Cleopatra, Dionysus, and the Morrigan walked the halls of Carlos Hilado Memorial State University last week — not as figures from dusty texts, but as living embodiments of myth and folklore brought to life by Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English second-year students in a dazzling parade of creativity.
Students of BSEd English 2A staged “The Fairest of Them All: A Mythology and Folklore Parade” at the ETGB Function Hall, Talisay Campus, on January 12, 2026, transforming their end-term course project into a vibrant celebration of literature, performance, and imagination.
BSED English 2A photos
The culminating activity for ENFOLK203: Mythology and Folklore was designed to deepen appreciation for ancient narratives while giving students an avenue to showcase artistry and characterization skills.
Led by class mayor John Manuel Jover and supported by organizers Francis Allosa, Lorjay Batiancela, Jean Marie Legarto, and Sam Lloyd Ocup, the event began with a campus parade before moving into stage presentations. Each student portrayed a character from global mythologies, donning self-made costumes and delivering brief performances that blended scholarship with spectacle.
Judges professors Elmer Gumban and Doc. Vanessa Joy Judith, alongside course adviser professor Ma. Rosa Caraballe, evaluated the portrayals based on costume preparation, resemblance, and presentation. The awards themselves carried mythological flair:
- The Fairest of Them All (Champion): Cassandra Bachoco as Cleopatra
- The Face That Launched a Thousand Ships (1st Runner-Up): Cyrajhem Caperal as The Morrigan
- The Likeness of Galatea (2nd Runner-Up): Irish Andrada as Eris
- The Legendary Personage (Best in Stage Performance): Edison Jamaybay as Brahma and Hessey Joy Portes as Hel
- The Golden Fleece Award (Best in Costume): Claire Angela Dulos as Sirin and Franzen Butalon as Malakhiml
- The Cupid’s Arrow Award (Best in Audience Impact): Arman Pedroso as Dionysus
The titles themselves echoed the semester’s lessons, weaving mythological references into the recognition of student talent.
For many participants, the parade was more than a competition — it was a chance to embody the timeless stories that shape cultures and values.
By the end of the afternoon, the Function Hall had become a stage where gods, heroes, and legends converged, reminding the audience that mythology endures not only in books but in the creativity of those who keep the stories alive.
