namely, Ashanty Bricenio, Kirstiane Viola, and Juan Simbulan won as champions in the Academic event of the SAS Days 2024 Quiz Bee. Catherine Forten, Angelo Jervin Baluyut, and Nadine Nonisa from the House of Crystal Cascades secured the first runner-up award followed by the House of Burgeon Willows’ representatives Lia Margarita Biag, Natalie Nicole VIllamucho, and Michelle Angela Serafica as the second runner-up.


In the Solo Singing Competition, Meril Christy Lacuate from the House of Crystal Cascades placed champion, Wallace David Ponce from the House of Sunburst Mavericks in first runner-up, Naomi Angela Bernabe of the House of Burgeon Willows won in second runner-up, and Anya Semira from the House of Amber Cloves for third-runner up.


On the other hand, representatives from the House of Amber Cloves were acclaimed champions in the Best Dance Crew competition as they were the only team to have performed. 


Finally, landmarked events like the Mr. & Ms. SAS were recognized as Minea Cabigting from the House of Burgeon Willows, and Ramon Villanueva from the House of Sunburst Mavericks were crowned. Meanwhile, the House of Crystal Cascades’ representatives, Demver Dy and Loislane Ocampo won first place, and the House of Amber Cloves’ representatives, Jacob Rivera and Francine Cacho won second runner-up.


For the culminating event, the Battle of the Bands, the House of Sunburst Mavericks bagged the champion award, while the House of Crystal Cascades followed in second place, and the House of Burgeon Willows landed in third place. 


At long last, the organizers finally announced the houses who were victorious, with the House of Sunburst Mavericks reigning as the overall champions, the House of Amber Cloves earning the title of first runner-up, and the House of Burgeon Willows ending as the second runner-up. However, after re-tabulation, the council posted on its Facebook page that the House of Crystal Cascades was the one that rightfully sat as the second runner-up.


These Seasonal Warriors have truly shown their wits, skills, and courageousness in the different fields of academia and sports—and as they do so, they are able to fully exemplify the uniqueness and strength of an Eagle.


Continuing to soar through the different seasons of life as the colorful worlds unfold here at the SAS department, all for our unity. 


Photo courtesy of Tomas Quevedo

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