Gicel Roger Salvilla, News, Communication Management Office
Sintang Paaralan emerged as the Overall Champion in the 12th Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) Regional Culture and the Arts Festival 2026, held from March 2 to 6, 2026, carrying the theme “Pagsaulog [To Celebrate]: Honoring our Cultural Heritage and Treasures.” The regional festival was hosted by the Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST) and gathered seven state universities and colleges in the National Capital Region (NCR) in a vibrant celebration of artistic excellence and cultural heritage.
Participating universities included PUP, Philippine Normal University (PNU), Rizal Technological University (RTU), EARIST, National Aviation Academy of the Philippines (NAAP), Technological University of the Philippines (TUP), and Marikina Polytechnic College (MPC). Delegates competed in 42 competitions under six categories—Visual Arts, Music, Dance Arts, Literary Arts, Dramatic Arts, and Mr. and Ms. PASUC—showcasing the diverse talents of student artists across the region.
Demonstrating remarkable creativity, discipline, and teamwork, PUP secured the Overall Championship title with a total of 284 points, achieving 31 podium finishes composed of 11 Gold medals, 16 Silver medals, and 4 Bronze medals. Philippine Normal University (PNU) placed second with 275 points, while Rizal Technological University (RTU) ranked third with 207 points, marking a highly competitive regional festival.
As part of its participation in the festival, PUP hosted the Dramatic Arts Category, which took place at the PUP M. H. Del Pilar Campus on March 6, 2026, highlighting theatrical performances and dramatic productions from the participating institutions.
According to Director Bely R. Ygot of the University Center for Culture and the Arts (UCCA), the victory represents a major milestone for the university, especially after years of consistently placing second or third overall. He emphasized that the goal was always to strengthen the university’s presence in national competitions, noting that “what we wanted was to bring most of the PUPians to the Nationals,” a vision that motivated the cultural groups to push beyond previous limitations.
Director Ygot also reflected on the challenges faced in past competitions, particularly the limitations in funding and availability of trainers. Despite these constraints, the university introduced new initiatives that helped strengthen the preparation of cultural groups.
He explained that “throughout the years, we’ve always been number two, and this year we’ve made an innovation by creating the screening across the campuses within Metro Manila,” which allowed the university to identify and develop more student artists. The process also attracted strong support from faculty members and alumni, as he observed that “we had more volunteer faculty members and support from these dynamic faculty members, and I’ve seen how they also wanted to help out in terms of empowering and strengthening the cultural groups.”
Recognizing the role of mentors and coaches in shaping the university’s cultural community, Director Ygot encouraged younger faculty members to continue building the network that supports student artists. He emphasized the importance of leadership and growth in cultural education, sharing his message that “to all young faculty members, be better—have the better potential opportunities than we have,” while also affirming the commitment of the University Center for Culture and the Arts to further strengthen its programs as he stated that “we promise to be better in 2028.”
Looking ahead, the office also plans to expand opportunities for cultural collaboration beyond national competitions. Director Ygot shared that one of the long-term goals of the UCCA is “to ensure the development of cultural groups” by building stronger platforms for artistic growth, adding that the next step is “to target international country for partnership,” which could open opportunities for global cultural and artistic engagement.
Following their victories, all gold medalists from NCR will represent the region in the National PASUC Culture and the Arts Festival, which will take place on April 8–11, 2026 at West Visayas State University in Iloilo, where they will compete with champions from other regions across the country.
Beyond the medals and recognitions, the achievement reflects the university’s continued commitment to cultural development and artistic excellence. The festival also contributes to the advancement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by promoting holistic student development through arts education, SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by celebrating and preserving cultural heritage, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through collaborative efforts among universities, faculty, alumni, and cultural practitioners. Through initiatives such as the PASUC Culture and the Arts Festival, institutions strengthen cultural identity while empowering young artists to become active contributors to the nation’s creative and cultural landscape.
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