12/07/2025
Empowering Sparks of Change: KaSari-Sarian 2025 Ignites Gender Equality Advocacy at PUP
Manila, Philippines – The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) once again championed creativity, inclusivity, and empowerment through KaSari-Sarian: PUP Gender Equality Creativity Festival 2025, a vibrant and meaningful celebration now on its third year. With the powerful tagline “Unleashing Gender Power, One Spark at a Time,” this year’s festival united students, educators, advocates, and creatives in a shared commitment to advancing gender equality across all spaces.
Organized by third-year Broadcast Communication students from the College of Communication (COC), this year’s festival reached new heights through the collaboration of students from the College of Economics and PUP Open University. The event featured an impressive lineup of 23 interactive booths—designed and managed by BABR students from both Traditional and Open University formats—alongside several exhibits mounted by Economics students at the PUP Main Building.
The festival opened with a 30-minute program hosted by Lance Euwan Completo, welcoming the PUPian community and setting the tone for a day of critical reflection, creativity, and inclusive dialogue. Attendees engaged with educational booths, multimedia screenings, and discussions focused on gender rights, equality, and safety.
The event culminated in a vibrant closing program held at the COC Audio Visual Room, hosted by Axcel Villarin and Chrysmhyr Cubilla. Prof. Krupskaya Valila, the professor who first envisioned KaSari-Sarian, opened the ceremony with heartfelt remarks. The program spotlighted artistic expressions of gender empowerment, featuring soulful performances by singer Jeffrey Dacuyan and electrifying drag performances by Miz Hoesha, Shack Daidana, Tracy Audacity, and Renoah Arc.
A highlight of the program was the solidarity speech by Ms. Pauline Hernandez from the Philippine Safe Abortion Advocacy Network (PINSAN), who emphasized the importance of inclusive policies and community support. The event concluded with a symbolic “grand pakain” or mini salo-salo, where organizers, performers, and guests gathered in celebration of shared advocacy and solidarity. Prof. Emy Ruth Gianan, an Economics faculty member, closed the event with inspiring words of encouragement for continued activism.
KaSari-Sarian 2025 was made possible through the generous support of sponsors including Online Pink Jade, Euros Chocolate PH, Midoko, and Sinaya Cup. The festival also drew strength from its numerous partner organizations and its dedicated media partners.
The Philippine Communication Society (PCS) proudly served as one of the official media partners of the event, amplifying the stories and voices at the heart of the gender equality movement in PUP and beyond.
With each spark ignited through creativity and collective action, KaSari-Sarian continues to pave the way for a campus—and a society—where equality, safety, and freedom of identity are not just ideals, but everyday realities.