Graphics by Catherina Capili
Blending Filipino tradition with student engagement, EVSUnistas gathered for the daily student-led Laro ng Lahi games from August 18 to 25 at the university’s Open Field, as part of the 22nd Charter Celebration.
The Laro ng Lahi games featured traditional and interactive activities such as The Longest Line, Catch the Dragon’s Tail, Chinese Garter, Pass the Balloon and Dodgeball, bringing students from different schools together through friendly competition.
In an interview, Supreme Student Government (SSG) School of Education (SED) Senator Judelyn Advincula, one of the organizers of the activities, said the games were designed not only to entertain students but also to encourage them to interact and build friendships with one another.
“Our main goal organizing Laro ng Lahi siyempre is to make them happy, to make them enjoy the Charter celebration and gusto namon maging friendly an mga students ha kada game,” said Advincula.
She further emphasized that the activities aimed to create a friendly atmosphere where students could connect with one another through every game.
The first set of Laro ng Lahi activities, held from August 18 to 20, was organized in collaboration with various student organizations, including the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA), Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE), Society of Environmental Science Students (SESS), Federation of Junior Marketing Association (FJMA), Philippine Institute of Industrial Engineers (PIIE), Student Linc, DOST-EVSU Scholars’ Council for Leadership, Assistance and Responsibility (ESCoLAR), Philippine Association of Students in Office Administration (PASOA), Young Entrepreneurs Society (YES), Science Education Student Society (SCIEDSS) and Alpha Phi Omega – Delta Chapter.
Meanwhile, the final set of games on August 24 and 25 was organized by the SSG alongside the university’s Council of Leaders (COL), closing the Laro ng Lahi festivities with more team-based games and competitions.
The games transformed the Open Field into a venue for competition, with laughter and interaction among participants as they worked with their teammates to complete challenges and outplay their opponents.
Robert James Lastrilla, a first-year Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) student who participated in the games, said the activities made the celebration more meaningful because of the teamwork and coordination required among participants.
“For me, it made it so very meaningful and enjoyable because we were acting as a group, and then at the same time, we joined two games. With our chemistry, although we are just new, we coordinated well, and for me, that made it so very meaningful because active participation and having the will to coordinate is something that I enjoyed the most because without coordination, we are not gonna win,” Lastrilla explained.
Following the weeklong competition, the winners of the Laro ng Lahi games will be recognized during Students’ Night on September 17, where participating teams and students will receive awards for their performances throughout the competition.
Article by Ellie Cabalhin