FEU's creative legacy powers national vision for arts in education

 

When Abraham Diolanda, a fourth-year medical biology student, joined the Far Eastern University (FEU) Chorale during the pandemic, he simply sought a creative outlet. 

When Abraham Diolanda, a fourth-year  medical biology student, joined the Far Eastern University (FEU) Chorale during the pandemic, he simply sought a creative outlet. What he discovered was far  richer: 

“I found a second home. My journey with the FCA taught me discipline, built my confidence, and grounded me in empathy, resilience, and servant leadership.” ~Abraham Diolanda, a fourth-year  medical biology student, joined the Far Eastern University (FEU) Chorale

Diolanda's tale is just one of many shaped by the FEU Center for the Arts (FCA), a community of campus-based, student-led cultural groups that includes the university's Bamboo Band, Chorale, Dance Company, Drum and Bugle Corps, Drummers, Guides, and Theater Guild.  Beyond organizing concerts and providing mentorship, the FCA fosters creativity, self-reliance, and a strong sense of purpose, reflecting the university's overall dedication to holistic student development.

For Danyel Reyes, an alumnus of the Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts, the experience went well beyond campus.  

“Through the FEU Dance Company, I performed,  choreographed, and even competed abroad—something I never imagined doing as a student.” ~Danyel Reyes, an alumnus of the  Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts

Reyes, who has represented FEU and the Philippines twice in South Korea and once in Taiwan, credits the FCA with helping him strengthen his management abilities and professional maturity.  His experience at FCA continues to inform his present work as an advertising practitioner and a member of Hiraya Contemporary Dance Company.

This ethos took national stage when FEU  recently hosted the 11th National Conference of the Association of Cultural Offices in Philippine Educational Institutions, Inc. (ACOPEI). The event united  cultural officers, educators, policymakers, and prominent speakers such as  National Artist Ricky Lee, NCCA Executive Director Eric Zerrudo, CHED Executive  Director Atty. Cinderella Filipina Benitez-Jaro, DTI Creative Industries  Program Manager Atty. Gio Franco Gomez, and CCP Vice President Dennis Marasigan.

In  recognition of FEU’s leadership in arts and culture education, the conference  also marked the election of FCA Director Martin Lopez as ACOPEI president. In his three-year term, Lopez will prioritize a Safe Space  Handbook for student artists, a legislative proposal mandating Cultural Affairs  Offices in higher education institutions and closer relations with the Commission on Higher Education.

Over the past two academic years, the  FCA has engaged an average of more than 300 student-artists per semester, with  more than half benefiting from full scholarships. Participation has consistently been strongest from the Institute of Arts and Sciences and the Institute of Health Sciences and Nursing, which underscore a broad appreciation for the arts that span both humanities and STEM disciplines.

This level of participation is made possible in part by FEU’s robust scholarship  program, which plays a critical role in keeping the arts accessible to students from all backgrounds. Students who meet both academic and artistic standards may receive partial or full grants, with topperformers eligible for additional assistance that covers miscellaneous fees. For many, this support enables not only participation but the completion of their education. “As a student who struggled financially,  receiving an FCA scholarship helped me finish college,” recalled Aulwin Ortiz, a former member of the FEU Drummers. He added  that the FCA became a space of diversity and unity, where a wide range of perspectives were embraced, celebrated, and channeled toward a shared goal.

With this foundation of inclusiveness,  FCA student-artists regularly bring recognition to FEU on national and global  stages—from the  Chorale’s participation in the Asia Choral Grand Prix in Bali, to the Dance  Company’s silver-medal finish at South Korea’s Andong Mask Festival. Their accomplishments span performances across Philippine cities such  as Baguio, Tarlac, Cavite, and Manila, as well as global venues in Indonesia  and Mongolia. These triumphs further resonate through FEU’s cultural calendar, with FCA groups  leading signature events like the Marching Band Festival, Tamdula, FEUlikulahan at Kuwentuhan and Pasko sa Piyu that exemplify FEU’s dedication to creative enrichment and excellence. 

“At FEU, culture and creativity are not peripheral to education. Our work at the FCA has always been about  widening access and deepening impact and ensuring that every student has the opportunity to create, lead, and find belonging through artistic expression.” ~Martin Lopez, ~FCA DirectorACOPEI President

Now at the helm of ACOPEI, Lopez brings  with him a vision grounded in practice. His national agenda is not a departure,  but a continuation of the inclusive, student-centered work he has long  championed at FEU. By scaling the values and experiences that have defined the  FCA— access, mentorship, and empowerment—Lopez aims to help institutions nationwide recognize them as a vital pillar of education.

Outgoing ACOPEI members Joel Parcon (University  of Asia and the Pacific), Martin Lopez (Far Eastern University), Glorife Samodio (De La Salle University), Elenita Cruz (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina) and Jesus Montajes (Ateneo de Davao University) thank National Commission for Culture and  the Arts executive director Eric Zerrudo, Commission on Higher Education (CHED)  executive director Atty. Cinderella Filipina Benitez-Jaro, and Department of  Trade and Industry Creative Industries Program Manager Atty. Gio Franco Gomez for sharing their insights from the education, cultural, and business sectors.

Martin Lopez from the FEU Center for the Arts moderated a discussion on trends in artistic programming with Vice President and Artistic Director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines  Dennis Marasigan.  

 

FEU students, faculty and officials  take and reflect on an exam on emotions administered by speaker Mary Loh from  Singapore.

FEU Center for the Arts Senior Director Martin Lopez was elected as ACOPEI president. In his first address to  the membership, he encouraged more collaboration among members and with industry partners, here and abroad.