After a long, tiring academic year of remote learning and none of the fun college life on campus they had before the pandemic, students across the University of the Philippines (UP) System deserve a break. But then, who says UP’s online events and activities can’t be fun and creative? UP students may now be able to cross the distance between the campuses and meet their peers.
For this mid-year break 2021, UP has launched the “Isko, Iska, Break Muna Tayo: Midyear Competitions and Workshops for UP Students”. Through this initiative, students across all UP constituent universities and campuses sustain their creative and critical thinking skills and get to know one another during the midyear break, despite the pandemic.
The official virtual launch of the midyear-long event was held on August 11, and can be viewed on TVUP’s YouTube channel.
Intended for the engagement and participation of students in all UP constituent units, the “Isko, Iska, Break Muna Tayo” midyear event will feature online and interactive games and contests, online musical and artistic performances, speech competitions, digital video competitions, training webinars on wellness and mindfulness—for UP students, and by UP students.
“Kahit na nasa gitna tayo ng isang pandaigdigang krisis, ipagpapatuloy pa rin natin ang paglikha ng mga bagong karanasan habang pinananatili nating ligtas ang ating mga sarili at kapaligiran mula sa pandemyang ito [Even if we are in the middle of a global crisis, we will continue creating new experiences while keeping ourselves and our environment safe in this pandemic],” UP President Danilo Concepcion said during the launch. “Ikinagagalak kong anyayahan kayo na maging bahagi ng kauna-unahang UP System-wide na proyektong inaasahan nating magbubuklod sa mga miyembro ng ating klase, organisasyon, komunidad, kampus, at sa buong sangka-UP-han [It is my pleasure to invite you to be part of the first UP System-wide project that we hope will draw together the members of our classes, organizations, communities, campuses, and the entire UP community].”
UP Vice President for Public Affairs Elena E. Pemia, in her welcome remarks, expressed her hope that the “Isko, Iska, Break Muna Tayo: Midyear Competitions and Workshops for UP Students” would be the start of a new UP System-wide tradition.
The launching ceremony also featured the head organizers from four major competitions within the “Isko, Iska, Break Muna Tayo” midyear event: Prof. Raul Navarro of the UP College of Music, who invited choirs across the UP System to participate in the 3rd Gawad Pangulo Choral Competition; Prof. Jocelyn Pinzon of the UP Cebu College of Communication, who invited UP students to cosplay as their favorite Philippine historical and folkloric characters and join the competition held as part of the quincentennial commemoration of the Philippine part in the first circumnavigation of the world and the 500th anniversary of the Victory at Mactan; Prof. Mary Katherine Cabral of the UP College of Music, who plugged the Unibersipop Songwriting Competition 2021, which is open to all current UP students at any level; and, Sheila Samoza of the UP Kalipunan ng Mag-aaral sa Kasaysayan, Hinz Benedict Caaya of UPV Kamaragtas, and Carlos Joaquin R. Tabalon of UP Lipunang Pangkasaysayan unan ng Mag-aaral sa Kasaysayan for Sabat it Katutubo: Makabagong Sining sa Makasaysayang Kaganapan, a digital poster-making competition open to all students, faculty and staff across the UP System, based on concepts emerging from the celebration of the quincentennial anniversary.
Finally, UP Special Assistant to the Vice President for Public Affairs Jonalou Labor and UP Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Richard Philip Gonzalo reiterated the invitation to all UP students to participate in the University’s newest midyear event. The “Isko, Iska, Break Muna Tayo” launch was capped by a stirring rendition of the “UP Naming Mahal” by the ConChords.
UP student organizations can submit proposals for their own ideas for events and competitions. All participants are UP students of all levels, from the high schools to the graduate level. Proposals can be submitted here.
UP students are also invited to keep informed on the contests, workshops, and events under the “Isko, Iska, Break Muna Tayo: Midyear Competitions and Workshops for UP Students”.
