Gifting the Christmas Miracle at NU MOA’s Christmas ID Live Viewing, Christmas Tree Lighting Event, and Acoustic Jamming
By Sam Ocampo
Last Friday, December 6, 2024, the 11th-floor garden deck provided the university’s students and esteemed faculty space for the month’s highly anticipated event: NU MOA’s Christmas ID live viewing partnered with the Christmas Tree lighting and acoustic jamming.
The attendees were drawn into the holiday spirit, beginning the evening with an opening prayer and performance of the Philippine National Anthem from the NU MOA Campus Ministry Chorale, followed by a welcoming message from the Academic Services Director, Mr. Gabriel Cabardo, and an acknowledgment of the Mr. and Ms. NU MOA 2024 Winners and Deans and Program Chair.
Playing their own arrangement of a classic Silent Sanctuary song, Sikretong Banda officially started the first batch of acoustic jamming, with students shifting to the music and taking pictures and videos. The acts succeeding the band were Joash and Cianarry, Krisha Marie Lopez, a surprise performance from Dean Nick Guzman of the College of Dentistry with Gary Allan’s Please Come Home for Christmas, Himig Hiraya, and a crowd favorite, Joshua Bautista, finishing the first part of the music session with Mistletoe by Justin Bieber.
Dr. Annalie N. De Lemos, NU MOA’s Academic Director, then delivered a heartfelt Christmas speech, filling the night with more holiday cheer. Soon after, an audio-visual presentation showed the students’ united hard work in creating the styrofoam and CD Christmas balls that adorned the giant Christmas tree as it fitted this year’s theme, “Excellence in Unity.”
At last, from the buildup to the grand release, NU MOA’s 2024 Christmas ID, entitled “Pamilya sa Paskong Nationalian,” was presented and sung live by Joshua Bautista, Krisha Marie Lopez, and Darryl Adrian Salamera, with members from Dance Hive performing on the stage around the Christmas tree as it lit up during the song’s last chorus, the moment bringing the audience to applause and festive emotions.
Afterward, there was an awarding of certificates and tokens to members contributing to the success of the Christmas ID project, along with a warm Christmas message from the Executive Director, Ms. Dolly Rose S. Manalang.
As attendees claim their food with their food stubs, the second batch of acoustic jamming opens with Mx. Dan Andre Bagao singing a powerful rendition of Holy Night, followed by Darryl Salamera serenading the crowd with well-loved Christmas tunes.
The awaited event concluded with the community leaving the venue with joy and a warm, welcoming feeling into the holiday season as they celebrated this night with their NU MOA family.
