Marking the celebration of Palarong Luwisyano 2026, the thunderous stomps and roaring aspirations of Louisians shattered the afternoon calm of the Fr. Burgos Gymnasium, March 4. As the dust settled on the playing fields, Louisians gathered for an awarding ceremony that witnessed the CASTE-CRIM Mighty Dolphins’ “Saranggola” soar and the CEA Dragons emerge as the biggest victors amid a sea of departmental pride.
Kicking off the festivities, a vibrant parade of participants, where the Purple Lions of College of Law (COL), Legendary Owls of School of Advanced Studies (SAS), Soaring Phoenixes of College of Business and Accountancy (CBA), Dragons of College of Engineering and Architecture (CEA), and Mighty Dolphins of College of Arts, Sciences, Technology, Education, and Criminology (CASTE-CRIM) marched with unyielding spirit.
The atmosphere turned global as SLC warmly welcomed exchange students from Universitas Nusa Cendana (UNDANA)—Herlin Juniati Betty, Jannia Tamonob, Rapi Mesa Valentino Poa, and Yoshua Geraldy Heji Barnabas—adding an international flair to the local festivities.
Following a graceful opening salvo by the SLC Samtoy Dance Troupe, the spotlight shifted to the much-anticipated Powerdance Competition. CASTE-CRIM’s friendship-themed performance eventually snatched the gold, outpacing CBA’s performance about corruption, and CEA’s about redemption, with a display of synchronization and storytelling that left the judges—Marlon Remolar Lipa, Anjali Camacho Pradeep Kumar, and Cloven Gil Casuga—visibly impressed.
“While each department’s performance gave different vibes and impacts, the performance shared by the CBA department served as a reminder for us to never forget and that we must continue igniting the flames of action towards the betterment of our country. Corruption will never stop unless there is a movement to hinder it from continuing to happen,” said Francheska Rimando, a student from the CASTE-CRIM department.
Meanwhile, the hunt for Mr. and Ms. Palarong Luwisyano continues for the Sportswear segment. COL took aim with Shooting, CBA galloped in with Equestrian, CEA struck hard with Martial Arts, CASTE-CRIM swung for the fences with Arnis, and SAS hit the bullseye with Archery.
In a crowning moment of wit and grace, the Dragons and Mighty Dolphins split the evening’s highest honors. The Mr. Palarong Luwisyano 2026 title was seized by the CEA candidate, Eugene Aguilar, while the Ms. Palarong Luwisyano 2026 crown was sealed by Rachel Sapongco, of CASTE-CRIM. The duo’s journey to the top was paved by strong performances in the Q&A and production numbers, where CASTE-CRIM swept both the Male and Female Best in Production awards.
“All that I thought of was ‘Glory to God,’ and that all the effort had finally translated into reality. That release that followed through was just so relieving, I couldn’t help but shed a few tears. Redemption is a fitting word for the entirety of the competition. It was a push-and-pull of a lot of things behind the curtain, a lot of struggles, effort, and sacrifices were made” said Aguilar. “I think it’s fair to say that I, Shiendy, and the entirety of College of Engineering and Architecture were glad share such a prestigious event where we could display camaraderie and sportsmanship with a talented and esteemed line-up of candidates we were able to call friends by the end of it all.”
His counterpart reflected on her journey towards the crown. “From understanding Arnis, to training ourselves in pasarela, and Q&A, my partner (Geron) and I dedicated months of training, and it’s such an honor to present all these things for the love of our department and carry our story of courage and bravery. This win sends a powerful message that the Mighty Dolphins are stronger than ever this year, showing that through teamwork, determination, and unwavering perseverance, we can overcome challenges and achieve greatness together,” said Sapongco.
However, the final whistle has not yet been blown for all categories. The final closing and awarding ceremony is slated for March 23, with the official Bleacher Gimmick presentations taking center stage. This will also serve as the final venue for the awarding of other sports events held during the grueling season of the Palarong Luwisyano 2026.
Transitioning from the dance floor to the mind games, the ceremony also recognized the masters of the Board and Racket Games. Medals were distributed to the kings and queens of chess and the aces of badminton and table tennis, proving that Louisian excellence requires both brawn and brain.
As the night progressed into the Question-and-Answer portion, CBA proved they had the best performance under pressure, with their candidates being hailed as Mr. and Ms. Articulate. Nevertheless, the overall momentum stayed with the Dragons and Dolphins, as CEA and CASTE-CRIM swept the Best in Sportswear and Best in Production Number categories, respectively.
As the ceremony drew to a close with the Mr. and Ms. Palarong Luwisyano 2025 farewell walk, the scoreboards told a story of hard-fought glory. From SAS’s steady performance as Third Runner-Up to COL’s resilient showing as Fourth Runner-up, every department left its mark on the gym floor. The Louisian Fire continues to burn, promising its final spark come March 23.
Words by Venisse Jaryne Campos
Photos by Ma. Selin Anne Bito, Hannah Veronica Sibayan, Kyle Christian Soriano, Jonash Vincent Palina, Chaste Ann Lorica, Bryan Gregory Ducusin, and Joshcia Mhae Leones
