06/09/2025
SPFL Students Celebrate First Intercultural Fellowship 2025
ANS SPFL-Nihongo and SPFL-Hangul students gathered for their first-ever Intercultural Fellowship at the CCSC Gym, on September 4, 2025.
The event highlighted unity, cultural appreciation, and friendship through speeches, performances, and games.
To start the day, students drew colors from their section boxes, forming 20 diverse groups represented by red, lime green, sage green, green, blue, ocean blue, light blue, violet, purple, soft pink, neon pink, mauve, brown, white, black, maroon, gray, fuchsia, gold, and peach. This created a vibrant mix of participants ready for the fellowship activities.
The program opened at 8:00 a.m. with an invocation by Emard Cabatana of 10-Kizuna, followed by the national anthems of Korea, Japan, and the Philippines. Head Teacher V of the ANS JHS Department, Gerlie Alberio, welcomed the students, while SPFL School Coordinator Almaluna Lumapac gave the rationale. She emphasized the growing SPFL program, now offering both Nihongo and Hangul, and the need for unity and intercultural understanding among students.
SPFL-Nihongo Club President Blessy Villas and SPFL-Hangul Club President Alayssa Bayonas both addressed the crowd, with Bayonas encouraging everyone to use the event to create memories, share laughter, and build lasting friendships.
The hosts, Romelyn Aragon and Mark Heramis of 10-Kansha, energized the sections with cheers and yells, setting the tone for the day. Excitement rose further with an intermission performance of "Dream High" by the SPFL-Hangul students, joined by their adviser, Lovelyn Feliciano.
Fellowship games then followed. The first was Red Light, Green Light, facilitated by Feliciano, who explained that the phrase “Mugunghwa Kkoci Pieot Seumnida” means “The hibiscus flower has blossomed.” The hibiscus, or Mugunghwa, is also the section name of the very first SPFL-Hangul class.
The game, which gained international popularity through the Netflix series Squid Game, was played by six members from each color group, divided into two batches. At the signal, players moved forward when the phrase was called out and froze instantly when it stopped. Any participant caught moving was eliminated, drawing cheers and laughter from their groupmates. The fast-paced nature of the game kept the audience engaged, with groups loudly encouraging their representatives to reach the finish line. The activity highlighted not only quick reflexes but also teamwork and support from each color group.
The second game, Kendama, was facilitated by teachers Jenlyn Restauro and Ishimoto Masumi. Kendama is a traditional Japanese toy consisting of a ball (tama) attached to a handle (ken) with three cups. Players competed by tossing the ball and catching it in the cups as quickly as possible.
Ten members from each color group participated, aiming to be the fastest to land the ball successfully. The challenge tested players’ timing, hand-eye coordination, and focus. Every successful catch was met with loud cheers from their groupmates, creating a mix of tension and excitement inside the gym.
Special awards were also given to highlight outstanding participants:
Best in Male Costume Attire: Nazarene Bayona (10-Kizuna) as Tanjiro Kamado (Demon Slayer)
Best in Female Costume Attire: Ricella Sayson (10-Kansha) as Hatsune Miku
Best in Section Yell: Grade 8 – Ichigo
In her closing remarks, Feliciano expressed her gratitude to the students for their active participation. The program concluded with the SPFL-Nihongo students performing “Paprika.” Afterwards, each section gathered for a salo-salo, ending the event with a shared meal and a prayer led by Sidney Caneda.
Leica Laput, LOL
Ken Diez, LOL
Charlen Fetiluna, LOL
