30/07/2025
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๐๐๐๐๐๐ | Connecting Diversity Through Games and Delicacies
At the Intercultural Games and Cook Fest, students from Legazpi City National High School shared common cultural connections with youth campers from YMCA Taiching, Taiwan, through fun, food, and shared experiences.
Despite the obvious language differences and the unfamiliar taste of nilupak, ginataan, and bilo-bilo, the Taiwanese youth campers made cultural connections during the Intercultural Games and Cook Fest held on July 29, 2025, at the LCNHS Annex Campus.
The day began early as TVL (Technical-Vocational-Livelihood) students from both Junior and Senior High School prepared local Filipino delicacies like nilupak, ginataan, and bilo-bilo for the guests. They also helped arrange the venue and decorate it to create a festive, welcoming atmosphere.
At around 9:08 AM, the Taiwanese guests arrived with excitement. The event officially opened with the national anthems of both Taiwan and the Philippines, performed by the SPA Rondalla group under the direction of Maโam Ivy Laspiรฑas.
This was followed by a heartfelt doxology performed by Special Program in the Arts alumni, who sang โStill.โ Selected Junior High School students then performed the LCNHS Hymn.
Assistant School Head Maโam Sally Ibarra welcomed everyone with opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of embracing one anotherโs cultures and traditions.
โWe love to share the culture of Filipinos, especially through food and dance. This event helps deepen our appreciation of unity in diversity,โ she said.
To showcase Filipino talent, SPA dancers performed a traditional folk dance, bringing energy and color to the stage. This was followed by messages from YMCA representatives.
Mr. Joseph B. Esplana of YMCA Albay extended a warm welcome, while Peter Lou from YMCA Taichung expressed his excitement to meet Filipino students and learn about their culture.
LCNHS Principal Sir Danilo V. Llarena also gave a meaningful message about the value of real-life cultural encounters.
โItโs different when you meet people in person,โ he said. โBooks and social media can teach us things, but nothing beats real experience. Weโre proud to share our culture, food, and gamesโand maybe discover similarities with theirs.โ
After the formal program, SSLG President Sophia Samantha Astor introduced the dayโs activities.
Before the games, a female student from LCNHS performed a solo Arnis demonstration, a traditional Filipino martial art. She was introduced by Sir Peter John Orosco, who explained the history and meaning of Arnis to the visitors.
The Intercultural Games began with excitement. Each round was played by two mixed teams, five LCNHS students and five YMCA delegates, allowing both groups to interact, laugh, and work together. The fun Filipino games included Patintero, Tumbang Preso, madang-kadang, and Pukpok Palayok.
After the games, guests visited the cooking exhibit rooms where they enjoyed traditional Filipino snacks made earlier by the TVL students.
Later, the YMCA delegates showcased their culture. They taught Chinese calligraphy, performed a Taiwanese folk song and dance, and hosted fun quizzes about their food traditions. Their folk dance had a catchy rhythm, similar to โRow Row Row Your Boat,โ which many LCNHS students enjoyed.
School Head Sir Llarena summed it up:
โPromoting our culture while learning about theirs is a great exchange. Events like this help students grow โ not just in knowledge, but in appreciation of what makes each of us unique.โ
LCNHS students led by Sophia Astor performed a mashup of โQuing Fei De Yiโ and โBiyaheโ by Josh Santana, blending Filipino and Taiwanese languages as a beautiful symbol of unity.
A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was then signed between the Schools Division of Legazpi and YMCA Albay, strengthening their partnership for future exchanges.
๐๐๐ | Gillian Haven Astor
๐ถ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ | Gillean Torno, Jeriel Apin
๐โ๐๐ก๐๐ | Cyrel Broncano, Irish Angtiampo
