By Carla Adeline Via
Original Pinoy Music (OPM) sets resounded throughout the Hibalag grounds as local performers serenaded guests and students during the Higala 2025: All-University Acquaintance Party last Aug. 19.
Attendees wore tropical-themed outfits as they partied to various music genres such as P-pop, rock, and contemporary pop hits.
Hyping up this year’s Hibalag opening were local bands and artists: Hiraya, rock band Vessels, rising P-pop soloist RAKS, hiphop collective Beanbag City, and indie pop bands Indigo Wave and Tarugho.
Now in their third year in the annual festival, local band Hiraya expressed that their experience has been “as surreal as the first time.”
“What really makes it special is the energy of the crowd and the support we receive from everyone—those are moments we’ll carry with us forever,” they said.
The seven-member band performed OPM songs such as Cup of Joe’s “Estranghero” and “Multo,” Earl Agustin’s “Tibok,”, and IV of Spades’ hit song “Mundo” as foam rained down the crowd.
Despite their hectic school schedules, Hiraya shared that the group prepared even just for a few days just to “make it work because of [their] passion for music.”
“Every performance is truly something memorable, even the ones we feel weren’t our best,” they said.
The band will also perform as an opening act for this year’s Sillimusika.
Rising P-pop soloist Rakhim Tahir, popularly known as RAKS, also shared similar sentiments on his second time performing at the Hibalag stage.
Last year, he performed as one of the front acts for Lola Amour during the Sillimusika 2024.
“A lot of my goals as a performer actually first happened at Hibalag 2025. I finally got to experience the crowd singing along with me, and the photo opportunity with everyone after my performance was also a highlight,” he said.
RAKS performed songs of P-pop sensations such as “What” by SB19, “SSP” by VXON, and BGYO’s version of “Tala” by Sarah Geronimo.
Signed under Dumaguete music company Betzee, RAKS debuted in 2022 with his single “Me, Myself and I.”
He also teased, “I’m currently working on my single, so if it’s released this year, I plan to promote it by performing on different stages.”
Meanwhile, Beanbag City, a Dumaguete-based hiphop band, took their first step on the Hibalag stage and performed their series of music.
Other performances postponed
However, DJ Shinji Ueda and supposed main act K-pop band impersonators HunSTRESS and SADJA Boys’ performances were cancelled due to time constraints.
“It was unfortunate for the performers, who had prepared so much. We immediately explained the situation and assured them that we’d look for another opportunity,” SU Student Government (SUSG) Cheering Committee Chairperson Samantha Rae Sumanoy said.
SUSG CheerComm Chairperson Chrysler Marmolejo explained they made the last-minute adjustments to keep the flow of the program smooth.
“Time management is always a challenge in big events, but we took it as a learning experience,” Marmolejo said.
In response, SUSG CheerComm Vice-chairperson Renz Anntoni Dordado stated that they compensated the performers by arranging them with a new schedule in other Hibalag events.
SUSG President Adrian Grylle Malala affirmed, stating that they are still trying to look for a time slot for DJ Shinji, while HunSTRESS and SADJA Boys were rescheduled to perform in the “Barangay SG” event on Aug. 23.
However, the latter did not make their appearance during the event.
Moreover, Malala shared that they aim to align this year’s acquaintance with the Hibalag 2025 theme, “Hinabing Alon: Woven Tides of Heritage,” while highlighting solidarity among the students.
“Our goal mainly is to connect Hibalag from events to themes, for students to feel that we come as one,” he said.
The event is annually organized by the SUSG Cheering Committee, marking the start of the 11-day Founders celebrations.
