At least a week before the fiesta, an official memo was released regarding the cancellation of the fiesta parade for safety and security reasons.

Despite the cancellation, the university decided to officially open the fiesta with a solemn floral offering parade in substitute of the cancelled fiesta parade, with the fiesta theme: “Maria Among Inahan: Tigpanalipod, Tigpangaliya og Giya sa among Tinguga ug Damgo nga makab oy ang hingpit nga kalinaw ug Kahiusa.”

Opening and thanksgiving prayer were offered to Our Lady of Assumption and St. Ignatius de Loyola, led by Mr. Lunar Fayloga, Theology Department Faculty.

“Despite of our nation’s colloquial, political and security situations, we come together today to celebrate all the things we have done and accomplished. As we start our celebrations, we offer flowers as a gesture of our gratitude to Saint Ignatius for leading us to our Mother, and to our Mother for leading us to her Son, Jesus, and to Jesus for showing us the way to our loving God,” he said.

The first to offer flowers were the administrators and non-teaching staff, followed by the School of Nursing (SON), the Accountancy cluster (ACC), Business and Management (B&M), School of Education (SOE), Humanities and Letters (HumLet), Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM), Computer Studies (CS), Social Sciences (SS), School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA).

After the solemn offering of prayers and flowers, the students were encouraged to cheer for their different divisions as they continue to parade their props and costumes while they head to 4th floor, Martin Hall, for the mass.

On the other hand, students expressed their sentiments regarding the changes on the fiesta parade.

Rhosendy Cortez, BS Accountancy-3, said that the announcement regarding the changes on the parade was confusing.

“Sayang, kay dati didto man gyud ta magkahiusa, ug ang spirit pud sa fiesta mafeel jud sa mga Atenista,” she added.

CS internal vice-president, Godfred Sam M. Pichon, BS Information Systems-4, also expressed his sentiments regarding the changes on the fiesta parade.

“Tradition na man gud sya, expected na pud nga daghan unta tao ang mangapil,” he added.

Despite the mixed reactions, the floral offering parade was pushed through and officially opened this year’s university fiesta.