CPC, CMBS reps reign supreme
Christy Faurime Reyes
Cheers and praises lauded the virtual community as the College of Pharmacy and Chemistry (CPC) and the College of Medical and Biological Sciences (CMBS) concluded this year’s search for Mister and Miss E-ntramurals last Friday, November 13, via Zoom and a live stream on the Facebook page of the University Student Government (USG) of University of Immaculate Conception (UIC).
Initiated by the student leaders of UIC, the virtual pageant was held to showcase the beauty and talent of the candidates as a representation of UICians in these trying times. The event was launched on November 11, 2020, along with the top three’s announcement for the Male and Female category.
The cybernetic stage lit upon the unraveling of the candidates’ eloquence during the preliminaries. During the preliminary question and answer, the candidates were given questions about their perceptions about environmental and psychological issues, their insights about the importance of science and technology, their stance in today’s problems mirrored the values taught to them by the institution.
As the competition pursued, Megan Joy Cuaresma from the CMBS rose at the top of her game as she wowed everyone with her answer when asked what embodies a youth as the hope of our country during the final interview.
“We are versatile, and we are able to learn in different and various ways to contribute new learnings in our society,” the 19-year-old stunner stated.
“With these learnings, we are able to mutualize our different social media platforms in order to educate the younger generations,” she added.
On the other hand, CPC’s Marquis Fontillas took pride in his winning answer emphasizing how one simple gesture of smile can become an expression of love that can ignite and strengthen society to do more, especially in today’s dark times.
First runners-up went to Miguel Lanzanas from the College of Music and CJ Bethan Gabo from CPC, while second runners-up were Christian Miguel Saberon from the College of Accounting and Business Education and Semper Remotin from the College of Arts and Humanities.
Winners of the special award were announced during the coronation day to which the College of Human Environmental Sciences and Food Studies’ (CHEFS) candidate, Gwyneth Angelou Diohang and Clyde Clarence of CMBS won the crowd as they seized the People’s Choice Award.
During an interview, Fontillas said he wanted to inspire people to keep moving to be physically and psychologically fit. “This is actually in lieu of my advocacy on suicide prevention,” he expounded.
In relation, Cuaresma equally highlighted the importance of mental health, saying students are to remind themselves to take time off from academic load and pressure without feeling guilty about it. According to her, the true essence of education is learning, not compliance.
Doctor Porferia Poralan, a Physical Education professor and one of the event facilitators, commended this year’s batch of representatives’ articulacy. She also posited how the committee worked hard for the said event.
“Considering the situation, we are in, we were to find alternative ways and craft new guidelines for everything.”
She likewise mentioned making the pageant requirements as economical as possible.
“We wanted the colleges and candidates to spend less, which was how we came up with only two categories for the pageant: Q and A and the People’s Choice award.”
Dr. Poralan then concluded that the experience of pursuing this virtual pageant was enlightening and meaningful for the institution showed everyone how united the students are, most especially when it ranked first in Twitter’s Philippine trends.
UICians proved that no matter what, talents are not limited to physical showcase or face-to-face interactions. What can be done in person can be done virtually. As students are honed and inspired by this institution’s values, they are not narrowed by dilemmas. Thus, it is strengthened with faith, branded with excellence, and prospered through service.