TSU faculty rep wins Mr. ASCU-SN 2025

Report by Heziel Ann Pugoy | Photo Courtesy of Dale Calvin Castañeda | Layout by Nikka Gutierrez

Tarlac State University (TSU) representative Dale Calvin Castañeda was crowned Mr. ASCU-SN 2025 on July 16 at Benguet State University, as part of this year’s Association of State Colleges and Universities–Solid North (ASCU-SN) Midyear Festival.

Mr. Castañeda, a faculty member from the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) under the Department of Communication, also received the Mr. Photogenic award and was named Best in Production Number.

The Mr. and Ms. ASCU-SN 2025 pageant was among the highlights of the socio-cultural segment of the annual festival, which brought together student, faculty, and staff representatives from 25 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) across Regions I, II, III, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Additionally, Mr. Castañeda described his win as both overwhelming and meaningful, crediting the support of those around him.

“I’m still on cloud nine from what happened last night. I feel incredibly blessed to be surrounded by such supportive people who gave so much of their time and effort to make sure I had everything I needed to give my best on stage,” he shared.

He also stated that he was originally set to join the pageant last year but was unable to do so due to age restrictions. Nonetheless, he viewed this year’s participation as a meaningful redirection.

“So, when the opportunity came again this year, I knew I had to go for it… to show how an educator like me can also thrive in the world of pageantry. Most of the time, I’m the one hosting pageants so I was genuinely curious to experience what it’s like to be on the other side," he said.

In addition, Mr. Castañeda also spoke about the discipline and preparation the competition required.

“What truly inspired me, was the trust and belief of the people around me... Our training sessions were intense—from pasarela to the Q&A. I had to adjust my priorities… but in the end, all the effort paid off," he added.

Meanwhile, TSU’s female representative, Princess Dianne Y. Mercado from the College of Education was named 3rd Runner-Up in the Ms. ASCU-SN 2025 category.

The 2025 ASCU-SN Midyear Sports and Cultural Festival concludes today, July 18, after a week of competition and celebration across sports, culture, and the arts.