National cultural heritages come packaged in various forms. From museum exhibits to generational rituals, culture has long been protected and reflected upon through different media of presentation.
Staying true to its mission of keeping Filipino traditions alive among Ateneo de Davao University students, the Ateneo Culture and Arts Cluster (ACAC) hosted its annual Festival of Excellence (FOE). Entwining together stories of Philippine history with the passion that the cluster has passed down from one batch to the next, FOE is a cinematic journey into the Filipino heart, soul, and spirit.
Celebration of talent and culture
While the atmosphere is undeniably celebratory, the event’s core is rooted in AdDU’s identity. The skills honed during the ten FOE categories are not merely for the benefit of entertainment within the university walls. They are tools for the world—a crucible where raw talent is refined into leadership, advocacy, and cultural stewardship.
The verbal and intellectual challenges were fierce. In Diskurso, students faced the pressure of Extemporaneous Speaking, requiring quick wit and structured thought, with Social Sciences (SS) emerging as this year’s winner.
First-year AB Political Science student Bianca Ysabel Onod described that among all her experiences, what resonated most was being given the platform to speak about the beauty of Mindanao and the injustices it faces.
“I was given an opportunity to talk about Mindanao; its culture, history, and underlying issues. I think the fact that I was able to put out my knowledge and raise awareness is something that I truly pride myself upon, since it’s crucial to really know what’s happening in our homeland.”
The verbal contest was complemented by Maanyagong Adbokasiya, an advocacy pitching competition where students must articulate solutions to societal issues, in which the School of Engineering and Architecture SEA) claimed the top spot. For those who prefer the written competitions, Utakan stood as the ultimate quiz bee, testing the breadth of general knowledge, with Accountancy (ACC) cluster proving their dominance in the competition.
The performing arts brought the culture to life. Agik-ik offered a stage for Satirical Duologue Theater, using humor and drama to critique social norms, with SS once again taking the win. Lihok transformed poetry into movement, a “poetry in motion” that required physical expression to match lyrical depth. Meanwhile, Larong Pinoy grounded the event in nostalgia, physical agility, and the celebration of traditional Filipino games.
Yet, the most awaited event remained Sadsad Mindanaw. This cultural dance storytelling competition was the heartbeat of the festival, where students embodied the history and spirit of the Mindanao region through narrative dancing.
This year, the School of Nursing (SON) bagged the gold podium representing the Mandaya culture. Khrys Kelly Hermoso, a fourth-year BS Nursing and SON’s cluster event head, shared how much the participants went through.
“It wasn’t just about being the head, but about the trust of the dancers and cluster rep. Seeing their sacrifices, despite busy schedules and hospital duties, made it very special. I remember convincing them to join and being there during practices, cheering them on. Looking back, it makes me emotional because of the teamwork and dedication,” they said.
A turning point of FOE
The Festival of Excellence 2026 celebration took an unexpected turn when inconsistencies in the competition results surfaced after the February 27 awarding ceremony. The initial results were taken down, leading to a series of discussions between the Organizing Committee and several student clusters, including Business and Management (B&M), SON, and Humanities and Letters (HUMLET).
All cluster representatives reached a unanimous decision to propose a three-way tie for third place, an effort to correct the issue while prioritizing compassion, especially for the HUMLET cluster that had already publicly celebrated its win.
Despite this collective agreement, the Organizing Committee and the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) ultimately rejected the proposal, treating it as non-binding. Instead, they chose to strictly follow technical guidelines and revise the rankings, citing the issue as a “clerical oversight.” The decision shifted the focus from a shared resolution to procedural compliance, raising concerns among student leaders.
In response, the SAMAHAN Central Board released a statement calling out the lack of transparency and urging the need for a formal apology and improvements in tabulation and dispute-resolution processes.
While the final results from February 23–27, 2026, remained, the ACC cluster was hailed as the overall champion, followed by the SS cluster, and SON as the new third place instead of the HUMLET.