Over the month of June, this year’s University Vision-Mission Week (UVMW) was celebrated through activities and initiatives centered around the theme, “Sandiwa: Adhikaing Likha Para sa Kapwa.” While kicked off in high spirits, the supposedly joyful commemoration of the University’s 113th founding anniversary was mired with controversies and public scrutiny.
Homage to Lasallian values
This year’s UVMW sparked festivities last June 14 at the Henry Sy Sr. Hall grounds with the Adarna opening ceremony, featuring musical performances from the Animo Squad, DLSU Chorale, and the DLSU Harlequin Theatre Guild.
More activities, including Animo Feud, an adaptation of the popular game show “Family Feud,” and an advocacy mural emphasizing the victories, institutional values, and core value of communion of the University further energized the opener.
A worship concert took place on the same day at the Chapel of the Most Blessed Sacrament for AGAPE 2024: Worship Concert with performers from the Lasallian community alongside New Life Philippines and Christ’s Youth in Action.
From June 19 to 26, various organizations and University Student Government (USG) units offered interest classes for the Lasallian Enrichment Alternative Program (LEAP) with the theme “LEAP2024: Emotions Unveiled.” Among these classes was a bingo event, AniGo: Tara BinGo Tayo at the Henry Sy Sr. Hall grounds. An array of workshops were also offered, from the basics of crocheting to a collaborative makeup class. The yearly Animosaic was offered as a LEAP class this time around, gathering Lasallians to form the Signum Fidei symbol.
The UVMW Bazaar also saw booths and food concessionaires along benches near the Br. Bloemen Hall, St. Miguel Hall, Velasco Hall, Don Enrique T. Yuchengco Hall, and St. Joseph Hall from June 10 to 22.
Showcasing musicality, talent
A week before opening day, on June 5, the annual Lasallian Showtime gathered 10 Lasallian talents for a friendly music competition. Vera Arveri emerged as this year’s grand winner through a commanding delivery of her original composition, In My Manic Metanoia. Murline Uddin and ANIBINI followed as first and second runners-up, respectively.
During the night, another display of Lasallian artistry was witnessed by students at the Battle of the Bands 2024: Tinig ng Pagkakaisa. Among six finalists, a rock performance by The Crazy Corgis clinched the championship, while Tres Por Tres and GARACHONG were proclaimed second and third placers, respectively.
Arveri and The Crazy Corgis returned to the stage at Animusika 2024, the grand finale of the Manila Campus UVMW, on June 21 at the Henry Sy Sr. Hall grounds. Headlined by big names such as Lola Amour, Cup of Joe, and Al James, the concert brought a variety of Pinoy tunes from Sponge Cola, of Mercury, syd hartha, to surprise guest stars Sean Archer and SB19 member Josh Cullen.
Blooming in Biñan
The fun of UVMW was also very much alive in the Laguna Campus. Among the key events in Biñan was an advocacy run around the 32-acre campus last June 22 for YAKAP 2024: Blooming Intro Growth, aimed toward the causes of Pride, drug prevention, mental health, and women empowerment.
Two days later, on June 24, merchants set up shop for the Viva LaSalo Bazaar, selling various food, clothing, and K-Pop merchandise along the Milagros R. Del Rosario Main Road until June 28.
Lasallians also made sure to give back to the community through the Dugtong-Buhay blood drive on June 26, organized by the Lasallian Mission Office, Philippine Red Cross, and De La Salle Red Cross Youth.
The celebration’s final leg was held through a series of events in Family Day 2024, which began with GreenDash 2024: Lasallian Fun Run, where Lasallians laced up for another run around campus organized by the Senior High School Department of Accountancy, Business, and Management & Sports Track.
During the day, students exhibited their artistic passions at the Sandiwa ArtBlock, presented a flair of Lasallian excellence at Talent Quest 2024, and enjoyed a grandiose night of music brought by students and local artists—headlined by OPM alternative rock band Mayonnaise—at the MusikaVerde music event.
Out of tune
The festivities were not without controversy, as the days leading up to and during Animusika were met with negative criticism from Lasallians. Unlike previous iterations, this year’s music festival charged Lasallians P100 for a general admission ticket, which were also limited and quickly sold out.
Unclear guidelines—most of which were released just the afternoon before Animusika—also drew flak from outside attendees and other Lasallians alike. While guidelines stated that no campus sweeping would be done after classes—except for select areas within and near the concert grounds—Lasallians aired on social media that they were forced and shouted at by organizers to leave the campus despite following protocols.
Two days after the event, the UVMW project heads addressed various controversies that loomed throughout the concert. In a statement, they clarified that they were instructed by the University administration to only accommodate 1,500 attendees from the originally approved 3,000. This was supposedly due to safety risks that were seen during the more-crowded Animusika 2023, such as stampedes and lack of space for medical attention.
The statement further revealed that last-minute changes on the venue’s layout to “accommodate the production’s speakers” affected the prepared seat numbering of the venue, which caused misunderstandings between ushers and ticket holders who were uninformed of the change.
The project heads apologized for the unruly behavior of the UVMW committee throughout the concert and took accountability in inviting USG officers to join Animusika for free. While the call was intended to fill up the available space during the concert, they acknowledged that not inviting the Lasallian community was “understandably wrong and problematic.”
USG Vice President for Internal Affairs Ashley Francisco followed up with a separate statement shortly after, ensuring that “disciplinary actions will be taken” for committee members who were involved in the mistreatment of the students and attendees.
In the Laguna Campus, the organizers of the annual UVMW culmination concert, ARCHELA X: Interstellar Expedition, announced that the festival would be delayed from June 29 to August 9 but did not disclose the reasons. More guidelines on the change in schedule are yet to be released as of press time.
