The Student Involvement Unit (SIU) and Benilde Committee on Student Involvement (BCSI) brought together the Benildean community through Student Involvement (SI) Week 2 with the theme, “Tayo ay Sari-Sari” on Mar. 7 to 11.
Encouraging the ID 121 frosh to kickstart their college journey, the virtual event allowed Benildeans to reminisce about their childhood and learn more about what the accredited and recognized student organizations (ARSOs) have to offer.
In the spirit of diversity and variety, “Sari-Saring Student Leaders,” a series of web posters, gave Benildeans a glimpse into the minds of student leaders and allowed each organization to stand out and appeal to the student body.
Pagbubukas ng Tindahan
This year's opening program began with welcoming remarks from Center for Student Life (CSL) Dean Ms. Norie Ador Dionisio.
"We all have our unique selves, filled with so much potential and talents. School is not just about training yourselves to be good at your professions and careers. I highly encourage you to truly engage in the accredited student organizations of Benilde. It is also good to discover more about yourself and meet a diverse population. Involvement in student organizations allows one to be attentive to the needs of fellow Benildeans and be a responsible person as leadership skills are honed,” Ms. Ador Dionisio stated.
Despite the difficult times, BCSI once again successfully executed the event online. “We recognize the challenges it poses at this time where everything is virtual. We hope in the near future the circumstances are better for all of us where we will be able to enhance and strengthen relationships on a face-to-face level,” she added.
Furthermore, hosts ID 120 Theater Arts major Samantha Tinsay and ID 120 Business Intelligence Analyst major Lance Salen continued with the program and introduced the ARSOs as they engaged the audience in a sari-sari store discussion.
Organization representatives were all given the opportunity to showcase the activities and services their respective organizations can offer the Benildean community with the open mic portion of the program.
Going one step further, performances by BCSI representative Leandro Sinca, BCSI representative and Human Resource Management Society (HRMS) representative Louis Barrer provided the viewers with quick intermission numbers as they serenaded the viewers into joining their groups.
Tambayan, Chichirya, at Kwento
BCSI also released several interactive social media posts throughout the week-long event, including the “What type of Tambay am I?” to “Kwentong Kanto,” and the final crossword puzzle, where students got the chance to win cash prizes. Each activity encouraged Benildeans to connect, upholding the theme #TayoAySariSari.
To keep up the hype, the sari-sari store remained open past store hours for extra fun, games, and shenanigans during the midweek program called "Kita-Kits" on Mar. 9.
Hosts Tinsay and ID 118 Game Development student Vincent Rabot opened with a quick kumustahan to bridge the gap with the livestream viewers. Moreover, sari-sari store-related games with cash prizes were organized to excite and entertain the audience.
In the first game, “Ano ‘Yon?” participants had to guess random words to decode the hidden message related to the theme of SI Week 2. In “Guess the Blurry Picture,” participants had to identify the hidden sari-sari store item amidst the pixelated image.
Moreover, for the event's closing ceremony on Mar. 11, BCSI showcased their SI Week 2 wrap-up video, seeking to conclude the event with thanks, memories, and a final message to always remember #TayoAySariSari.
Hosts ID 119 Consular and Diplomatic Affairs (CDA) major Naomi Santos and ID 118 Information Systems (IS) major and BCSI Chairperson Abbie Meer also announced the winners of all the games and activities the past week.
The closing ceremony awarded the student organizations to end the week-long event.
The Benildean Scholars Association (BSA) won the "Best Poster" award for the Socio-Civic Cluster.
At the same time, Nihon Bunka Bu, a special interest organization about Japanese culture, and the Benildean International Student Emissaries (BISE) emerged victorious for the Special Interest Cluster and SIU-recognized cluster, respectively.
Meanwhile, Export Management Society (EMS) finished in first place for the Academic Cluster category, with Benildean Arts Management (BeAM) coming in second.
On the other hand, vocal artist Kayl Garcia serenaded the viewers with her rendition of Sugarfree's “Prom,” while Travelers in Progress (TRIP) Multimedia Head Ricci Sangalang performed Moonstar88's “Migraine,” and musical band The Coping Room presented their cover of Callalily's "Magbalik."
To formally conclude SI Week 2, Meer gave her closing remarks and expressed her gratitude to everyone who allowed for the event to embrace diversity and variety. “Our objective is to encourage our fellow Benildeans to join organizations and assist them to further develop their strengths and talents, emphasizing the significance of community and togetherness. We want to highlight that we Benildeans are sari-sari and that is what makes us Benildeans extraordinary.”
Meer further encouraged the Benildean community to join the student organizations and start their org life journey.
As the main coordinating body of the College's ARSOs, BCSI spearheads SI Week every term to provide an opportunity for promoting, raising awareness, and recruiting new members of the student organizations.
