The Official Student OUR LADY OF THE Publication of PILLAR COLLEGE - CAUAYAN, INC. VOLUME II, ISSUE NO. I, A.Y. 2026-202 7
CNM snatches back the crown
by Criza Louise TAM BALO
SALUS REIGNS: College of Nursin and Midwifery (CN g overall champion M) reclaimed the Sociocultural, andship title in the Sports, 2026, showcasing Literary Festival excellence as a trutheir versatility and across various come jack of all trades petitions.
use of Salus, rep resenting the dwifery (CNM) rec T inMithe laimed the overaCollege of Nursing and ll championship Sports, Socio he Ho
cultural and Lit title finishing as first runner-up last ye erary Festival 2026 after ar. Driven by intensifi ed preparations, share driven departmen and determinatio d effort demonstrate ver t and satility in the title, CNM em n to regain various fields of co mp as champion onceerged “I felt so proud an etition. ag ain , showcasing its exc fulfilled that unde d across athletic, lite ellence leadership, the titlr my sociocultural comprary and brought back to e was us. I think eti tions. everyone in our de Jonard Morales, Philippine Nursin is just so happy thapartment g Students’ Association (PNMS time, CNM-the jac t this President, highlighA) trades-excelled, wok of all ted the department’s su integrity and eve n with ntually their rigorous traccess to became the OVER ining and the unity of its me CHAMPION this ALL yea mbers. r,” Morales shared. “Definitely, ou intensive trainingr super The House of Salus s. Th is victory yea r, we just didn’t set marked CNM’s ret tle for the bare minimum; we the top of the sp urn to ort tried to go beyond it... standings, reflec sfest Everyone teamed up and wo department’s peting the rke d synergistically,” Mo unity and comm rseverance rales said. excellence. Throuitment to For him, reclaiming gh every the championship pro victories and defea CNM could excel ved that proved that its cap ts, CNM its identity as a hebeyond extend beyond theabilities althcare nursing profession.
To get more updates from THE PILLAR’S VOICE
Aequitas, Salus reign as Pillarican Ambassador and Ambassadress 2026 PAGE 4
PAGE 5
The Official Student Publication of OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR COLLEGE - CAUAYAN, INC.
Fr. Guingab calls for stewardship as Holy Mass opens Sportsfest, Season of Creation
VOLUME II, ISSUE NO. I, A.Y. 2026-2027
The Official Student Publication of OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR COLLEGE - CAUAYAN, INC. VOLUME II, ISSUE NO. I, A.Y. 2026-2027
bythenumbers
MEDAL
by Jhona Mae S. MARACANIAG
R
Rev. Fr. Marc Glen Y. Guingab, LPT, urged Pillaricans to become responsible stewards of God’s creation as the Holy Eucharistic Mass opened the Sports, Sociocultural and Literary Fest 2026 and marked the start of the Season of Creation on September 2 at Our Lady of the Pillar College–Cauayan. In his homily, Fr. Guingab reflected on Matthew 6:24–34, reminding the school community to place their trust in God’s providence rather than be consumed by worries about material needs and daily life. He emphasized Jesus’ call to “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness,” encouraging the community to strengthen their faith and allow it to guide their actions and decisions. Fr. Guingab also connected the Gospel message to the Season of Creation, emphasizing humanity’s responsibility to care for and protect the environment. Beyond environmental stewardship, Fr. Guingab encouraged students to recognize and make meaningful use of their talents, abilities and knowledge. He reminded them that the gifts they have received are meant not only for personal growth but also to benefit others. As the weeklong festival gets underway, Pillaricans were encouraged to embody faith through action by using their God-given gifts responsibly, treating others with goodness and fulfilling their role as stewards of creation.
PASSION
TALLY
MATCH
Flores officially opens Sports, Sociocultural, Literary Fest 2026
Official and Final Result of Sports, Sociocultural, and Literary Fest 2026.
by Denmarc A. NGAYAN
CNM 19-19-4
BEYOND COMPETITION: OLPCC President Exuperio V. Flores Jr., Ph.D., opens the Sports, Sociocultural and Literary Fest 2026, urging students to uphold faith, unity, excellence, and sportsmanship on September 2.
O
ur Lady of the Pillar College-Cauayan (OLPCC) officially opened its Sports, Sociocultural and Literary Fest 2026 during an opening program led by the school President Exuperio V. Flores Jr., Ph.D., at the OLPCC Grandstand on Wednesday, September 2. In his message, Flores emphasized the importance of faith and service in Catholic education, reminding students that excellence should be anchored in these values. “Excellence is synonymous with Catholic education,” Flores said. He also urged the students to uphold unity and sportsmanship throughout the competition, emphasizing that healthy competition should strengthen rather than damage relationships. “Compete, but do not fight. Disagree, but
Mercatus secures podium finish in Dance Sport competition by Akira DONATO MERCATUS SHINES: House of Mercatus (CBA) struck gold in both the Modern Standard and Latin American categories, earning multiple podium finishes at the Dance Sport Competition of the Sports, Sociocultural, and Literary Festival 2026.
disagree carefully,” Flores said. The opening program also featured a Bungkai performance by Criminology students, followed by the formal presentation of the eight competing houses: Novus, Lex, Nexus, Aequitas, Veritas, Mercatus, Hospes and Salus. The festival brings together OLPCC students in various sports, sociocultural activities and literary competitions, highlighting not only their skills and talents but also the values of teamwork, discipline, camaraderie, and sportsmanship.
T
COA 14-10-16 CBA 6-7-5 COC 6-3-5 CTED 4-4-6 CHM 3-2-1 SHS 2-5-14 CITE 1-3-2
he House of Mercatus (CBA) secured a podium finish in the Dance Sport Competition after winning gold medals in the Modern Standard and Latin American categories during the Sports, Sociocultural and Literary Festival 2026 at Our Lady of the Pillar College-Cauayan (OLPCC), Inc. on September 2 at the Msgr. Marino D. Gatan H.P. Memorial Hall. In the Modern Standard category, Mercatus won gold in the Slow Waltz, Quickstep and Grade C-3 Dance Marathon while placing second in Tango. The house also dominated the Latin American category, claiming gold in ChaCha-Cha and Rumba and silver in Jive and the Grade C-3 Dance Marathon. Jomerson B. Rigon, a CBA student who competed in two categories, said the limited training period pushed the team to maximize every practice session. “Since limited lang yung time namin for
training, talagang nag-focus at nag-effort kami para mabilis naming ma-prepare ang routines namin,” Rigon said. Despite the demanding schedule and the challenge of competing in two categories, Rigon said he prepared himself physically and mentally for the competition. Mercatus’ performance underscored the dancers’ preparation, discipline and teamwork, contributing to the house’s strong showing in the festival’s sociocultural competitions.
RECLAIMED Aequitas dominates literary competition by Khira GARCIA BEYOND NUMBERS: The College of Accountancy (COA) dominated the Literary Competition, showcasing their creativity, intellect and mastery of words as they proved that excellence extends beyond numbers and into the realm of expression
T
he College of Accountancy (Aequitas) emerged as the top-performing department, securing seven of the 14 gold medals at stake in the Literary Competition of the Sports, Sociocultural and Literary Fest 2026, on September 3. Living up to its mantra, “Utak at Puso,” Aequitas secured top honors in several events that tested the students’ critical thinking, creativity, communication and writing skills. The department claimed gold in the Debate Cup, Best Speaker, Feature Writing–English, News Writing–English, News Writing–Filipino, Poster Making and Quiz Bee. Meanwhile, the College of Nursing and Midwifery (CNM) secured gold in Essay Writing– Filipino, Extemporaneous Speech and Dagliang Talumpati. The College of Teacher Education (CTED) claimed both Poetry Writing– English and Poetry Writing– Filipino while the Senior High School (SHS) and College of Information Technology Education (CITE) took gold
in Feature Writing–Filipino and Essay Writing–English, respectively. The Literary Competition featured a series of intellectual and creative events, including debate, feature and news writing, poetry and essay writing, poster making, extemporaneous speech, dagliang talumpati and quiz bee, bringing together students from different departments in a celebration of talent, creativity and intellect. Beyond the medals, the competition highlighted the students’ ability to think critically, express ideas effectively and perform under pressure, proving that the Sportsfest 2026 was not only a celebration of athletic talent but also of wit, creativity and intellect.
bythenumbers
College of Accountancy’s Literary Medal Harvest
The Official Student Publication of OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR COLLEGE - CAUAYAN, INC. VOLUME II, ISSUE NO. I, A.Y. 2026-2027
ROYAL
VICTORY U
Veritas, Aequitas claim Scrabble championships by Eunice R. GUZMAN
VOLUME II, ISSUE NO. I, A.Y. 2026-2027
Aequitas, Salus reign as Pillarican Ambassador and Ambassadress 2026 by Jashrin PUNGTILAN
Midwifery (CNM) were named Pillarican Ambassadress and Ambassador of Tourism 2026. As the awarding continued, Mary Mendelyn Malana of the College of Business Administration (CBA) and Mark Joseph Sugpatan of the College of Criminology (COC) clinched the Pillarican Ambassadress and Ambassador of Culture and Arts 2026 titles. Throughout the competition, candidates took on several segments, including production number, departmental shirt and jeans wear, school uniform, sportswear and advocacy presentation, showcasing different facets of their personalities while representing their departments. With new crowns placed and new responsibilities ahead, the Search for Mr. and Ms. Pillarican 2026 closed not only with the announcement of winners but with two new representatives ready to carry the Pillarican name beyond the stage.
CBA, COA claim men’s badminton crowns by Kate TACCAD
T
PILLARICAN PRIDE: Shamiya Uy of the College of Nursing and Midwifery (CNM) and Jhullian Paul Pascua of the College of Accountancy (COA) were hailed as Pillarican Ambassadress and Ambassador 2026, respectively, embodying confidence, excellence and the spirit of the Pillarican community during the Sports, Sociocultural, and Literary Festival 2026.
nder the gleam of stage lights and amid the thunderous cheers that filled the Msgr. Marino D. Gatan, H.P. Memorial Hall, Jhullian Paul Pascua and Shamia Uy rose above the competition to claim the Pillarican Ambassador and Ambassadress 2026 crowns, September 4. The Search for Mr. and Ms. Pillarican gathered representatives from various academic departments in a competition that put their stage presence, versatility and advocacy to the test. Pascua capped his winning campaign with eight special awards— Mr. Photogenic, Mr. Winsome Smile, Best in Production Number, Runway Model, Best in Department Shirt, Darling of the Crowd, Best in Uniform Attire and Best in Sportswear. At the same time, Uy, collected six special recognitions before securing the top female crown, namely: Best in Production Number, Best in Departmental Shirt and Jeans Wear, Best in School Uniform, Best in Sportswear, Darling of the Crown and Best in Advocacy Presentation. Other titles were also conferred during the competition. Nathalie Balmaceda of the College of Accountancy (COA) and Jasper Rico Tulay of the College of Nursing and
T
The Official Student Publication of OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR COLLEGE - CAUAYAN, INC.
he College of Business Administration (CBA) and College of Accountancy (COA) struck gold in men’s badminton, ruling the Singles and Doubles events, respectively, during the Sports Fest 2026 at the Our Lady of the Pillar College-Cauayan Junior High School on September 5. CBA’s Jeffrey Miomio outlasted a player from the College of Information Technology and Engineering (CITE) in a thrilling three-set showdown, 2–1, to claim the Men’s Singles crown. The match tested Miomio’s composure as the tournament’s one-day format left little room for error. With every point carrying greater weight, he shifted his approach when the pressure mounted. Meanwhile, COA captured the Men’s Doubles title, completing a strong showing for the department in the badminton competition. Despite the tightly packed schedule and grueling elimination rounds, the tournament showcased the players’ skill, endurance and competitive spirit with CBA and COA emerging as the day’s top finishers in the men’s events.
he House of Veritas (CTED) and Aequitas (COA) emerged as Scrabble champions in the men and women categories, respectively, during the Sports Fest 2026. Al Vincent F. Lacuna of the House of Veritas (CTED) clinched the championship in the Scrabble Men’s Category, securing the gold medal. The House of Salus (CNM) secured silver while the House of Aequitas (COA) took bronze. Reflecting on his victory, Lacuna expressed his excitement, saying, “Pretty proud. I’ve won some medals for sports fest events before but this is the first time I’ve ever won ‘gold’ for any of ‘em. Suffice to say, it’s a pretty big deal.” He also credited the encouragement he received from his peers and mentors adding, “And
to hear all my peers and mentors cheer for me and stuff, it’s nice.” Meanwhile, Princess Lyrehs Montemayor of the House of Aequitas (COA) captured the championship in the Scrabble Women’s Category after finishing the competition undefeated. Montemayor expressed her gratitude for the victory, describing it as a comeback following her previous experience in the competition. “Very grateful kasi last year nung second year ako gold din ako kaso may ka-tie for my third year, nag-bronze lang ako, and this year, it feels like
a comeback kasi parang akin lang talaga,” she shared. The House of Salus (CNM) claimed silver, while the House of Veritas (CTED) earned bronze. The final placements were determined through points after the three departments finished tied in the competition. With determination and strategic skill throughout the competition, Lacuna and Montemayor demonstrated their mastery of Scrabble, securing championship titles and bringing pride to their respective houses.
Criminology dept clinches basketball championship by Princess Keith DALIDA
LEX RISES: House of Lex from the College of Criminology (COC) captured the Basketball 5x5 championship title after defeating House of Mercatus (CBA) in the finals, showcasing teamwork, resilience and determination on the court.
T
he House of Lex of the College of Criminology (COC) clinched the basketball 5x5 championship after defeating the House of Mercatus of the College of Business Administration (CBA) in the finals of the 2026 Sportsfest of Our Lady of the Pillar College–Cauayan (OLPCC). The competition opened on September 2 with eight houses facing off in four opening-day matchups. COC player Gian James Cular expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete and earn a medal in the Sportsfest. “Thankful po kami dahil nagkaroon po kami ng chance na makalaro at magkaroon ng medalya,” Cular said. The House of Aequitas of the College of Accountancy (COA) defeated the House of Novus of the Senior High School (SHS), 78–65 while the House of Nexus of the College of Information Technology and Engineering (CITE) downed the House of Veritas of the College of Teacher Education (CTED), 74–40. The House of Lex defeated the House of Hospes of the College of Hospitality Management (CHM), 78–50, in the third game, while the House
of Mercatus defeated the House of Salus of the College of Nursing and Midwifery (CNM), 60–43. The results advanced Aequitas, Nexus, Lex and Mercatus to the succeeding rounds. In the semifinals, Lex defeated Nexus to secure the first championship berth while Mercatus defeated Hospes to claim the second finals spot. Hospes later defeated Nexus in the battle for third place to secure the bronze medal. In the championship game, Lex defeated Mercatus to claim the gold medal, leaving Mercatus with silver and Hospes with bronze. With that victory, the House of Lex emerged as the basketball 5x5 champion, concluding the competition with a goldmedal finish in the 2026 OLPCC Sportsfest.
The College of Criminology also won the 5×5 basketball championship last year, successfully defending their title this year.
The Official Student Publication of OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR COLLEGE - CAUAYAN, INC. VOLUME II, ISSUE NO. I, A.Y. 2026-2027
GOLDEN
MOVES
CNM, COA, COC capture chess golds in Sportsfest 2026 by Kristine PERALTA CHECKMATE CHAMPIONS: Houses of Salus (CNM), Aequitas (COA), and Lex (COC) captured gold medals in the Chess Competition, showcasing calculated moves, strategic thinking and mental resilience.
T
The Official Student Publication of OUR LADY OF THE PILLAR COLLEGE - CAUAYAN, INC. VOLUME II, ISSUE NO. I, A.Y. 2026-2027
he College of Nursing and Midwifery (CNM), College of Accountancy (COA) and College of Criminology (COC) captured gold medals in the chess competition during the Our Lady of the Pillar College-Cauayan (OLPCC) Sports, Sociocultural and Literary Fest 2026 at the OLPCC Library on September 3. CNM’s House of Salus dominated the competition, securing two of the four gold medals in the Women’s Board 1 and Men’s Board 1 divisions. COA’s House of Aequitas won Women’s Board 2 while COC’s House of Lex claimed the Men’s Board 2 championship. Joyce Pascua of CNM topped Women’s Board 1 with COA settling for silver and CBA’s House of Mercatus taking bronze. COA emerged victorious in Women’s Board 2, followed by CNM and the Senior High School’s House of Novus in second and third place, respectively. In Men’s Board 1, CNM took the gold, followed by COC and COA.
COC also secured the top spot in Men’s Board 2 with CNM placing second and COA third. COC’s Vinz Cusi captured the gold in Men’s Board 2. The competition required players to make calculated decisions and anticipated their opponents’ moves throughout the matches. For Pascua, the biggest challenge was managing her own thoughts and calculations. “My own thoughts, my own calculations towards my moves,” Pascua said. Cusi, meanwhile, identified facing skilled opponents as the most difficult part of the competition. Despite having limited time
to prepare, Pascua reviewed her previous games and studied her mistakes while Cusi focused on giving his best during every match. Both players also drew motivation from the people who supported them. Pascua credited her “beloved department” for motivating her throughout the competition, while Cusi thanked those who encouraged him to believe that he could win. Looking ahead, Cusi encouraged future chess players not to be afraid of losing. “Wag sila matakot matalo,” he said, adding that losses can serve as motivation to improve and become stronger.
Hospes claims the throne, crushes Salus in Volleyball Men 2026 by Princess LUCSON
by Carlo RIVERA
CHAMPIONS RISE: House of Hospes (Hospitality Management) captured the men’s volleyball championship title after defeating House of Salus (Nursing and Midwifery), 3-1, in a thrilling final showdown.
aking up from their third-set slumber, the House of Hospes (Hospitality Management)
the House of Salus (Nursing and Midwifery), 3-1 (25-14, 25-19, 11-25, 25-23), in the W clobbered men’s volleyball championship match at the Sports Fest held at the OLPC-C Volleyball Court on September 4.
Pillaricans gathered around the court to watch the spectacular game between Hospes and Salus, as the two teams faced off for the first time, battling for the championship crown. Under the blazingì afternoon sun, cheers erupted from every corner, shaking the court with every point as both teams battled relentlessly to bring home another gold for their department. Hospes got off to a strong opening and mercilessly dominated Salus, maintaining their composure and relentless pressure throughout the first two sets, taking both with decisive scores of 25-14 and 25-19. Salus retaliated and anchored their offense, claiming the third set with a commanding 14-point lead , putting Hospes within striking distance of a comeback, 11-25. Both teams were determined to take control of the fourth set, with Salus fighting to force a deciding set and tie the score while Hospes sought to end the game by securing the victory. The battle for momentum intensified as both teams traded points, refusing to give ground until Hospes managed to pull ahead and maintain their lead, closing out the fourth set at 25-23 and securing the championship.
Carlo James M. Simon, a second-year BS Hospitality Management student and first-time captain ball, expressed his joy over the team’s championship, “Masarap po sa pakiramdam kasi ngayon lang po nag-champion ang HM.” Despite being his first time taking on the role, Simon and his teammates remained committed to their preparation, “Nag-training po kami, one time kada week kapag kami ang naka-schedule sa court,” he added. Their coach, Mark Andy O. Bellen of the Property Custodian Office, shared his mixed emotions over the game. “Kasi ang Crim, well-balanced and marami rin silang roster. On the other hand, sa HM, fighting seven lang, Avengers kasi pito lang silang players,” he explained. Despite having only seven players, Belen said they initially aimed for a podium finish but unexpectedly secured the gold. “Ine-aim namin na magka-podium finish, unexpectedly, nakasungkit kami ng gold,” he added. The win added another gold medal to Hospes’ collection while Salus bagged the silver and House of Lex (Criminology) claimed the bronze after defeating House of Novus (Senior High School), their championship opponent from last year.
Lex retains the crown, demolishes Salus in Volleyball Women 2026 by Princess LUCSON
A
fter falling short in the first set, the House of Lex (Criminology) defended their throne, dominating the next three sets to beat the House of Salus (Nursing and Midwifery), 3-1 (22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-18) in the women’s volleyball championship at the Sports, Culture, and Literary Festival, held at the OLPC-C Volleyball Court on September 4. The two departments faced each other once again on the court. Tracing back to last year’s Sportsfest, both teams were also the ones who competed for the championship, where Lex snatched the crown from Salus. Now, with Salus attempting to reclaim what was once theirs, they made a strong start in the opening salvo, scoring three more points against Lex to secure the first set, 22-25. However, Lex turned the tables in the second set, reversing the momentum with a 25-22 victory. From there, they continued to hold their ground, putting more pressure on Salus and securing the third and fourth sets with the same 25-18 score, ultimately finishing the game with a 7-point lead and keeping the championship crown in their hands. Lex’s captain ball, Aevril Shekinah B. Malangen, a 3rd-year BS Criminology athlete, revealed that their team faced difficulties in preparing for the Sportsfest, especially when it came to finding volleyball players who would represent their department. She further expressed her gratitude despite the challenges they encountered, “Hindi po nag-si-sink in sa’kin, pero sobrang grateful kami kasi despite na hindi kami kumpleto sa training, nairaos namin maglaro.” With Lex securing the gold medal, Salus finished with silver, while House of Aequitas (Accountancy) secured the final podium spot, denying House of Novus (Senior High School) the chance to claim third place and taking home the bronze medal this year.
Publication of The Official Student PILLAR COLLEGE - CAUAYAN, INC. OUR LADY OF THE 7 NO. I, A.Y. 2026-202 E ISSU II, UME VOL
CONSULTANT , Ph.D. Franklin L, Soriano VISER AD R SCHOOL PAPE-Manligoy, MAED Felma E. Melad IEF EDITOR-IN-CH balo Criza Louise P. Tam R-IN-CHIEF ITO ED ASSOCIATE Fernandez Mark Kevin C. ITOR MANAGING ED Garcia Khira Cassandra M. R NEWS EDITOMa caraniag Jhona Mae S. R ITO ED FEATURE ta Kristine Joy A. Peral R ITO ED SPORTS Luczon Princess Esther R. R LITERARY EDITO ste Annie Rose C. Laca
reign Aequitas, Salus an ric lla Pi as d Ambassador an 26 Ambassadress 20 PAGE 4
TS LAYOUT ARTIS ile F WRITER Mariel W. TabS. SENIOR STAF utista Ba tilan Cyril Joshua Jashrin G. Pung Rivera es Shemiah Dante M. Jonard A. Moralust Precious A. Ag in / HIC JUNIOR GRAP TS WRITERS YOUT ARTIS t LA JUNIOR STAFFA. Taccad Angelina J. Dayri Kate YesabelleL. Da Mogatas lida Rosmin Andrei C. Princess Keith F. Ayup Marianne Imee /VIDEOGRAPHER JUNIOR MEDIAD. Angelo B. Riveraayan tthew Silaouayan Ma an Ng Eth A. arc nm De D. La nato Csharitz Marionne Akira Vea B. Do Tactac Rob Renei Ju N. Eunice R. Guzman RTOONIST OURNALIST EDITORIAL CA CHIEF PHOTOJ C. Rivera ez er nd sp Ja rna rlo Fe A. Ca e Ferly Ma R OURNALISTS VIDEO EDITO SENIOR PHOTI.OJ Hernandez Jean V. Ballares Darlene Anica Tej a Angel Anne L. ad OJOURNALIST JUNIOR PHOT rez Lhara Mae M. Rami / LAYOUT ARTIST CHIEF GRAPHIC A. Sadio Micaiah Sigryle HIC / SENIOR GRAP
tes from To get more upda ICE VO ’S AR THE PILL
PAGE 5