Dal-Uy 2025: A Celebration of Hope and Dreams

Every year, Foundation University’s Dal-Uy Festival brings together the FU community in a symbolic tradition of hope and dreams. A night of glowing lanterns, Dal-Uy is a reminder that wishes may one day come true.

For many alumni, returning to their alma mater for Dal-Uy brings back cherished memories of student life. The event becomes a bridge between who they once were as students and who they have become today.

For Joseph Valen Sustento, a fresh graduate of  AB Political Science program, Dal-Uy is a chance to look back on the battles he faced as a student. His past wishes included good grades, good health, prosperity, love life, and the completion of his research paper. Many of his wishes have already been granted, except one. “I still don’t have a girlfriend,” he jokingly shared. This year, he joined Dal-Uy once again as he was inspired by a close friend, and wrote new wishes for job opportunities and a chance to pursue further studies.

For Rovel Lagos Jr., Dal-Uy has always been more than a festival. “It serves as an outlet to let go of my wishes and hopes,” he said. As a student, one of his wishes was to pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers, a dream that came true in 2024. Now teaching at La Consolacion College in Bais City, Rovel returned to Dal-Uy with new wishes, this time not only for himself, but also for his students. He hoped to keep the fire of passion for teaching alive despite the challenges of the profession. Attending Dal-Uy as an alumnus, he found joy in reuniting with friends and teachers and was reminded of how blessed he was to have chosen FU College of Education in pursuing his bachelor’s degree.

Camille Elvinia, a STEM graduate of Foundation Preparatory Academy and now a licensed physiotherapist, recalls how Dal-Uy became a celebration of hope, dreams, and tradition that brings people together. “Knowing that every lantern lit holds stories and dreams waiting to unfold makes it even more heartfelt for me,” she reflected. Looking back, she remembers wishing for good health and to finish her studies. Years later, she has achieved those dreams and is now helping patients recover from injuries and illness as a sports physiotherapist. Her return to Dal-Uy after six years was unplanned, but it became a nostalgic reunion with old friends.

For Mikhyla Sumanoy, Dal-Uy continues to symbolize unity. “Even after I graduated from FPA, I’m still part of its culture and community,” she shared. She remembers how writing wishes as a student gave her hope that someday they would come true. One of her long-term wishes is to become a Physical Therapist and Doctor of Physical Therapy, which she holds on to as inspiration to succeed. Attending again, but this time as an alumna of FPA, Mikhyla found that the feeling never changed. The glowing lanterns still carried the same joy and hope as when she was an FPA student.

For Carla Jean Montinod, a Bachelor of Physical Education graduate, Dal-Uy has always been the most awaited event of her student life. “It feels like living in a fairytale where anything feels possible,” she described. One of her most personal Dal-Uy experiences was during her final year as a student not because it was her last Dal-Uy, but because it felt more personal and heartfelt than ever. Many of her wishes have been fulfilled, including finishing her degree. Now, she joins Dal-Uy as an alumna. “After experiencing so many Dal-Uy celebrations, it already feels incomplete if I don’t join,” she shared. One of her most important wishes is to pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers and become the teacher she has always dreamed to be.

Though their stories differ, all alumni share the same sentiment. Dal-Uy is more than a celebration, it is a reminder of hope and gratitude. Each lantern carries with it not just wishes but also reflections of past struggles and triumphs.

For some, Dal-Uy brings nostalgia. For others, it is a way to reconnect with friends and mentors. And for many, it remains a practice of hope, whether for career opportunities, health, or simply peace of mind.

As alumni continue to come back each year, Dal-Uy grows not only as a  tradition, but also as a legacy of Foundation University that continues to inspire beyond graduation.