TSU holds SAS Day Celebration; highlights incusivity and student engagement

Report by Mandie Asejo and Cenon Pineda | Photos by Julyanna Lyde Bautista

Tarlac State University's Student Affairs and Services (SAS) Week Celebration brought students together for a meaningful program, highlighting empowerment, inclusivity, and student engagement, last February 28, 2025, at the Lucinda Campus Football Field.

The event was livend up by the much awaited "Acoustic Night," which provided students to show their musical talents. SAS day featured a number of performers, with the awarding of certificates scheduled in between performances.

While the ceremony faces minor setbacks, as some of the certificates were unavailable at the time of the event, organizers acknowledged the oversight and issued an apology to the students.

Despite the delay, the Acoustic Night remained a celebration of student artistry and collaboration, capping off SAS Week with a strong message of unity, inclusivity, and appreciation for campus initiatives.

Meanwhile, TSU President Arnold Velasco opened the event with an inspiring speech, emphasizing self-love and perseverance in achieving dreams.

"You have to learn to love yourself," he reminded students, adding, "Walang mahirap para sa taong may pangarap."

Moreover, TSU Safe Space Society (SSS) made waves at the SAS Week with an inclusive queer love booth, a space where, any type of relationships are welcomed. It utilized marriage-like themes to encapsulate queer empowerment and acceptance all over the university.

"Right now po meron po kaming queer love booth, wherein kahit sino po kahit throuple, kahit monogamous ay pwede po silang magpakasal dito, kahit platonic friends," SSS President Jeshren Nixe Alviar stated in an interview.

SSS also made an initiative to uplift queer-owned small businesses, providing them with a platform to showcase and sell their products. This serves as both an outlet of their talents and another mode of extra income. Their products includes queer themed stickers, pins, and other customized merchandise.

"As students need din namin ng extra income para ipagpatuloy yung mga studies namin. This naman will help uplift queer small owned businesses, to further sell their products po, very queer themed po and customized yung mga pins and stickers po,” Pres. Alviar expressed.

To ensure full participation, classes were suspended from 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM. All students were expected to attend and take part in the SAS Week Celebration.