Village Connect
Along the shoreline of Rizal Boulevard in Dumaguete, hundreds of glowing water lanterns carried more than light across the sea. Each represented a hope, a personal dream, or a vision of a better future as Foundation University welcomed another academic year through its annual Dal-uy Festival.
More than 7,000 students, university personnel, and community members gathered for the celebration, transforming the boulevard into a place of reflection, unity, and renewed purpose. The tradition encourages young people to consider not only their individual ambitions but also their role in their families and communities.
“Our goal is to encourage our students to understand their purpose within and beyond the school’s walls, look deeper within themselves, and envision the future that they want to live in,” said Foundation University President Victor Vicente “Dean” Sinco. “The Dal-uy Festival is meant to be a spiritual and uplifting moment for both our students and staff.”
What has become one of the university’s most meaningful traditions began on a much smaller scale. In 2000, Dal-uy started as a simple gathering of university employees at the campus Social Garden to mark the opening of the academic year. A decade later, it developed into a university-wide celebration along Rizal Boulevard.
Sinco recalled that students’ aspirations have also evolved over the years. Earlier wishes often centered on passing subjects, graduating, and securing employment. Today, he said, many students are thinking beyond themselves, expressing hopes for their families and ways to overcome the challenges they face.
The festival also reflects Foundation University’s commitment to environmental responsibility. In compliance with Dumaguete City’s environmental ordinance, organizers use plastic folders and bamboo planks in constructing the lanterns. After the ceremony, local fisherfolk and authorities help retrieve them from the water.
Reusable materials are collected and stored for the following year, while materials that can no longer be reused are sold. Proceeds are used to purchase supplies for university scholars, helping the celebration extend its purpose beyond the event itself.
“Every year, we have seen how the Dal-uy Festival has brought a sense of belonging and community to the participants,” Sinco said, emphasizing the shared responsibility of helping transform young people’s hopes into reality.
From a modest campus gathering to a community tradition, Dal-uy continues to symbolize a generation looking toward the future—with dreams not only for themselves, but for the people and communities around them.
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