THE COLLEGE of Fine Arts and Design (CFAD) will be the host college of Thomasian Youth Ambassador and Ambassadress (TYAA) 2026, a pageant organized by the Student Organizations Coordinating Council (SOCC).
SOCC corporate treasurer Aaron Peiji said CFAD was selected through random sampling.
Hosting will rotate annually, with no college repeating in the succeeding years.
As host, the CFAD student council led the creative aspects of the event, along with the organizations under the college such as Haus Industriel Design (HID), The Illustrativ, Interior Design Innovators, OneShade Dance Squad, Polymath Arts Society, Red Cross Youth Council – CFAD and Touchpoint.
Abijah Lumaque, president of the CFAD Student Council, said they were initially hesitant to serve as the host college, but later agreed to help amplify the advocacies of college representative.
“We believe in the power of advocacies, the power of the candidates, na mapakita nila and ma-voice out nila ‘yong kani-kaniyang advocacies,” he said.
Peiji said that the next TYAA should be “authentic.”.
“‘Yong true doon sa advocacy nila, ‘yong hindi lang sila nandito for compliance. Hindi kasi ito just a beauty pageant. We are looking [someone with a ] true heart, campaigning for their advocacy,” he told the Varsitarian.
The SOCC held the launching and sashing of TYAA on April 30, with 19 candidates from 10 academic units.
HID designed the crowns for the Thomasian ambassador and ambassadress, led by student designer Daniela Rose Magana.
“We have designed a wearable art that bridges the gap between creativity and authority…these are more than just crowns of golden emerald. They are the symbols of a bright new chapter,” HID President Nicole Agbuya said.
Agbuya said the ambassadress’ crown, dubbed “Aurelia,” has dramatic spike pillars bound by gold strips to symbolize “unwavering strength,” along with curves that form a hidden heart and an emerald-colored stone serving as a “beacon of hope.”
The ambassador’s crown, “Ancora,” is a “fortress of a servant leader” with laurel leaves and an emerald-colored core.
The TYAA candidates for each academic unit are as follows:
- Sean Gabriel Estadilla and Iya Enterezo (Artlets)
- Lee Herradura and Mikaela Candelario (Accountancy)
- Alessandro de la Paz and Jan Keisha Cayetano (Architecture)
- JM Alvarez and Aoife Gomez (Tourism)
- Joclemn Palarca and Bianca Isabel Caniedo (Nursing)
- Michael Espiritu and Johanna Recuenco (Science)
- Koji Antonio and Monica De Leon (Education)
- Dennis Deonon and Ashley Macaraan (Commerce)
- Dylan Ignacio and Jasmine Arciga (Pharmacy)
- Zeick Tacay (IPEA)
The launch, held in the Medicine Auditorium on April 30, bore the theme “Bastions of Hope in the Heart of Service.”
The coronation night is set on May 13.
