West Visayas State University claimed the overall championship title during the Culture and the Arts Conference and Festival 2024 in Negros that ended Monday, March 25.
Besting 10 other participating members of the Regional Association of State Universities and Colleges (RASUC) in Western Visyas, WVSU won 176 points across 22 cultural events, a press release said Tuesday.
In second place was host Carlos Hilado Memorial State University with 91 points, and Aklan State University in third place with 80 points. In fourth place was by Capiz State University, and in fifth place was the University of Antique.
Trailing behind were Central Philippines State University (6th, 46 points), State University of Northern Negros (7th, 46 points), Northern Iloilo State University (8th, 31 points), Iloilo Science and Technology University (9th, 27), Iloilo State University of Fisheries, Science and Technology (10th, 12 points), and Guimaras State University (11th, 5 points).
CHMSU President Norberto Mangulabnan, RASUC-VI president, thanked all the participating SUCs, partners, stakeholders, and members of the university for the successful three-day competition and festival.
San Claire Saguano of ASU and Jim Ian Justien Arisgado of SUNN were also crowned as Mr. and Ms. RASUC-VI. The winners from the pageant and cultural events are set to represent Western Visayas in the National Culture and Arts Festival on April 23-25, at the Philippine Normal University in Manila.
Mangulabnan also congratulated all winners, participants, coaches, and parents for making a great contribution to promoting culture and arts in the region.
During the opening ceremony on Saturday, March 23, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges President Tirso Ronquillo underscored the importance of culture as it serves as the “soul” of state universities and colleges, and of Filipinos in his keynote speech.
Ronquillo assured that the PASUC fully backs the culture and arts programs of the 11 participating SUCs.
The national president added that he looks forward to seeing the Western Visayas contingent in the upcoming nationals next month.
CHED-VI Regional Director Raul Alvarez, Jr. and Rep. Jose Francisco Benitez (Neg., Occ., 3rd District) also expressed support for the arts and culture in the Philippine higher education.*