𝐍𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 | 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐲 𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐒𝐔-𝐈 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐛𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The familiar beats of Original Pilipino Music echoed through the Isabela State University–Ilagan Campus Gymnasium as students, dressed as beloved Filipino artists, television personalities, and fictional characters, transformed ISU-I’s annual Panagsasangbay 2026 into a vibrant celebration of culture, creativity, and school spirit on Thursday, July 23.

Carrying the theme, “New Beats, Embracing Diverse Capabilities, Uniting One ISU Ilagan,” the annual welcoming tradition gathered freshmen, transferees, and returning students for the opening of Academic Year 2026–2027, promoting unity and camaraderie through activities that highlighted Filipino pop culture and the unique identity of each academic program.

The celebration began with a parade from Century Park to the ISU-I Gymnasium, led by the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and the Drum and Lyre Corps, followed by university officials, faculty members, student leaders, organization officers, and students from the different academic programs.

Adding color to the event, each academic program brought well-known Filipino personalities and groups to life through themed costumes and performances. Students portrayed icons such as BINI, SB19, BGYO, Sarah Geronimo, Vice Ganda, Jolina Magdangal, Kimmy Dora, Darna, the SexBomb Girls, Ex Battalion, and Alamat, turning the gymnasium into a showcase of Filipino entertainment while reflecting the creativity and teamwork of every department.

The program continued with departmental yells and themed song-and-dance presentations, drawing cheers from the audience as each group showcased its enthusiasm and school pride. Among the participating academic programs, the College of Nursing, representing the SexBomb Girls, emerged as the Best Yell Champion.

Supreme Student Council President Eddie M. Bunuan Jr. said Panagsasangbay was organized to give students a meaningful start to the academic year while fostering a stronger sense of belonging within the ISU-I community.

“As the organizers of Panagsasangbay 2026 and as the Supreme Student Council, we wanted to give our students the best possible start to the academic year. More importantly, we wanted every freshman, transferee, and returning student to feel that they truly belong to this community. We also hope they carry with them the spirit of ISU-Ilagan—a community where talents and capabilities are nurtured and showcased both inside and outside the university,” Bunuan said.

Beyond the colorful costumes and energetic performances, Panagsasangbay became an opportunity for students to build connections, celebrate Filipino identity, and begin the academic year with a stronger sense of belonging within the ISU-I community.

Cluster Executive Officer Dr. Alfonso R. Simon said he hopes the celebration leaves students, particularly freshmen, with the assurance that they have found a welcoming community and a support system as they begin their university life.

“After Panagsasangbay 2026, I hope our students, especially our freshmen, will realize how excited the entire ISU Ilagan family is to welcome them to their new home and new family. I also hope they will know that their upper-year students, their ates and kuyas, are here to support and guide them as they navigate their first year in the university. Panagsasangbay is about making them feel that they truly belong here at ISU-Ilagan,” Simon said.

The welcoming atmosphere of the celebration was likewise reflected in the experience of freshman Carl Guerrero Bunagan, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology student, who said Panagsasangbay immediately gave him a sense of belonging despite the preparations leading up to the event.

“Nu’ng unang pasok ko sa ISU-I, ramdam ko agad ang pagiging welcoming ng campus at ng mga ISUans. Kahit nakakapagod ang naging paghahanda namin para sa salubong, napalitan naman iyon ng saya dahil sa mga inihandang pasabog at sa naging karanasan namin sa Panagsasangbay 2026. Iba talaga ang tatak ISU—puno ng pakulo at tunay na nakapagpapasaya,” Bunagan said.

As one of ISU-I’s long-standing traditions, Panagsasangbay continues to serve as a venue where students from different academic programs come together, celebrating not only the start of another academic year but also the shared identity, culture, and spirit of the ISU-I community.

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Written by Cherry Talon, Loreto Vhong Lagat

Photos by Davemark Martinez, Jomel Limon, John Mark De Leon

Correspondent by The Newsette

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