by Allan Jay C. Espiritu, RMT, DrPH
The School of Nursing, Allied Health, and Biological Sciences successfully relaunched Synergy on 27 and 28 April 2023. Synergy, first held in 1997, is the annual faculty frolic of the then School of Natural Sciences. This event showcases the talents of the faculty members, staff, and students of SONAHBS. For this year, the theme of the event was “Blast through the Decades.” It featured songs and dances from the 1970s up to the present.
Synergy was originally conceptualized as a fundraising activity to support the School’s outreach and community extension programs. SONAHBS still upholds this concept as it continues to make its presence felt in communities, advocating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG). Part of the proceeds of the event shall be used to fund the upcoming community extension programs of SONAHBS, focusing on ensuring the health and promoting the well-being of people in chosen communities in support of SDG 3.
Synergy also became a very important event that enlivened the students’ enthusiasm for learning. The performances included the winning pieces of faculty members and students who joined the University Arts Festival and the surprise numbers performed by various faculty members that elicited cheers and applause from the students. These performances helped them relieve their stress from academic life. The School believes that quality education is confined to the classroom and other venues where students can balance their academic and social life in support of SDG 4.
This year’s Synergy is the first faculty frolic that included and united the faculty and students of the former School of Nursing and the former School of Natural Sciences into one big School event. It highlighted how collaboration and harmony between and among the faculty and students were able to make this a successful event. This was also the first time Synergy was showcased for two nights bringing together the faculty and students in a fun-filled and peaceful event. Synergy has highlighted the importance of unifying events that would foster peace and justice to always reign in communities, such as schools, in support of SDG 16 and 17 and the CICM Advocacies of Justice and Peace.
