Students assembled before the main atrium, their arms draped over the railings in a loose, uneven configuration. Half-interested bystanders loiter behind them, shifting their weight foot-to-foot, and waiting for something to begin. In the stage area, a truncated hush has settled. Gaffer-taped wires coil across the floor where the empty chairs are situated. Somewhere in the outer wing, red diodes stutter as the LED screen begins to take form.
Suddenly, a sharp, acrid smell creeps into the stage, cutting through the air like a warning. The Babaylan’s arrival is imminent, with the slow, syncopated beat pressing harder against the teeth of the silence.
The moment is taut as mall-goers stop mid-stride and rush to witness a Foundation University original: the sweat-soaked invocation, half-prayer, half-fevered performance of the Palihi — dancers in red moving with uncanny precision, and gliding through the floor in ecstatic shifts of controlled grace and wild, primordial energy.
The crowd presses in as the legend of the Palihi is retold. When the offerings are bared on the carpet, the crescendo stops and then — stillness. The spell lingers for a breath of a second before giving way to the next act: Foundation University lodestar President Victor Vicente “Dean” Sinco, along with stakeholders and important figures from the institution, step forward with the sag-ob in their hand, and swing it down against the ritual stone in one clean strike.
A crack shudders, the crowd erupts in cheer, and the Digital Dumaguete Expo 2025 officially commences.
“Welcome,” President Dean says as local news agents flock to his direction. “Everything is new — you have to go around!”
This year marks the 17th cycle of the Digital Expo, Foundation University’s annual display of technological ingenuity and experimentation with the digital. As a yearly showcase of the university’s affinity for emerging technologies, Digital Expo 2025 reveals a cross-section of what is going for the university so far in its progressive bid towards innovation.
“We’ve always been into technology. I believe the reason why there’s an interest is because we’re not just using tools for delivery, we’re also changing the expectations of what students have to learn and do.”
Doing away with a strictly theoretical environment, Foundation University believes that implementing technologies in the classroom will pave the way for a more practical approach to learning. A technologically receptive educational design opens many avenues for teaching. It lets students jump headfirst into the deep end of contemporary thought and industries, enabling them to pursue their intellectual fixations and carve new territories of knowledge that would be unthinkable in a four-walled classroom alone.
Crashing through the old guard of established schooling does not mean dispensing with the physical entirely. The pandemic has revealed many things about the way traditional education functions, and for many students, it was a bad time to realize its limitations.
The university’s move toward digitalization and technologization is motivated by the recognition of these shortcomings; to augment its deficiencies in the hopes of making education more accessible and responsive to the present condition.
Appropriate use of educational tools will make repetition a reflex. Students can loop back and refine their comprehension in a way traditional structures could not accommodate as easily. “That’s how we see the digital: the comprehension for students is much better because they can review as much as they’d like. On top of that, instructors can see themselves and review their craft, ‘Maybe I can do this differently.’”
“Visual learning is also an important element that we anticipate going on. For zoom and lectures, maybe we can start applying augmented reality. That’s where we should be heading in the future.”
For this year, the Digital Dumaguete Expo landed in the same venue inside Robinsons Dumaguete, but the way it’s set up differed sharply from the 16th. Organizers pushed the booths onto the bridges overlooking the main atrium, clearing the floor to a more absorbing experience. The stage commands more space, giving spectators a better view of the programs scheduled for the three-day event.
To cement President Dean’s promise for innovation, department heads were thrown the challenge of reimagining old presentations and scraping off their safe bets yearly. “My order to the deans was to do something fresh and new — not the same as last year.”
For this year, the marketing team reaffirmed the Expo's twofold mission to highlight and showcase the talent and ingenuity of the FU community, and to expand the university’s visibility beyond customary borders. As a result, stakes for the raffle were raised: a Hatasu e-bike, priced at nearly P37,000, was displayed, while speakers valued at P4,000 added to the lure.
But the bigger shift is still ahead.
President Dean made that clear when he said “We’re looking at going strictly 25% online classes in 2026; the years after that probably 50%. We’re anticipating an enrollment of maybe 10,000 by then. On the physical class side, we can’t do more than 5000 on campus. That would be hard to manage. Other than the fact that we like the idea of going digital, it will also address many needs like fare and boarding.”
As with every Digital Expo, students from neighboring schools were invited to participate in the different challenges and activities that the department heads prepared.
On the eve of the third day, the Office of Student Life presented Celebrating Cultures, a raucous finale to this year’s boldest event yet. The ragtag group of onlookers, bystanders, and the Foundation University community drew closer, as performers, including the revered Abuhuni Band, unleashed a maelstrom of polyphonic and frenetic celebration of culture, dance and music.
The result and winners of this year's events are found below. Revisit the thrill and excitement of the 2025 Digital Expo by visiting the Foundation University facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/foundationu.edu.
CODE-IT
1st Place: Ramon Teves Pastor Memorial - Dumaguete Science High School
Pete Isaac Mabalod
Daniel Emmanuel Lozada
Coach:
Bracil G. Cimafranca
2nd Place: Negros Oriental High School
Raul A. Generoso III
Rod Troy N. Gaudan
Coach:
John Audi Bato
3rd Placers: Foundation Preparatory Academy
Kyle Consing
Jassek Artus
Coach:
Chris Benedict V. Sevilleno
Piapi High School
Danilo M. Merdegia Jr.
Vince Drahcir S. Binarao
Coach:
Alberto C. Diego Jr.
SIET-Techlympics
Champion: Colegio de San Pedro Recoletos
Szhean Laurence Tolomia
Matthew Sinapuelas
Ezekiel Cabilao
John Martin Olasiman
Justine Adrian Torres
1st Runner-Up: Junob National High School
Rose Jean Semillano
Hazel Faith Carsido
Friah Jhen Gonzales
Nadinne Gantalao
Tracy Christian Gallosa
2nd Runner-Up: Dumaguete City National High School
Rhanz Pasija
Nicole Macias
Earlyn Carpintero
Jeannie Tabal
Chad Mariño
Valencia National High School
Zaichi Baa
Joshua Jabido
J. Ryan Orito
Samantha Aviola
Jessie Cubalan
Foundation Preparatory Academy (FPA)
Jeff Laurel M. Namacpacan
Ryze N. Cabajon
Ryza Endria B. Libaton
Emmi Kae E. Ebida
Heaven Drei E. Gallo
SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION CHALLENGE
Champion: Foundation Preparatory Academy
2nd Place: Taclobo National high school
3rd Place: Colegio de San Pedro - Recoletos
Consolation:
Piapi High School
Camanjac National High School
CRIME AND COMBAT
Mixed Martial Arts Tournament
Racaza, John Moises A.
Cado, John Carlo M.
Ague, Justine J.
Sabado, Brashielle C.
Ijan, Jesiemar H.
Bucad, Gabriel A.
Mansueto, John Louis S.
Amorin, Lourd Lawrence B.
Villamil, Gian Angelo O.
Eparwa, Kenn E.
Kilat, Jiboy V.
Barot, Isiah Miguel G.
Alvarez, Micon R.
Vega, Sherman O.
Ymalay, Wendell R.
Baro, James Axel A.
Cado, John Loyd M.
Antone, Roan E.
Baron, Mark Jhon Kevin B.
Doroon, Bea
Mapili, Maekaela M.
Sabado, Brashielle C.
Obligado, Prisela P.
Sanchez, Dolly Ann C.
CALMA MMA WINNERS
Bout 1: Racaza, John Moises
Bout 2: Cado, John Carlo
Bout 3: Doroon, Bea
DOCATHON 2025
Champion: Junob National High School
Tracy Christian Gallosa
Shyrey Corpus
Marissa Mae Bendijo
Madhel Tulang
Hazel Faith Carsido
Kyle Gabisan
Rhoda Glaire Inoferio
Janelle Vincoy
Shastine Denise Dugaduga
John Liemar BalotingCoach:
Sweet Louiselyn Baylon
Second Place: Metro Dumaguete College
M-Jay K. Hawari
Jorgen R. Rodubio
Janine B. Piñero
Aihra Sepha A. Ramirez
Kiara V. Geconcillo
Ahvreyhll Jhairah Narido
Samantha Leyes
Princess Margareth G. Paran
Gillord E. Aragones
Reymart P. Silva
Coach:
Shaina Xel C. Pinero and Elizabeth Morales
Third Place: St. Louis School of Don Bosco, Inc. (Third Place)
Sadie Kassiopeia T. Tuale
Keira Sofia Quiambao
Angelique Louise Lim
Chuztene Niña Benson
Eunica Elyssa B. Vincoy
Jamaila Caitlen Lim
Faith Nicole T. Boybanting
Ian Gene P. Mates
Coach:
Raymark Anthony Saluria
AGRI HENYO
Champion: SIET
Mariah Stacy Vanelene Basalan & Angel Heinz Libby
1st Place: Department of Architecture
Tiongco, Krishna
Calambro, Alden
CE
John Loyd Ragay
Andrew Estrebella
CBA
Carlluiz Tan
Anthony Miles Mamon
Crim
Cdt. Jabines, Philipp Rhe
Cdt. Marquez, Chrismar
CAS
Izzl Din Yushra Pawaki
Neilsen Jae Gallegos
Department of Architecture
Tiongco, Krishna
Calambro, Alden
CHM
Kristine Kaye Tapis
John Lloyd Nuique
SIET
Mariah Stacy Vanelene Basalan
Angel Heinz Libby
Fine Arts
Jhensen Sombero
Casseykhaye Bonachita
CCS
Angel Maxine Ting
Jade Meñosa
CN
Christian Noel M. Villarin
Raphael Quiroquiro
CEista, Modern Dance Competition
Champion: Dumaguete City National High School
1st Runner-up: Negros Oriental High School
2nd Runner up: Colegio de San Pedro – Recoletos
Consolation: Foundation Preparatory Academy