Performing Arts Group left struggling behind the scenes
As Students’ Week 2024 approaches, a glaring issue looms over the festivities: the severe lack of available venues. Groups like TEATRO Lasalliana and La Salle Filipiniana Dance Company (LSFDC) have been forced to postpone events—ones that could have sparked critical conversations around topics like Martial Law—simply because there isn’t enough space. It’s disheartening to see that many organizations under the Performing Arts Group (PAG) had to settle for subpar venues, compromising their creative visions for the weeklong event. This is supposed to celebrate diversity, but it already failed to consider the artists of the student body by the sheer lack of support they receive from the University. By pushing their events to the second semester, University administrators are not just delaying production works and performances—but also devaluing the hard work that students poured their hearts and souls into. For these creatives, it’s a slap in the face.
This boils down to improper planning and coordination of Students’ Week activities, scheduled November 11 to 16, tightening the venue options for all departments.
Lacking Facilities
While PAG struggles in the face of Students’ Week, this only represents a small percentage of their grievances. Their offices on the second floor of Gregoria Montoya Hall (GMH) are supposed to serve as their functional spaces, yet these offices are barely large enough to store their instruments and production equipment, let alone accommodate rehearsals. The Visual & Performing Arts Production Unit (VPAPU), for example, has resorted to using the old registrar’s office behind the University Student Government (USG) office as a makeshift storage space. However, this area is so cramped that larger props must be stored outside, exposed to harsh weather conditions, rendering them useless for future events due to the damages.
One of the most persistent issues facing PAG organizations is the lack of rehearsal space. With their offices too small to hold practices, they’re often forced to use the GMH Quadrangle. In some cases, they spill over into the hallways to accommodate their members. But with seven organizations under PAG, each group must share and rotate the limited practice time, severely impacting the quality of their preparations.
GMH was even envisioned to be a ‘student engagement center,’ housing various student organizations as planned by the Office of Student Services in 2018. It emphasized the supposed allocation of individual spaces for PAG so that they wouldn’t have to rely on using the GMH Quadrangle. However, the current situation is quite the opposite, as most organizations have no choice but to use the open ground, hoping it doesn’t rain.
On top of all these issues, leaks, broken lights, and unusable electrical outlets, as well as termite and mold infestations invade their spaces, posing a safety hazard and causing operational inconvenience. The University’s failure to address these issues is an alarming oversight that continues to impact the well-being of student artists.
In fact, it’s not only them who are suffering; the other offices located in GMH—which is home to various student organizations—have also been dealing with termite infestation and leaks, which is particularly alarming for a space that stores student activity materials, publications, and documents. To make matters worse, the nearby male restroom was locked throughout most of the academic year (AY) 2023–2024. Despite a sign indicating it was not to be used, faculty members were often seen sneaking in. Now that it’s open, it recently flooded due to clogged toilets, causing inconvenience to the offices residing nearby—a serious hygiene and safety concern that the University has yet to fully resolve despite being a recurring issue since pre-COVID-19 pandemic.
Furthermore, the lack of venues are also prevalent for these organizations. For instance, VPAPU opted to hold their annual art gallery at the NSTP Facade in GMH, an open space exposed to dust, heat, and noise, far from student foot traffic, making it a highly inconvenient location to showcase their artistic expressions. This goes the same for Lasallian Pointes N’ Flexes Dance Company (LPNFDC), settling at the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA) Azotea after being pushed from different conducive venues due to lack of available facilities.
In the Face of Bureaucracy
When these student groups attempt to reserve other rehearsal venues, they face bureaucratic delays and are deprioritized, which wastes even more of their time. It is disheartening that these organizations, whose members basically fund the University with their tuition fees, deal with hindrances that are counterproductive to their creative processes. If not for their passion to perform, the University would surely lose their student-artists with the treatment they’re subjecting them.
Organizations under PAG rely on heavy equipment for performances and productions, but they frequently face damages or a lack of necessary items. Replacing or acquiring new equipment is a time-consuming process that can take months—sometimes even a year—due to the University’s slow purchasing system. Specific organizations like the DLSU-D Symphonic Band and the Lasallian Pop Band were advised to repair their equipment as much as they can before ordering new ones. Although repairs are a sustainable way to care for equipment, worn-out equipment cannot produce the same quality output, which negatively affects their artistic expression.
If these groups had access to their trust fund, they could buy what they need directly. Instead, they even often use their own money to notarize Parental Consent Forms (PCF) for off-campus events, adding to their financial burden. While some groups can request reimbursements, these too are delayed, with months-long wait times. It’s an unsustainable system that leaves them struggling to cover costs out of pocket, further burdening their already limited resources and hindering their ability to execute their projects effectively.
Empty Promises
The problems PAG organizations face aren’t new. These issues were raised years before, yet nothing has changed. There are no future plans in sight for the improvement of facilities nor is there any addressing the challenges these student organizations encounter. The recent DLSU-D INFRA Bulletin Volume I, released on October 29, detailed new projects like the completion of the CEAT Building and the construction of prefabricated classrooms. Even in this bulletin was silence on plans for renovating or upgrading the offices of student organizations residing in GMH.
The University cannot continue to ignore the deteriorating conditions of its older buildings. These structures must meet the evolving needs of students, both academically and artistically. Given the high tuition fees students pay, it’s only reasonable to expect facilities that meet higher standards.
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At this point, it’s clear that PAG organizations are being left to fend for themselves. The University’s lack of support is unacceptable. These organizations should have access to permanent rehearsal facilities, more freedom in managing their funds, and recognition for the cultural contributions they make to the community. For example, the DLSU-D Chorale was celebrated for their international win, yet they continue to face the same challenges within this institution. These organizations pour their blood, sweat, and tears into showcasing diverse talents and performances, not just for the Lasallian community but for the broader Filipino nation, but the support they get is nothing but a disappointment.
In the grand scheme of events, this represents not just the lack of rehearsal spaces, but the lack of space for art in our community.
