[ENCORE] "Made for the Stage: The SAM-UP Orientation"

Coming home to Elbi while carrying our hopes and dreams with us is such a main-character moment. Like any other protagonist of this musical we all know as college life, we can do anything we set our minds to. But, it’s a different feeling, opening ourselves to new possibilities and meeting new people that may, later on, turn into our family within the university.

That family is SAM-UP, and this is what we wanted to share with our fellow math majors in “Made for the Stage: The SAM-UP Orientation'' held last February 22 in Jollibee Grove.

SAM-UP members together with the "Made for the Stage: The SAM-UP Orientation" attendees

Act 1: Time for celebration!

Over 35 attendees graced our orientation stage with the theme “High School Musical”. Hosts Julie Villagomez and Jerhine De Jesus channeled their inner Gabriella Montes and Troy Bolton and opened the event with a short acapella performance. A prayer was then led by Allysa Rose Gupit, a representative from the Sports and Socials Committee (SSC), followed by the opening remarks of Alec Hermosado, Membership and Discipline Committee Head and Executive-in-Charge of this event.

Senior Executive, Alyssa Salazar and Junior Executive, Jerico Soreto did the honors of introducing SAM-UP’s history, as well as its objectives and principles. SAM-UP takes pride in their list of events and achievements that transcended through time and distance and braved the challenges brought about by the pandemic. Some of the orientees even expressed their enthusiasm and interest in our events like ReSess (Review Session), which is very helpful in academic and social aspects, and ENABLE (Empowering Through Numeracy and Basic Literacy Education), that is centered on service in the context of community extension. The organization is able to achieve such milestones because of its dedicated members who make each other strong. Talk about an all-star cast!

Act 2: Speaking out with one voice

Aside from the games and free dinners, one of the most-awaited segments of every orientation is the Testimonials. The first to give his inspiring talk is Jason Santos, a graduate of BS Applied Mathematics who was then a gamer, now an investor, fund manager, and CEO of his own company. He shared his best memories in SAM-UP and how the organization helped him become the person he is now. According to Brod Jason, the support and encouragement of his brods and sisses has kept him motivated in studies, and his experiences in the organization has been so helpful in his professional career. It is also because of SAM-UP that he met the love of his life. All sana all’s aside, this goes to show that joining SAM-UP is an adventure that is one-for-the-books.

Another alum who told us his colorful SAM-UP story is the organization’s Junior Adviser, none other than Asst. Prof. Edd Francis Felix. Sir Edd takes pride in SAM-UP's achievements through the years, and it is so great to hear such first-hand experiences and commentary from a former Senior Executive. Before SAM-UP, Sir Edd wasn’t planning on joining any organization and has admitted to being shy-type and reserved, until he took the leap and joined anyway. According to him, this was a decision that he doesn’t regret up to this day.

Act 3: Champions, one and all

SAM-UP is a home to successful professionals, achievers, hardworking student-leaders, and talented individuals. Everyone in the room clapped and grooved to the intermission number of SAM-UP’s youngest batch, Auratus Victoribus, who sang and danced to some of the HSM songs we grew up with. There were also games and raffle draws that unleashed everyone’s competitive spirits.

'Made for the Stage' Event Team led by Eunice Bolaton

For the final act, Event Head, Eunice Bolaton gave her closing remarks. As Made for the Stage: The SAM-UP Orientation takes its final bow, SAM-UP expresses its appreciation and gratitude to the participants who took the time to see this spectacle, to the guest speakers who shared their breakthroughs as SAM-UP members, to the Event Team who planned every detail of the event, and lastly, to the members who helped the Event Team make it possible. Once again, SAM-UP proves that indeed, prestige, leadership, and excellence make the perfect ensemble. Indeed, we’re all in this together!

#SAMUPOrye

#MadeForTheStage

#TatakSAMUP