27/09/2025
๐ ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐จ๐ง๐๐: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐๐๐๐๐ค
Colors in art often tell storiesโbrushstrokes on canvas capture emotions, while sculpture freezes moments of history in stone. Statues may stand pale and unmoving, but behind them are memories of victories and struggles once alive in the people they represent.
In the heart of Iriga City stands the University of Northeastern Philippines (UNEP), founded in 1948. More than an academic institution, it has shaped leaders and nurtured values alongside knowledge. For generations, UNEPians carried with them a competitive spirit, their green kinship, and a reputation for excellence in every competition they entered.
However, year 2014, the bloodline began the petrify. What remained were stories passed from one batch to another and memories that inspired but could not replace the lived experience.
Through the years, graduates remain to imagine the past. And new years of alumna were produced, but unable to reach a dream that lingers: to bring back the green and gold pride to the streets.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ง๐ฆ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ
After 11 years of calling, the voices were heard. The pale and unmoved status begin to crack down and its true color seen as shades of green and white with a hint of goldโthe triad of where the foretold story landed its trademark.
Now, the silence finally broke. On September 17 and 19, 2025, UNEP returned in the performing streets of Naga City. New uniforms seen by the crowd, students and teachers driven with determination and passion as the long-awaited return has been fulfilled. Cadets, scouts, band members and majorettes marched with collective efforts shaped in each formation witnessed by the crowd. Marching towards the pass-in review, the snappiest salutes were received by the board of judges, unified twirling of batons and harmonic music heard in front of the stage. From preparations to the actual roads and platform, each competing units gave it all as a proof of true escape from the absence that once bounded their seniors.
Among the pioneers of the return is Jaymee Caroline Razon, the Corps Commander of the Citizenship Advancement Training Unit (CAT), where she was challenged upon breaking the cracks of that blurred the shining past.
โOf course, it was really a big step for me especially grabe yung pressure dahil ako nga yung kauna unahang ibinalik sa peรฑa, but aside from that, I am really honored na ako yung nandon because alam ko naman po sa sarili ko na I worked hard to earn that spot and also my staff so kahit po may kaba, may pressure, we were really eager to put our best kasi marami pong naniniwala saamin. The University and also our beloved principal really eager for us to do our best during the Peรฑafrancia competition. Talagang nafeel po namin yung suporta nila and with that talagang yun yung nag push saamin to do our best.โ
In their return, results already show how remarkable the performance was.
The university was able to brought home the following awards:
โข 2nd Runner-Up โ Girl Scout of the Philippines
โข 5th Runner-Up โ Boy Scout of the Philippines
โข 2nd Place โ Best Marching Majorettes
โข 4th Place โ Best Brass and Wind Band
โข 5th Place โ Majorettes and Color Guard Exhibition
โข 6th Place โ Best Brass and Wind Band
Through collective persistence, a lively school can be reborn.
๐๐ฒ๐ง๐๐ฆ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง
Awards and recognition are considered the most rewarding after hard work and dedication. However, in defeat, is the avenue where more learning begins. To Jaymee, their collective efforts and heart put in the performance matters the most despite no award was given to her team.
โTo be honest nag e-expect ako, totoo yan, kasi of course nakita ko yung pagod ng mga kadete ko, nakita ko yung effort na pinut namin doon and of course nakita ko yung life after the competition and I was really rooting para doon sa mga platoon ko kasi talagang binigay nila yung best nila eh pero nung nakita ko na talagang wala, nung una medyo okay okay pa siya saakin kasi nasa isip ko may mga need pa talagang i-improve yung organization namin kaya hindi kami nakapasok, pero nung nakita ko na umiiyak na yung mga kadete ko, dun ako naiyak, totoo po umiyak po talaga ako non, yumakap po ako sa mga kaibigan ko. Talagang syempre po as a corps commander na feel ko na baka may kulang akong binigay kaya hindi kami nagkakaroon ng spot doon. Pero at the same time I'm really grateful kasi nung nakita ko silang umiyak nakita ko na talagang desidido sila na talagang nandon yung passion nila manalo kahit hindi kami nakapasok doon.โ
๐๐ง๐ญ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ
For the other generation under the absence, dreams came true. โIt makes me feel proud, and for me, it was an outstanding comeback. Imagine, after more than a decade of refusing to participate, the institution had the courage to take the challenge and proved that their comeback was worth it. The long hiatus was a great setback because youโd have to start again from square one, with students who had little to no experience in such a big event. Nonetheless, they came out victorious. It was once the dream of many to join the military parade of the Peรฑafrancia Festival, and now, seeing our juniors fulfill it makes me proud of them and of my alma mater.โ, said TJ Marquez, a former Supreme Student Government (SSG) President, Class of 2024.
To Marquez, the return was worth waiting for. And now, he wishes that the living glory now, grows and continue. โYou already have a great start, a great comeback, and I hope it doesnโt end there. This is not just a challenge but an inspiration for all of you to become your best, and I hope for more success to come your way. Remember that victory doesnโt come for free, and that hard work pays the best reward. I truly believe that greater success is yet to come. Good luck and God bless to you, future competitors. Prove that a true UNEPian will always be a global achiever.โ
The eleven-year gap did not define UNEPโs futureโit prepared a new generation to step forward. With determination, passion, and resilience, UNEPians proved that tradition can be reborn, and that the green, white, and gold will continue to march on.
The comeback is not just about trophies. It is about spirit. For UNEP, the story and the glory live on.
๐ท๐ช๐ข ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ป ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ณ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ ๐๐ด๐ค๐ข๐ฏ๐ฐ/๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฐ๐ด ๐ฃ๐บ: ๐๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ช๐ฆ๐ญ ๐๐ฎ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต๐ณ๐ฐ, ๐๐ณ๐ช๐ด ๐๐ฏ๐ต๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ช๐ฆ ๐๐ฆ๐ณ๐ช๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐๐ฆ๐บ๐ฏ๐ข๐ฏ ๐๐ถรฑ๐ฆ๐ป/๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
