For the second year in a row, De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) commemorated its 59th founding anniversary, headlining the ninth installment of Echoes’ annual music festival with the theme “Area 59: The Invasion”, March 2.
More than six thousand Lasallians and non-Lasallians tuned in to watch the virtual music festival launched by DLSL’s Council of Student Organizations (CSO) via YouTube.
The event also raised funds through packages including shoutouts, short messages, and video dedications for Grade 11 students from St. Jaime Hilario School-De La Salle Bataan. The organization was able to raise PHP 75,552.
According to Ryan Laygo, CSO chairperson, they selected the chosen benefactors based on their “need for financial assistance to support their education, which aligns with the council’s goal of pursuing and promoting equal access to education.”’
The music festival started with four front act performances from up-and-coming singers Mariah Dela Cruz, Andrej Dominik Agas, Amiel Isaac Sol, and Julia Sofia Javier which were then followed by Patrick Quiroz (actor, singer, and TikTok star) who serenaded the crowd with his renditions of Binibini, Ikaw Lang, and Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok ko.
Next to Quiroz was the indie band Lola Amour with their hit soul-stirring songs, Fallen, Sanity, and Pwede Ba.
For the final act, singer and songwriter Adie Garcia serenaded the online watchers with his songs Dungaw, Tahanan, and Paraluman.
In an interview with a second-year student and first-time attendee, Jenilyn Mangilit emphasized the essence of having Echoes as an event to look back, give thanks, and spread love, not only to the whole Lasallian community but also to the chosen beneficiary.
“For me, the Echoes concert is about more than just giving the students the music festival experience they deserve. It is actually a two-fold initiative where we can simultaneously provide happiness and support as we gather funds and sponsorship for our chosen beneficiary,” said Mangilit.
Meanwhile, Laygo remains unsure of what to anticipate in the next installment of Echoes but is assured that DLSL CSO will continue to deliver a meaningful and high-quality concert filled with plenty of surprises for everyone.
DLSL kicks off online synchronous events
Aside from the virtual concert, there were also other activities to mark another founding year of DLSL, such as magic, puppet, and bubble show performances for grade-schoolers.
The event’s pre-program had over three thousand views as interactive games and performances from the Batangas Drum Beaters, Indak, Modern Dance Company, Salindayaw, SHS band, and DLSL Musikalista were live-streamed on YouTube.
In his opening remarks, DLSL Chancellor Erickson E. Martinez said that the line-up of events aligns with the institution’s mission to teach minds, touch hearts, and transform lives beyond challenges and borders.
Following the virtual opening mass is a Minecraft and Call of Duty Mobile (CODM) tournament for grade school and junior high school students and a Valorant tournament open for senior high school and college students.
Simultaneously, a BINGO for a Cause was also open for all Lasallian faculty and staff whose winnings would be directly given to their chosen charities.
In the statement provided by the officiating organizations, these activities aimed to instill Lasallian values by allowing the students to showcase their talents through mobile games and foster teamwork among all other participants.
“Now, we celebrate our milestones and aspirations. We take this day to give thanks and highlight the accomplishments of our journey,” Iezyl Torino, DLSL Vice Chancellor for Academics and chair of the 59th foundation celebration, said.
Despite being unable to celebrate the occasion on-site, the virtual events served as a tribute to the DLSL community’s effort in transitioning to online learning and lessening the difference among Lasallians.
