HCDC - Guild of English Major Students - GEMS

Happy Birthday to our ever-reliable GEMS Secretary, Cherry Mae Luchavez! 🎉✨

Your organization, dedication, and strong sense of responsibility keep our team connected and running smoothly. Behind every successful plan and well-coordinated activity is your hard work, attention to detail, and commitment to serving with excellence.

May this year bring you the same joy, success, and positivity that you generously give to our organization. Keep shining, inspiring, and leading with your quiet strength and determination. We’re truly grateful and blessed to have you in GEMS!

Cheers to more achievements, happy moments, and wonderful milestones ahead. Happy Birthday, Cherry!🥳🍒

Happy Birthday to our ever-dedicated GEMS Auditor, Aliza Marie Gementiza! 🎉✨

Your precision, integrity, and quiet strength keep our organization grounded and growing. Behind every successful project is your hard work, keen eye for detail, and commitment to transparency.

May this year reward you with the same excellence and positivity you bring to GEMS. Keep shining, leading with honesty, and inspiring us all with your dedication. We’re so blessed to have you on the team!

Cheers to more milestones, more achievements, and more victories ahead. Happy Birthday, Aliza! 🥳💙🩷

Happy, happy birthday to our shining gem, Ashlee Kate! 💎✨

To the ever-dedicated and inspiring GEMS 3rd Year Representative, thank you for leading with grace, confidence, and a heart that truly cares. Your passion, hard work, and genuine love for serving make our batch brighter and stronger every day.

May this year bring you endless opportunities, well-deserved success, and moments that make your heart as full as the joy you give to others. Keep sparkling, keep leading, and keep being the amazing Ashlee Kate we’re all proud of.💖🎉

All those late nights and extra coffees are about to pay off. Good luck on your exams!

🎨: John Kenneth Galado

In Photos | Cognizance 2025: Awarding Ceremony 🏆✨

Following the creativity, laughter, and spontaneous performances during the Write It Out, Act It Out game, Cognizance 2025 concluded this segment by recognizing individuals and groups who truly stood out. The awarding celebrated not only talent and wit, but also confidence, teamwork, and passion, qualities that made the activity memorable and meaningful for everyone present.

From wordplay and storytelling to charm and resilience, each awardee embodied the spirit of Cognizance: excellence with heart. These recognitions served as a reminder that every effort, no matter how big or small, deserves to be seen and applauded.

Our sincerest apologies for the late posting; the holiday season and busy days caught up with us, but the recognition is always worth the wait. 💫

Congratulations to our awardees:

TREASURE HUNTING
🏆 Blason, Imma Hermione

WORD WHIZZ
🏆 Xandrea Bulawin
🏆 Jhon Mar Ijan

WRITE IT OUT, ACT IT OUT
🏆 SECOND-YEAR – TABLE 5
Blason, Imma Hermione
Galado, Althea
Casurra, Abbygaile
Aberilla, Casandra
Malubay, Roxanne Ren
Intong, Denyl Mae
Placer, Serj Joseph
Flandez, Ryann Angelo
Plazos, Carl Adrian
Auristela, Yacinth Johaira
Batao, Princess Chrisia Shane

BEJEWELED MALE
🏆 Borriz Joey Chua

BEJEWELED FEMALE
🏆 Sheree Myles Daniles

ASCENTS
🏆 Jay Rose Pantaleon

FORTITUDE
🏆 Rufaida Pawai

HARMONY
🏆 Noeme Pearl Delos Santos

PASSION
🏆 JM Napoles

Once again, congratulations to all! You made Cognizance 2025 shine brighter. 🌟💎

Congratulations to the honorees of the Pinning Event 2025!✨

The Guild of English Major Students proudly celebrates this meaningful milestone, a symbol of your dedication, growth, and commitment to the discipline of English. Being pinned is more than a tradition; it represents the perseverance, passion, and purpose that have guided you through your academic journey.

May this moment inspire you to continue honing your voice, sharpening your craft, and using language as a tool for understanding, leadership, and positive change. As you move forward, carry with you the values of excellence, integrity, and service that define our guild.

Once again, congratulations on this remarkable achievement. The future is brighter because of the stories you will tell, the ideas you will shape, and the impact you will make.

Padayon, English Majors! 🎓✨

Congratulations to our LET Board Passers! 🎉

All the hard work, doubts, sacrifices, and late nights have finally paid off. We are so proud of you and the journey you’ve taken to get here.

The Guild of English Major Students celebrates this milestone with you, go inspire, teach, and make a difference. 💙📚

Finally! Finals szn is here!

Wishing you the best of luck on your examinations, may your hard work, late-night reviews, and countless notes all pay off. Just a little more push and you’re done! Hold on, because the holiday break is just around the corner. You’ve got this!✨

Edited by: John Kenneth Galado

In Photos | Cognizance 2025, Write it Out, Act it Out✍️🎬

After the dinner and the lively karaoke session, the program smoothly transitioned to one of the most anticipated highlights of Cognizance 2025, the interactive game “WRITE IT OUT, ACT IT OUT.” Participants were grouped according to the table where they were seated, with each table forming one team for the challenge.

Each group was given 15 minutes to craft a very short story. The genre was completely up to them — it could be fictional, comedic, dramatic, or even inspired by real-life experiences. Once the writing time ended, the groups submitted their stories to the GEMS Officers.

To make things more exciting, the officers then randomly redistributed all the submitted stories to different groups through a draw or rotation system. The twist of the night came next: the groups had no time to rehearse the story they received. Instead, they had to read the story aloud once in front of the audience, and on the second reading, immediately act it out through role play or dramatization. Each team selected one member to serve as the narrator while the rest performed on the spot.

All performances were showcased in front of the audience and the judges, filling the venue with laughter, creativity, and spontaneous energy. In the end, the best overall performance was chosen and announced as the winner, marking another memorable moment of Cognizance 2025.

📸: Julian Carl Magdua & Earl Joseph Aranjuez
✍️: Chris Nicole G. Belches

In Photos | Cognizance 2025 Dinner and Karaoke Session🎤✨

After the intermission number, the program transitioned into a moment of gratitude as a prayer before the meal was led by the Vice President of the Guild of English Major Students, Ms. Erica Gabrielle Grado. Her heartfelt prayer created a warm, reflective atmosphere, preparing everyone for the shared dinner ahead.

The dinner, thoughtfully prepared and served by Davao Cake Counters II, added to the comfort and delight of the evening. As everyone enjoyed their meals, the venue buzzed with joyful activity. Many students continued lining up at the photobooth to capture more memories, while others gathered onstage for the KTV session. In true Filipino fashion, the karaoke spirit was unstoppable, filling the room with cheerful singing, laughter, and shared enjoyment.

In the midst of the ongoing dinner and festivities, the GEMS officers prepared a special surprise for the President of GEMS, Ms. Chris Nicole G. Belches. It was not only the celebration of Cognizance 2025, but also her 22nd birthday, making the moment even more meaningful. The surprise added a heartfelt and emotional touch to the evening, honoring her dedication and leadership while making her day truly unforgettable.

📸: Julian Carl Magdua & Earl Joseph C. Aranjuez
Caption by: Chris Nicole G. Belches

In Photos | Cognizance 2025 Intermission Number✨

After the Word Whiz game, the hosts took the stage once again to keep the energy alive. They then introduced a lively dance intermission number performed by the students. The atmosphere instantly shifted as the performers showcased their talent, bringing vibrant movement and excitement to the audience. Their performance added a refreshing burst of entertainment, keeping the momentum of the event strong and engaging.💎✨

📸: Julian Carl Magdua & Earl Joseph C. Aranjuez
Caption by: Chris Nicole G. Belches

In Photos | Cognizance 2025 Photobooth & Word Whizz✨

After the preliminaries, the students eagerly proceeded to the photobooth area, where FunShot Photobooth Davao set up a lively and eye-catching backdrop. Laughter, poses, and group shots filled the space as everyone captured their moments from Cognizance 2025. Meanwhile, some students enthusiastically volunteered to join the interactive game ‘WORD WHIZ: THE ULTIMATE GUESSING GAME.’

In this activity, participants were grouped into pairs consisting of one Guesser and one Clue-Giver. The Guesser will guess the words flashed on the screen, unable to see the word, while the Clue-Giver who could read the word was limited to responding only with “Yes,” “No,” “Maybe,” or “Pass.” Each team was given a strict two-minute timeframe to correctly identify the word based solely on these limited responses. Every Guesser who will speak vernacular or any languages than “English” language will be deducted 2minutes of their time.

To maintain fairness and excitement, the Guesser was prohibited from peeking at the LED Wall or receiving hints from the audience. The game continued smoothly as all participating teams took their turns, while the facilitators diligently monitored the rules and kept track of the scores. Any form of additional clues, gestures, or spelling resulted in point deductions or word disqualification.

In the event of a tie, teams faced a thrilling one-minute lightning round to determine the ultimate winner. By the end of the challenge, the pair with the highest number of correct guesses proudly earned the title of Word Whiz Champions, bringing an extra spark of friendly competition and fun to the event!✨

📸: Julian Carl Magdua & Earl Joseph C. Aranjuez
Caption by: Chris Nicole G. Belches