In line with Far Eastern University’s (FEU) week-long 97th Founding Anniversary Celebration, ‘SAYAWIT ‘25: Battle of the Bands’ (BOTB) transpired preceding a month-long postponement, with calls for better organization from talent organizations, at the FEU Grandstand last March 24. 

Originally scheduled on February 14, the Battle of the Bands was postponed to a later date due to rain and technical issues, with only the Battle of Dance (BOD) pushing through after being relocated to the Engineering Building Mini Auditorium. 

Institute bands were able to showcase their talents at the ‘Sayawit Gigfest 2025’ with special performances from the FEU Dance Company, ITHM Groovers, and guest judge Daniel Paringit last March 24. 

Institute of Health and Sciences (IHSN) representative Ortus District Dance Alliance and Institute of Accounts, Business, and Finance (IABF) Powerband were crowned champions of ‘SAYAWIT ‘25: Battle of Dance’ (BOD) and ‘SAYAWIT ‘25: Battle of the Bands,’ respectively.

Postponements

FEU Central Student Organization (FEUCSO) released an official statement last February 22 announcing the rescheduling of BOTB as an external event, either on February 28 or March 24. 

However, despite the majority of talent organizations supporting ‘SAYAWIT ‘25: Battle of the Bands’ to push through on the 28th, the final decision was yet to be finalized and announced. 

In an interview with FEU Advocate, FEUCSO Vice President Patricia Luansing shared that on February 26, the FEU Student Development (SDev) Office informed them that external activities were to be halted following recommendations from the University Health Services (UHS), preceding a school accident in Marikina. 

“To be transparent, dapat ‘yung reschedule is February 28 pero due to ‘yung accident sa Marikina, ‘yung may batang namatay, ipinagbawal bigla ‘yung outside activities (when a child died from an accident in Marikina, outside activities were suddenly not allowed), so we had to cancel [no’ng] February 26, tapos February 28 ‘yung event,” she explained.

According to Luansing, there was no fixed venue yet for the supposed external event. However, FEUCSO was also eyeing the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) of Manila or an events place around Malate, Manila. 

After the cancellation, Luansing mentioned that the next proposed date was on March 24, during the University’s activity period. 

“‘Yung next na proposal is March 24 kasi kailangan daw activity period para payagan na malakas or may sound system (The next proposal was March 24 because it needed to be during the activity period for the approval and presence of a loud sound system),” she added.

Due to the rescheduling, FEU Institute of Technology (Tech) representative Artist Connection Music Synergy was unable to join in this year’s competition in light of their midterm examinations. 

“Nag-message ako kay FEU Tech, personally, if March 24 nga, ganiyan activity period, and then lahat ng details. And then it was consensus din nila kasi finals yata nila or midterms, so ayon, sayang kasi hindi sila nakabalik nga. But nung una, push talaga sila, tapos tumapat nga ng exam,” Luansing shared.

FEUCSO tried to work around a compromise with FEU Tech. However, it was not allowed by the FEU Tech administration. 

An option was also given by the SDev to move the event to the next activity period on April 8 to consider other external factors, but talent organizations have collectively agreed to hold the event on March 24. 

Setbacks

External factors, such as the rising heat index and the sudden shift to online modality, were part of the causes of delay in which FEUCSO handled. 

“‘Yung heat index dapat is may malaking tent dito sa gitna so naka-prepare na kami rain or shine tutuloy tayo… Nabalitaan namin na there is a possibility to go online so kinausap na namin personally si VPAS [FEU Vice President for Academic Services Raquel Baquiran] ‘tsaka si SDev din kung ano ‘yung mga recommendations,” the FEUCSO vice president revealed.

Moreover, FEUCSO maintained communication with the Institute Student Councils and talent organizations regarding the work-arounds brought by the delays.

“We had to compromise, sasagutin namin ‘yung kanilang practices and then nagkaroon din kami ng instances na, ayon nga, sumagot kami ng food and then ‘yung guest list nila,” she explained.

Each band was given 10 allowable guests to invite as their audience. 

During Sayawit Gigfest, FEUCSO encountered a problem with the ingress of the band’s guests due to the possible overlooking of entry and consent forms by the Administration. However, it was resolved immediately according to Luansing.

Despite the setbacks, FEUCSO remained determined to push through the event, regardless of the changes in modality.

“Last week pa lang, online or onsite, we [have] decided na we will push through regardless. SDev and VPAS naman were very supportive na ‘sige ituloy niyo na,’” Luansing expressed.

In handling student grievances, FEUCSO acknowledged the sentiments of the artists and conducted meetings to discuss their terms and hear their recommendations. 

“Ang naging steps ni FEUCSO moving forward, in-accept namin kung ano ba ‘yung mga recommendations nila, and one of it parang mas coordinated, like look-in sila sa lahat ng process, so ayon, nagpa-meeting kami a day or two days after the Concierto, may meeting kaagad. So diniscuss doon what went wrong and ano ‘yung recommendations nila, ano ‘yung terms nila, ano ‘yung thoughts nila,” she added.

Luansing also highlighted the importance of considering other locations for future Sayawit organizers in preparation for unexpected circumstances. 

“Siguro it is important to highlight na hindi mo talaga masasabi ‘yung panahon. So kailangan, the next time, baka pwede mag-consider ng ibang location, ibang venue,” Luansing mentioned.  

In a separate interview, BOTB champion IABF Powerband Director Miggy Mayor shared their band’s collective frustration regarding the postponement. 

“Sa totoo lang po talaga nung halos ilang beses na rin na-adjust and na-move nang na-move, may mga times na parang ‘sasali pa ba tayo,’ parang ‘back out na lang tayo kasi parang nasasayang na lang ‘yung efforts ng bawat isa sa atin,’ pero ayon, thanks God na, at the end of the day, mas pinili pa rin namin yung commonality na meron kami, which is ‘yung passion namin for music and to perform,” he expressed

With regards to the communication process, Mayor raised concerns about the relaying of information and planning progress. 

“Nare-relay naman nang tama ‘yung information and all. Siguro minsan… dahil nga may mga times na parang nara-rush or gano’n, so minsan nagagahol kami,” Mayor shared.

One suggestion that IABF Powerband Director raised is the betterment of communication with the involvement of concerned organizations throughout the planning process. 

“Siguro ang concern lang, siguro kunyari kapag may gano’ng postponement… extra effort pa to reach out, especially isama din ‘yung talagang mga committees o mga talagang kailangan i-involve, kasi minsan, may mga times na nagugulat na lang kami na ‘ah, ayon pala—ganun pala.’ Parang hindi kami nasama sa process,“ he added. 

BOD champion Ortus District Dance Alliance Captain Julian Perez shared similar sentiments with Mayor regarding the consultation and involvement of talent organizations with the planning and execution of events. 

“Although may back-up plan naman sila pero hindi na-execute nang maayos kasi hindi siya well-planned ba in a way na hindi na-consult ‘yung mga talent organizations kung okay ba ‘yung back-up plan… As much as possible, ayun. Try lang din to consult with [the] talent organizations regarding sa mga plans if okay lang ba ‘yung ganito-ganiyan para next time [na] may mga ganiyang instances. At least, may back-up plan na mas maayos na ma-execute ‘yung program,” Perez mentioned. 

With regards to the announcement of the BOD winners prior to the awarding, Perez shared that it was the collective agreement of the talent organizations to announce the winners privately to lessen their worries. 

However, despite their request, the private announcement of BOD winners also has a downside. 

“Although nasabi after mga three or four days ‘yung results, wala na siyang thrill. Pero still, okay lang. At least, makampante kami na wala na kami masyadong isipin kaya okay na din,“ Perez explained. 

Ortus District Dance Alliance captain also conveyed their fulfillment after being crowned champions despite complications. 

“Ngayon, talagang masasabi ko na sobrang saya and also sobrang… nakaka-fulfilling kasi ‘yun nga po marami kang nire-represent. Hindi lang ‘yung buong group namin,” he expressed.

On the other hand, the IABF Powerband director was still taken aback by the title after their fierce battle. 

“Actually, ngayon po, talagang parang nasa state-of-shock pa, medyo ang hirap i-expect kasi sobrang tight nung competition, ang gagaling ng lahat ng institutes, eh (Actually as of now, we are still in a state of shock. [The result] is a bit hard to expect because the competition was so tight. All of the institutes were great),” Mayor revealed.

‘SAYAWIT ‘25: Battle of Dance’ and ‘SAYAWIT ‘25: Battle of the Bands,’ are part of FEU’s roster of events for the 97th Founding Anniversary Celebration to showcase artistic talents of Tamaraws. 

Winners of both BOTB and BOD were initially to be included in the One Concierto Piyu lineup but were later cancelled with only the Drag Battle performance by student drag artists pushing through due to unprecedented challenges. 

- Julliane Nicole B. Labinghisa

- With reports from Mark Vincent A. Durano and Art Santiago

(Photo by James Neil Tamayo/FEU Advocate)