Inspired by the Great Hall in the Hogwarts, levitating-like candles adorned the ceiling of the 2nd floor of CEA during this month three years ago as architecture students celebrated the National Architecture Week 2017. In line with the Harry Potter theme, students then were divided into four houses, namely, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.
The event was enjoyed not only by potterheads, but almost everyone in the CAFA (now CADBE) community. But before all of that took place, Mark Sahagun, the UAPSA-PUP Chapter President that time, described the making of the NAW 2017 as “the black plague”.
The Black Plague
While the revival term (2016-2017) experienced flawless and seamless approvals of proposals, events, and venues, the officers of the following year experienced the opposite. During their term, the PUP admin released a memo that halts large department events and activities (including NAW). They even limited the use of amenities and spaces inside the campus. The officers of UAPSA of fiscal year 2017-2018, suddenly found themselves immobilized- no venues available and the fact that large department events were prohibited.
“Wala na talaga kaming lugar na page-event-an pati atrium pinagbawalan kami gamitin. Pati Gabriela hindi pwede gamitin. ‘Yung NDC court that time, hindi pa siya fully equipped na venue so parang kaming nganga nung term namin,” Sahagun said in his interview with The Freehand. “Though as a President, siyempre sabi ko na ayaw kong ma-feel nung mga members namin, kasi coming from the revival term, biglang magf-flop the next year, so gumawa [kami] ng paraan.”
Seeing the Light
The officers went to the Dean’s office and defended the event in front of the dean, chairperson, and their adviser during that time—Ar. Ted Inocencio, Ar. Lutap, and Ar. Gabitan, respectively. “Pinaglaban talaga namin siya sa office of the Dean. Sabi namin kay Sir Gabitan, Ma’am Lutap pati kay Sir Ted na “Sir ang National Architecture Week is not a department event. Lahat siya. Buong Pilipinas isine-celebrate siya. Kumbaga, nagkakaroon lang tayo ng celebration sa PUP, it’s not [a] department event. So hindi siya magf-fall under ng department event.” Sahagun shared.
And reading this post today means that the plea and efforts of the officers of that year have been heard and they have pushed through the event three years ago, amidst all the impediments along their path.
CCS: Constraints, Comparisons, and Stories
The constraints that narrow down their choices just forced them to be more creative in thinking of ways to make the event more joyful. Like the levitating candles, they prepared something special during the Big Night. During the roll call of the four houses, every time a house is called, their flag rolls down and inside it was pieces of cellophanes—creating an explosive atmosphere—which earned a loud ‘Woah!’ from the participants and heightened their energy.
They adapted the Arkistilo (which started during the revival term) and challenged the participants to design clothing using newspapers. The outputs of participants were amazing, as described by Sahagun, “Ang daming designs nung mga term na yun na hindi mo ine-expect na pwede pala siya ma-pull off gamit ang newspaper.” Fun fact, T-ann Geneblazo, UAPSA-PUP Chapter President 2019-2020, was the one who won the Arkistilo that year.
Despite giving their best efforts to pull off the event, some were still not pleased and thought that the previous NAW event was better. “Hindi mawawala yung mga na-dismaya, siyempre ‘yung level ng hypeness nung previous term, Nandun talaga siya. Hindi mo siya maaalis kaagad.” Sahagun answered honestly. “‘You cannot please everybody.’ ‘Yun na lang sinasabi namin.” Fortunately, they recognized that even if their event wasn’t perfect, they knew that they entertained a huge number of students, and stories of their audiences proved that.
During the Big Night, Mark Sahagun was not able to give his closing remarks because the circuit breaker of the NDC court suddenly shut down intentionally by building personnel, because the event stretched out way past midnight.
There was another story of a professor whom they invited, “Alas dose na natapos ‘yung event namin tapos gusto niya nang ilabas ‘yung kotse niya [sa CEA]. Ayaw siyang payagan nung guard na ilabas ‘yung kotse. Hindi nila kilala na professor pala siya ng PUP,” he laughs while recalling. “Nakakatuwa lang ‘yung mga ganoong story na umabot kami ng hanggang alas dose.”
It Takes A Village
On behalf of the UAPSA officers of the 2017-2018 fiscal year, Mark Sahagun is extremely grateful for the support of the former dean and chairperson, and to their adviser, Ar. Gabitan. He even thanked his co-officers and the whole CAFA community.
“Sobrang grateful ko na meron akong sobrang supportive na team during that time. Sobrang sisipag. Ginawa din nila lahat. As a whole team, ginawa din nila ‘yung best nila para ma-pull off yung mga events from the first to the end of the fiscal year. Sobrang grateful [din] ako dahil kahit nagkaroon kami ng ganoong problem, naging active din at supportive ‘yung department natin, to pull off that event successfully.” —Claire Hernandez/The Freehand Feature
Photographs from UAPSA-PUP Chapter
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