As the 2023 calendar turns over, it is about time to finally look back and end the year with a meaningful nod to all its greatest lessons, gut-wrenching setbacks, and gracious plot twists. With everything that has shaped, grown, and flourished—what are our top 2023 highlights?
Singling out our favorite and most memorable times might be a little too challenging as the year has been on both corners of difficult but meme-worthy and life-changing but disheartening.
As we recap our fondest highlights, let's see what happened in our iskolar, social, civic life, and other aspects that in one way or another—made us reach the end of this rollercoaster year!
PUP 2023: Signature Moments in Sintang Paaralan
The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) proved to still be our beloved Sintang Paaralan as the year paved the way for different voices and wins! From bar topnotchers here and there, PUPians have exhibited their true prowess in different fields.
With two Balik Sinta welcoming events in 2023, the "org life" was reignited as flagship events were hosted across colleges. Of course, the College of Communication (COC) is no exception as they are never short with queues of organizations eyeing to host the most epic events!
The celebration of Women's Month and the show-stealer momentum of PUP Pride were only a few of Instagram-highlight-worthy events of the year. Even outside guest speakers like Ricky Lee, performers like BINI and Pixie Labrador, and drag queens like Mrs. Tan were among our most beloved guests.
Meanwhile, there is no shortage of civic and social engagements as different organizations and councils continuously host fundraisers for different causes.
In the same span this year, the termination of the PUP-DND Accord was confirmed by the Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral (SKM). The unilateral termination meant that the Prudente-Ramos Accord of 1990, protecting the academic freedom of the iskolars and prohibiting the unlawful entry of military and police bodies into the University, had been removed from the picture.
The PUP community was alarmed and expressed their dissent as the accord was terminated way back in 2022 and was just publicly announced this year.
Aside from the dialogues on the safety of the iskolars, recurring chants were raised alongside the persistent pushback on making Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) mandatory among students and the National Polytechnic University (NPU) Bill, which will privatize the university facilities that may create anti-student changes as commercialization comes into view.
On a different note, the PUP System, which includes its satellite branches and campuses, caps the year off with the election of the 24th PUP student regent, Miss Kim Modelo who also leads as the current PUP SKM president. Meanwhile, Dr. Manuel Muhi was reappointed for his second term as the PUP president for another four years.
As the University pushes through many setbacks, the passions and pursuits of the Iskolar ng Bayan community persevere as everyone traverses through a challenging but life-changing college era. The future of Sintang Paaralan lies in the calls for change and dialogue that students continue to amplify.
COC 2023: Colorful, Outstanding, Core Memories
In the PUP-COC, the corridors finally met the COCians as classrooms and facilities became open with the blended learning set-up that allowed students and faculty to conduct in-person classes and activities.
There are absolutely no dull moments as academic, interest, and advocacy organizations and councils were able to host engaging and meaningful initiatives.From seminars to theater productions to sports fests to film showings—COC has showcased an indeed stellar experience for everyone.
One of the most prized competitions was the Mx. COC 2023, spearheaded by the PUP College of Communication Student Council, where Mx. Harley Palubon from the Department of Advertising and Public Relations slayed their way to the crown.
Culminating events like SIKAT Awards 2023 were also a hit as the four departments celebrated the wins and the highs of the academic year. Other events also included the West Crame Extension Program, spearheaded by Dean Hemmady Mora alongside COC faculty.
Truly, with the growing COC number, the college has been true to its vibrant image filled with students in the most “slayful” style and astonishing achievements.
TRENDING 2023: Pop Culture’s Talks of the Town
If there is something inevitable about every year, it would be the endless supply of trends and topics that might have shaken the internet at some point. This year has created different kinds of buzz, and sorting through them might mean unraveling Pandora’s box of milestones, half-truths, online challenges, and of course, gossip!
In celebrity culture, several concerts and international events were held in the country—from Harry Styles, TWICE, and the recent Asia Artist Awards. Different content creators, performers, and influencers began conquering bigger audiences like Taylor Sheesh winning international fans with her “Errors Tour”—a spoof of global icon Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
Still in the world of pop, drag performances also seeped through a wider radius through drag influences like M1ss Jade So’s charm in the second season of Drag Race Philippines following its successful show premiere last 2022. Announcements of Drag Den Season 2 hosted by RPDR alumnus Manila Luzon also made its way into the year-end headlines.
While several high points were celebrated this year, 2023 also revealed a persistent culture of gossip and doxxing as personal issues of different celebrities were picked apart openly. Different break-up news shocked fans, and one of those is Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla’s separation, which opened a web of involvement among celebrity reporters and columnists.
In the online scapes, Tiktok remained as the go-to app for different media content. However, this year has also uncovered different issues among content creators hired to troll people like the series of influencers called out by Maggie Wilson. As uproars made their way to X, formerly known as Twitter, the timely discussion on proliferating false news began anew.
Among gossip, insiders, and false news—2023’s most popular culture has been over-investment in online consumption, which has unfortunately enabled cyberbullying and online attacking tendencies. From memes that earn thousands of reactions to hateful spewing of judgment—has pop culture made everyone a troll in their own way?
SOCIAL 2023: Year-ender For Causes and Conversations
Amid the crisis and different concerns, several wins were also achieved as 2023 is a milestone year for the years-long push for the SOGIE Equality Bill as it was finally green-lit by the House Panel. This year also paved the way for one of the biggest Pride Month celebrations as PRIDE 2023 embraced a crowd of 110,000 attendees in the Quezon City Memorial Circle march alone last June.
As the year caps, we remain steadfast on the different issues that still need our full attention and awareness. In line with this is the #NoToJeepneyPhaseout calls as the PUV Modernization Program continues to echo online and on the streets. To this day, no extensions for the PUV consolidation have been made and the livelihood of jeepney drivers and operators hangs by the thread as numbers of jeepneys are being pushed off the streets.
Through the global lens, as the Palestine-Israel war sends alarming shockwaves across the world, groups like the Philippines-Palestine Friendship Association continue to call for donations for Gazan refugees in need of various basic needs. As the genocide snatches innocent lives, calls for ceasefire on worldwide platforms are being demanded.
Nevertheless, as 2024 approaches, we are not just closing dark chapters behind but also allowing ourselves to be more involved in in-depth conversations—regardless if these social issues hit close to our homes or not. It takes involvement for us to be drawn more closely to the masses and our people.
As Filipinos, we can always exercise our right to know about different social situations. May this year be our driving force to be curious about where our taxes go and remain vigilant enough to question sketchy budget allotments as we grow aware that we deserve more than just labeling our hard-earned money as #ConfidentialFunds and #TravelOverBudget.
WRAP UP 2023: Welcoming Chapter 2024
We may not exactly draw out our favorite and most memorable times this 2023, but we must learn and reflect on everything that has happened. More than just celebrating our biggest champion moments, we must also carry the idea of going beyond our comfort zones and letting ourselves become a progressive and productive individual in the real world.
As we have recapped our fondest highlights, let's see what 2024 has in store for our iskolar, social, civic, and other aspects that in one way or another—will determine our jump into more steep but ever exhilarating loops and twists in this rollercoaster ride.
As the 2024 calendar opens, it is about time to finally sort through our 2023 baggage and bring along those we will remain grateful for and graciously leave behind those that we are finally strong enough to label as “chapter closed.” With everything that has shaped, grown, and flourished for you this 2023—what are your top 2024 expectations?
Article: Sharona Nicole Semilla
Graphics: Aldreich Pascual
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