The word “Hibalag” already speaks for itself.

It simply means ‘gathering’ or ‘nagkahiusa’ in our mother

language. As a matter of fact, it is a 2-week long celebration with different social events every day, and
these events are smoothly organized by different committees of the Silliman University Student
Government (SUSG). The said event has a different theme each year. All student organizations from
different colleges and associations gather to participate. They make different booths to represent for
their college and/or organization. This is also the time where different organizations are also recognized
by the students. What makes this also fascinating is that students who come from the same region or
hometown in the Philippines gather also to make a booth for the region they come from. Different
entrepreneurs and vendors from different places participate too. They sell different food and delicacies.
Some of them also run some outdoor activities for the people to enjoy. My cousins would describe it like
it’s an amusement park in school, and I truly agree with them since they experienced it firsthand.
One of the most awaited events during Hibalag is the Miss Silliman. It is the longest-running beauty
pageant in Asia. There must be one representative from different colleges and departments, and for
them to be qualified to join, they must audition first. It is a month-long event since the press launch
begins a couple of weeks before the Hibalag kick off. Each representative truly has beauty and brains.
Their advocacies are very informative without a doubt. I guess I would say that the main event is during
the Pageant Night. It is when the students know more about the candidates; the candidates’ cognitive
skills are being tested too in the Question & Answer (Q&A) portion – I would say that it is the most
awaited part of the night aside from crowning the winner of the pageant.
Hibalag has always been a signature event of every Sillimanian’s life for it somehow provides everyone
the ‘break’ that they deserve from all the stress their academic lives have caused. For us students, it is
something that we look forward to even just the start of the first few days in school. There are a lot of
never-ending requirements from different subjects and instructors before Hibalag, and just the thought
of it propels the students to do good on their examinations and to finish their requirements on time or
as soon as possible. From organization meetings, constructing booths, creating different props for the
parade of lights, and down to making cheers and banners for the college or department representatives,
students are the very backbone of this event. Clearly, the thought of Hibalag motivates students. And
even the instructors too.

Furthermore, it provides the students the opportunity to come together not only as one organization,
but as one whole student body. It gives us the chance to know more people and learn more about the
culture of Silliman University. During Hibalag season, alumni come from all over the world for their
homecomings which also gives us feels of nostalgia over the separation from the people around us that
we haven’t experienced yet. It also gives us the feels that even if all the academic life feels like forever,
we are also reminded that our stay in Silliman has come to an end and that we must be able to live our
lives as youngsters to the fullest, but at the same time not compromising our studies.

The basic essence of Hibalag is the uniting of graduates, nongraduates, and present enrollees in
commemoration of the institution’s Founder’s Day. And for most people who lived in Dumaguete for
years to finish elementary, high school or get a bachelor or master’s degree in Silliman and learned to
love Dumaguete and considered it home, Hibalag is an excuse to come back. Not only because of the
idea that it is the highlight of the entire school year, but because it is when everyone comes back, and
everyone gets to see everyone once again.
Hibalag has always been and will always be what Sillimanians, both present and alumni, look forward to
every Founder’s Day: it adds up to the feeling of “coming home”, it adds up to the whole Silliman
experience.