University News 02 CAS prevails in first-ever La Salud Fest

by DANICA ROSE QUINDAP

Invigorated with festive costumes, the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) secured the championship title for the Streetdance and Dance Arena Competition in the first-ever La Salud Festival during the opening ceremony of University Week 2023 at the University Amphitheater, Nov. 13.

“When I heard that our number was called, I immediately thanked Our Lord and offered everything for the glory of God and to Our Lady of Health because this festival honors her. This [victory] is for the whole Artian community, who sacrificed their time and effort to make history,” CAS Governor Laika Mari Watanabe said.

Watanabe also emphasized that despite them lacking preparations, they were still able to showcase the Artians’ spirit that led them to triumph.

“The qualities that made the college win the title are the unity among the CAS Family, from the costumes and foods, and monitoring the practices. One CAS in embracing the depths and excellence,” CAS Dean Anabee Magbanua-Claur, PhD, said.

Dean Claur also expressed her gratitude towards the CAS faculty, students, and council for the victory that the college received.

The reintroduction and reviving of devotion to Nuestra Señora De La Salud inspired the festival dance competition theme.

“This year, we [the university] introduce a new identity to our celebration, the cultural and spiritual, through reviving our tradition of festivities and our devotion to Our Lady of Health, Nuestra Señora de La Salud,” Vice-President for Identity, Formation, and Mission, and University Week 2023 Chairman, Rev. Fr. Leo Alaras, OAR, said.

Parading their smiles and team spirit, Luisa Medel National High School (LMNHS) once again secured their championship title besting six secondary schools across Negros Occidental for the Drum and Lyre competition at the University Ampitheatre, Nov. 13.

“We are super happy because all our efforts in preparing for the competition paid off. I was worried at first because most of our members are new and we were pressured because [Luisa] Medel [National High School] has always been the champion for drum and lyre,” LMNHS Mother Majorette Ashley Homena said.

The Best Trainer during the competition was also awarded to LMNHS Band Master Agosto Ferrer.

Moreover, the College of Business and Accountancy (CBA) nabbed the awards for Best in Costume, Best in Choreography, and Best in Arena Dance, while the College for Criminal Justice Education (CCJE) won the Most Disciplined award.

In addition, the CBA, College of Allied Medical Health Sciences, and CCJE earned first, second, and third runners-up, respectively.

(TNHS) was given the Best Mother Majorette Award.

“I am so happy because this is my first time to join and I was also awarded the Best Mother Majorette,” TNHS Mother Majorette Elreign Kei Celis Ochon said.

Drum and Lyre Competition

Chairman Fritz Palma said that this is the first time that the University Week celebration was in time for the Feast of Nuestra Señora de la Salud.

“Fr. [Leo] Alaras and I were talking and we [were] hoping that next year, we will not only have seven contenders but ten,” Drum and Lyre Competition Chairman Fritz Palma said in his closing remarks.

by KIA MARIE COSCOLLUELA

Moreover, Elreign Kei Celis Ochon of Tabao National High School

Moreover, Lopez Jaena National High School (LJNHS), and TNHS, were first and second runners up, respectively.

Representatives from the University offices, councils, and college departments kicked off the University Week celebration with the caravan of vehicles as they marched on the streets of Bacolod City, Nov. 13.

“The UNORian experience is not just limited to the UNORians but also include everyone who wants to feel and experience it on hand and in person,” University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos Supreme Student Government President Dustin Ryan Veridiano said.

Veridiano further expounded that with this being an open house event, it further exemplifies to everyone this year’s theme of “Embracing Depth and Excellence,” as it encapsulates the spirit of being a UNORian.

“We want to show to the public that we, as a university, are united. We also want to show to them that we celebrate that fact not just inside the campus, but outside as well,” Veridiano added.

The event started off with a drumbeater demonstration as the caravan rolled out of the campus with a security entourage of Philippine National Police traffic enforcers.

The convoy made its way towards La Salle Avenue, with the colleges’ Miss UNOR representatives at the forefront of each transport, circling back through Lacson St., and finishing its voyage back where it started, which was at the UNO-R campus.