Foundation University successfully celebrated its annual Kasadya-an Festival last December 5 to 17 with the theme “FU @ 60 and Soaring”.

Among the activities for this year’s celebration were the Parada (the street dancing), Pasundayag (frolics), booth display, Christmas decoration contest, inter-department acoustic singing competition, Eco-bag making contest and of course the prestigious Hara sa FU 2010.

Such activities were intended to enhance and develop the sportsmanship, creativity, hard work, unity and cooperation among the students, faculty and staff of students, faculty and staff of every college and department in the University.

The Celebration started with the opening of the Kasadya-an Village inside the FU main campus joined by all the departments and student organizations led by the FU Student Council. The Alumni Homecoming succeeded the event in which 60 outstanding alumni were recognized for their accomplishments that brought honor to them and their Alma mater.

In her message, Foundation University President Dr. Mira D. Sinco said in addressing the alumni,”All of you (alumni) who have come here today is a manifestation of your caring for your Alma mater and for others. And please note this: those of you whom we have chosen to recognize as awardees whom this year’s alumni homecoming, the basis for our giving and of your receiving the award bestowed upon you is because in your personal and professional life, you have shared and cared for others and your community. It;s a simple reality that what we are recognized for is not our unselfishness but our ability to be selfless, to care and share with others.

On December 8, a celebratory mass officiated by the University Chaplain Fr. Julius Perpetuo Heruela was held at the Sofia Soller Sinco Hall as a thanksgiving of the entire FU community for another year of its existence in providing quality education.

In the evening, the candidates for the Hara sa FU showcased their respective talents where the representative from College of Education, Ms. Alora Villahermosa, who staged a hi-hop dance bagged the Best in Talent award.

During the pageant night on December 10, the candidate fro the College of Arts and Sciences, Ms. Hamsirajane Kim Hamsirani, bested the other seven candidates as she was crowned as Hara sa FU 2010. She also bagged Best in Evening Gown, Best Speaker and the Darling of the Press as chosen by the members of the press during the press conference last December 4.

When asked of the best University life she has experienced, Ms. Hamsirani responded,” I love everything about my university life especially the fact that I’m spending it here in Foundation University. I love the environment, the facilities and the quality of education.”

“But the best thing about my university life so far is the learning that I was able to get from my teachers. The teachers here are well-equipped with knowledge and they have that great ability of sharing their knowledge. They also show that They are responsible in sharpening the students’ mind and they are also responsible in filtering the students’ hearts, which means honing the moral values of the students,”she added which gained a favorable applause from the members of the audience.

Ms. Hamsirani is a freshman Broadcast Communication student and a regular disk jockey of Greyhound 101, the University radio station.

On the other hand, Ms. Villahermosa from the College of Education and Ms. Dizzy Casero from the College of Business Administration (CBA), who also obtained the Best in Entourage Award , were proclaimed the 1st and 2nd runner up, respectively.

For the inter-department acoustic competition, the contestants from the College of Nursing, College of Education and College of Business Administration respectively bagged the top three spots.

Another event that made the faculty, staff and students of the University busy was the inter-department Christmas decoration contest where the University Clinic and School of Computer Studies were declared the champions, followed by the University library.

Then on December 12, the members of the University community marched and danced for the Kasadya-an Parada, a show of colorful and well-lighted floats, props and dancers of the different departments from Looc to the FU main campus ground.

The CBA reaped the major and minor awards in this year’s Kasadya-an which include Best Choreography and Champion for the Kasadya-an Parada; Best in Costume, Most Colorful, Best in Choreography , Best in Choreographer during the Gabi ng Pasundayag (frolics).

“I am very happy and proud. The CBA’s success was a product of teamwork, unity and cooperation of our students and faculty with of course, the guidance from our almighty God. I just let them have their freedom to exercise their creative minds, leadership and initiative,” said Dr. Ruben Sanchez, Dean of the CBA.

The awarding ceremony held at the University main ground ended with a fireworks display which lasted for about 30 minutes, joined by the sounds of cheers and applause from the faculty, staff and students of the University and the Dumaguete community as a whole.

The celebration of the Kasadya-an 2009 concluded with the FU administration, faculty and staff Christmas party at the Sofia Soller Sinco Hall as they showcased their respective talents in dancing as well as in singing and acting where the contingents from the University Grade School, University High School and the COllege or Arts and Sciences won as the top three best performers, respectively.

As the Foundation University successfully conducted the Kasadya-an 2009 in line with the celebration of its 60th founding anniversary, through the hardships and efforts exerted by the faculty, staff and students, it is indeed a matter of pride!