The Official Tertiary Student Publication of Laguna College of Business and Arts
NOW SHOWING: FRESHMEN WEEK v.20.14
The Supreme Student Council rolls another installment of the grand welcome celebration for LCBA Freshmen
|By Kevin Barrera
 Nature CostumesCandidates outshined each other other as they parade their nature-inspired outfits to the crowd. |  Freshie WinnersCrowned Mr. Freshman 2014 Rod Oliver Macairog and Ms. Freshman 2014 Zarina Pastor posed for a shot with LifeBox symbols. |  Let's Dance!Mr. and Ms. Freshmen 2014 candidates danced to the tune of the music for their production number. |
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 The First QueenThe first-ever winner of the pageant, Ms. Freshman 2014 Ushas Richel Rino took her last walk before passing the crown to her successor. |  Art of Face PaintA group of Accountancy student posed for a shot after dirtying themselves with hand-print paints--the traditional welcoming ceremony for LCBA Freshmen. |  Paint Me Too!An officer from the School of Teacher Education gave their newbies green hand prints, the color of their department. |
Thundering roars of Accountancy students echoed through the LCBA Quadrangle in the midst of the night of July 11 after both of their fresh candidates were hailed as Mr. and Ms. Freshmen 2014. This is part of a week-long celebration, Grand Fair organized by the Supreme Student Council to welcome the new addition to the College Department.
The event lasted from July 7 to July 11, offering different activities including the mass recruitment for non-academic organizations, booths, merchandise selling, teambuilding activities, and traditional hand-printing ceremony initiated last year.
Starting the freshness
To formally open the Grand Fair, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held at the College Canteen spearheaded by the Vice President for Administration Mr. Fernando Pendon III and Executive Vice President Dr. Edna Manaig on July 7.
Various booths lined up the canteen and the quadrangle housing the different academic and non-academic organizations to recruit new members for their respective clubs, especially the non-acads. Aside from recruiting, they also presented gimmicks and sold merchandises to further boost their persuasion of freshman students and older ones.
Yummy snacks were sold including nachos, coffee jellies, siomais, sweets, mixed drinks and so much more that delighted the eyes of the youngsters and the oldies. Mr. Pendon even stated in his opening remarks for the last day of the event that the School President requested for the nachos prepared by the Psychology Society but it turned out to be a hit to everyone and was already sold out as soon as they are prepared.
For people with restrained anger in their hearts, Alpha Phi Omega provided their bottle-throwing booth where one can write his sentiments on a paper and post it on a stone wall. Then, they would pay a small price for a huge bottle and throw it at the paper on the wall to release that inner burden. Sounds of breaking bottles reverberated around the quadrangle making the passers-by look back.
LifeBox offered collectible items including key chains, cellphone tags and personalized flash drives printed with their insignia. On the other hand, Squires and Sweethearts of Rizal enthralled the eyes and hands of the elementary and high school students in their coin-throwing game inspired by the same game from local carnivals. Several prizes were given to those who were able to shoot coins in the tiny squares on a board.
However, Indak Dance Club seized the week with its performances reflecting the objectives of their organization, helping them to bag the prize for Best in Booth. Its members grooved with fast-paced steps impressing some of the crowds. They also presented a beat-box showdown from their Beat Box Kings, Crisner Mercado and Ino Baldo.
United freshness
For the last day of the Grand Fair, SSC cooked up teambuilding activities for the freshmen by grouping them in 10 different colored groups across all courses.
For their first activity, the freshies battled for a version of ‘patintero’ where they wrestled against each other to prevent their opponents from passing through their defenses. Unfortunately, in one the games, one student passed out from lack of oxygen after being cornered and was immediately tended by the school clinic. Despite being weakened from the casualty, what impressed the crowd is that he was able to do the LifeBox symbol while being taken out in a wheelchair.
The games continued until the second one: ‘tumbang preso’ with a twist where the freshies would only use what they have with them inside their pockets to beat down the tin cans. Combs, wallets, belts, handkerchiefs, face towels, shoes, socks, and even cellphones rolled down the blue ground to strike down the cans.
To cut the games short, the traditional hand-printing ceremony followed. It was initiated by last year’s administration of SSC coinciding with the first celebration of Freshmen Week to welcome the first year students as new members of the LCBA populace. Streaks of paints showered across the quadrangle as the freshies ran to each other trying to press hand prints on the shirts of their fellows, as well as their faces.
Parade of fresh beauties and hunks
The highlight of the week-long event was the most-awaited Mr. and Ms. Freshmen 2014. Though the main event was conducted on July 11, the heated battle happened behind the scene as academic organizations struggled to garner the highest likes on Facebook for their candidates.
Six pairs of fresh candidates made the crowd of supporters including family members, fellow classmates and org mates roared in unison to support their bets. Candidates hyped up the atmosphere as they danced along for their production number in their casual wears.
After a while, they presented their nature-inspired costumes which awed the crowd because of its size and multicolored designs. The stage could not almost keep them when they joined as one.
To finally decide who the winners will be, a question-and-answer followed testing the knowledge of the candidates about environmental issues. Mr. Freshman Rod Oliver Macairog answered when asked if he agrees with environmental groups who wreaked havoc on luxury houses and cars, he stated “Sumasang-ayon ako. Totoo naman dahil hindi naman talaga natin napapangalagaan ng maayos ang ating Inang Kalikasan.” He also added that we are gifted with the highest intellect so we already know what’s right and wrong. Thus, we could not blame nature if it seeks its revenge to us.
On the other hand, Ms. Freshman Zarina Pastor answered when asked to whom the destruction of nature was to be blamed, she replied “Tao. Tao ang sisishin ko dahil dito. Dahil tayo lang naman ang may karapatan upang magamit ito. Tayo ang nangangalaga dito… Huwag nating hayaang masira ang kalikasan.”
Breaking the suspense, the winners were finally declared and were as follows:
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Mr. Freshman 2014: Rod Oliver Macairog, SOA
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1st Runner-up: Kristian Balatucan, SOB-BA
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2nd Runner-up: Mark Roger Oyo-a, SICT
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3rd Runner-up: Arjay Bughaw, SAS
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Ms. Freshman 2014: Zarina Pastor, SOA
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1st Runner-up: Loraine Kay Abulencia, SAS
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2nd Runner-up: Abegail Roca, SOB-BA
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3rd Runner-up: Beverly tiquib, SOB-OA
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Best in Nature Costume: Zarina Pastor, SOA; Rod Oliver Macairog, SOA
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Best in Production Number: Zarina Pastor, SOA; Rod Oliver Macairog, SOA
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Most Photogenic: Abegail Roca, SOB-BA; Lloyd Christian Belarmino, SOB-OA
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Mr. and Ms. Popularity: Hennesy Milanes, STE; Takashi Isobe, STE
Photos: Paul John Nuguid and Ian Ramos