18/09/2026
FEATURE | Smiles Splashed through Drenched Paths
There are many ways to welcome someone—a handshake, a simple “Welcome to CBM!” or a quick introduction.
For the freshmen of the College of Business and Management, however, their welcome came in a way they probably did not expect: with blindfolds, rain, colored water, and a whole lot of laughter.
At 3:30 in the afternoon, the first-year students lined up inside the amphitheater according to their respective programs. With their eyes covered and their sense of sight taken away, they had little choice but to hold on to one another and trust the people around them.
Then, the rain came.
The sudden downpour did little to stop the initiation rites. Guided by their seniors and CBMSC officers, the freshmen made their way through the activity, already thoroughly soaked by the rain. Unsettled and confused, they had no idea what was waiting for them or when the real fun would begin. Still, they followed every instruction and signal, albeit hesitantly.
And then came the water.
Thin plastic bags filled with brightly colored water were dropped and popped above the freshmen's heads, sending splashes cascading down on them one after another. Soon, the circular lawn became a scene of laughter, screams, and excitement.
But the seniors and CBMSC officers were not getting away that easily.
The third-year students had something waiting for them, too—a fine white powder.
Before long, those who had been guiding and soaking the freshmen were covered in flour themselves. What began as an initiation had turned into a chaotic and messy exchange of laughter, with almost everyone becoming part of the fun.
“I was so happy and had so much fun,” said Jamela C. Rebutar, a first-year Office Administration student.
For the freshmen, the experience was about more than getting soaked or having flour cling to their hair and skin. It was an opportunity to laugh with their classmates, meet people who could become part of their college journey, and create a memory they could carry throughout their years in the department.
Starting college can already feel unfamiliar. There are new classmates, new faces, new places, and new experiences waiting around every corner. Sometimes, all you can do is trust the people around you and take the next step—even when you have no idea what is waiting ahead.
These freshmen did exactly that.
And somewhere between the rain, the colored water, the flour, and the laughter, they found a welcome worth remembering.
If this is how their first day starts, imagine what comes next.
Article | Reda Raquin
Photo | Lianne Denise Autencio
Layout | Piel Jasmin Andrade
