While gloomy skies greeted students outside the University Theater on Sept. 10, the atmosphere inside was anything but, as more than 2,000 students came together for the annual University Welcome Assembly (UWA).
Also livestreamed via the UP Diliman (UPD) Facebook page, the UWA is an annual ceremony organized by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs to welcome freshmen, graduate students, transferees, and exchange students from foreign institutions to UPD.
The UWA featured spectacular performances from the UP Concert Chorus and the UP Streetdance Club, both of whom elicited raucous cheers from the audience even before they took to the stage.
One of the highlights of the event was the welcome messages from the various college deans or their representatives. Each one stepped on to the stage to highlight, celebrate, and “flex” their academic unit to the audiences, often to loud cheers.
Some of the deans present were Ruth R. Lusterio-Rico (College of Social Sciences and Philosophy), Jimmuel C. Naval (College of Arts and Letters), Joel C. Javiniar (College of Education), Carmen Bettina S. Bulaong (College of Architecture), Maria Antonia N. Tanchuling (College of Engineering), and Cynthia P. Saloma (College of Science).
Deans Ma. Patricia B. Silvestre (College of Music) and Rhea Rowena U. Apolinario (School of Library and Information Science) came with special presentations that delighted and energized the audience while Director Patrick C. De Leon of the UPD Extension Programs in Pampanga and Olongapo accompanied their students to the UPD campus despite the weather.
Also present to welcome the students was UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II, who enjoined them to take into heart the UP value of serving the people.
“Exciting ang buhay dito sa UP, pero gawin ninyo itong mas makabuluhan sa pamamagitan ng hindi niyo paglimot sa kapakanan ng mga nagpapaaral sa inyo, ang taong bayan. Magpakadalubhasa kayo para sa kanila,” Vistan said.
Capping off the ceremony were the UP Varsity Pep Drummers, who taught the crowd the various cheers and chants used during University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) games, along with the UP Varsity Pep Squad, whose performance sent the audience out the theater on a high note.
