The Catanduanes State University finished second best among Bicol State Colleges and Universities (SUCs) in the recently concluded PASUC V Culture and Arts Festival held April 28-30, 2022 at the CatSU Main Campus.
It was proclaimed 1st Runner-Up to Bicol University’s over-all championship, with the recognition affording CatSU a prominent place in the culture and arts map of the region.
The other winners are: Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology, 2nd Runner-Up; Camarines Sur Polytechnic College, 3rd Runner-Up; and Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, 4th Runner-Up.
The festival is a once-in-two-years contest among SUC students in 25 categories in the visual, literary, musical and dance arts, and a search for the Mr. & Ms. PASUC V. Winners will represent Bicol in the national level competition.
In CatSU’s initial venture to host such an event, it was also the first time that the university fielded an almost complete slate to the competitions.
Compared to previous editions where it had very minimal participation, the recent event was therefore a remarkable breakthrough made by the current administration headed by CatSU President Dr. Patrick Alain T. Azanza.
In all, CAtSU student participants amassed first prizes in five events, namely, Painting (Jamela A. Delos Reyes, coach – Aristeo T. Manlagnit); Pencil Drawing (John Ely V. Fajardo, coach- Walter P. Panti); Show Choir (CatSU Student Chorale, coach – Dr. Jose Z. Tria); Solo OPM (Haneleen T. Padilla, coach – Jose Z. Tria); and Story-telling (Nikki M. Tabuzo, coach – Jaime T. Amante).
Other awards reaped by CatSU include: 3rd place, Contemporary Dance (coach – Charles Tresmanio); 4th place, Street Dance (coach – Berma Marie G. Bautista); 3rd place, Essay-Writing (Daniel Jacob M. Teaño, coach – Dr. Susan M. Tindugan); 3rd place, Sanaysay (Mei Anne S. Dayta, coach – Dr. Susan M. Tindugan); 5th place Dagliang Talumpati (Chocke M. Cabahug, coach Ma. Zofia S. Llaguno); 4th place, Pagkukuwento (Joan Zyra Villegas, coach – Jaime T. Amante); 2nd place, Standard Chorale (CatSU Student Chorale, coach – Dr. Jose Z. Tria); 3rd place, Solo Kundiman (Janelle Andrelie R. Tapit, coach – Dr. Jose Z. Tria); 4th place, Vocal Duet (Janina D. Collantes and Jericho R. Delantar, coach – Dr. Jose Z. Tria); 2nd place, Short and Sweet Play (Reashiela L. Khan – coach); 4th place, Radio Drama (coach – Dr. Jose Z. Tria); 3rd place, Charcoal Rendering (Donna Mae L. Callos, coach – Walter P. Panti); 2nd place, Poster-Making (Oliver Flores, coach – Isiah Jim Torillos); 5th place, Photography (Adelmo IV Rubio, coach – Giles Martin S. Camacho); 4th place, Mr. PASUC V (France Laurence Asanza, coach – Zyra Mae T. Tumala); 4th place, Ms. PASUC V (Eva Alessandra M. Subion, coach – Zyra Mae T. Tumala).
“Such a good showing by CatSU,” according to Dr. Ramon Felipe A. Sarmiento, Chair of the Festival Management Committee, “signals the University’s revitalization of its culture and arts program.”
He notes that CatSU used to have a vibrant and robust advocacy for the arts, principally realized through the Hablon Dawani or the erstwhile CSC Society of Performing Arts that lorded it over in the theatre scene in the province.
Plans are underway to revive the Hablon under the auspices of the Center for Catandungan Heritage at CatSU, an initiative of Dr. Sarmiento who is also the University’s Vice President for Research, Extension and Production Affairs.
The renaissance of the arts, it must be noted, is essential aspect of Dr. Parick Azanza’s multi-faceted vision for CatSU as he ushers it to the imperatives of the future.