AFTER TWO consecutive academic years of month-long celebrations, the Faculty of Arts and Letters will revert to a condensed AB Week format as it marks its 130th founding anniversary from Feb. 9 to 14.
The week-long celebration, led by the UST Artlets Student Council (ABSC), carries the theme “Artlets TV Channel 130: Timeless Stories of Excellence,” which positions the AB community as a television network broadcasting stories shaped by lived experiences, advocacies and legacy.
ABSC public relations officer King Daeniele Manlapaz said the organizers developed the theme as they faced pressures to match the scale of previous AB Months, which featured large-scale concepts such as Pistang AB in 2024 and AB Wonderland in 2025.
“We want to remind Artlets that we are celebrating the 130th founding anniversary of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, so we have been around for that long. Our legacy is very well established, which is why the theme is an interconnection of the past, present, and future Artlets,” Manlapaz told The Flame.
“This year, we wanted to broadcast a story, and that story comes from the Artlets themselves.”
According to him, the theme aims to connect generations of Artlets and showcase the community’s contributions across various fields.
“Our lived experiences, diverse narratives, and the influence we leave in society became the focus,” he said.
The television network concept seeks to showcase the faculty’s longevity and its established presence in fields such as media and politics, where many Artlets alumni have made their mark.
“Like television, Artlets broadcast stories that inspire others and influence change in society. Our alumni have proven this—this is our representation,” Manlapaz added.
Previous AB Months ineffective?
A key change this year is the shift back to AB Week after mixed student reception of previous AB Months, which some Artlets described as scattered and less felt.
Artlets Economics Society president Joshua Lucero said the 2024 AB Month was “the least felt” celebration he could remember, citing venue concerns, low turnout toward the end of events and logistical lapses during the AB concert.
“Overall, [it was] a very chaotic AB celebration and an unfulfilled promise of a month—parang one week lang talaga or even days lang yung naramdaman,” Lucero said.
Asian Studies sophomore Sophia Dellatan pointed to timing and academic workload as factors that limited participation during extended celebrations.
“It was a pretty stressful month between department requirements and coursework,” Dellatan said.
“A lot of us couldn’t fully participate or enjoy the festivities,” she added.
Despite this, Dellatan noted that students who participated from her department generally had positive experiences and did not raise concerns about the events themselves.
In response, ABSC opted for a tighter schedule that clusters major activities back-to-back to make the celebration more immersive and felt across the faculty.
“We want Artlets to really feel the AB celebration. They have been missing having events to look forward to every day,” Manlapaz said, noting that this year’s back-to-back scheduling aims to make the festivities more palpable for Artlets.
New festivities
AB Week 2026 will officially open on Feb. 9 with MagpasiklAB: RAMPArade, followed by a Eucharistic Celebration at the Santísimo Rosario Parish, ABazaar 2026: Artlets for All, All for Artlets and the newly introduced opening program, “MULATverse: The Artlets Experience Show,” at the Benavides Auditorium.
Manlapaz said the opening program was introduced to formally mark the start of AB Week—something previous celebrations lacked.
“From day one, we want Artlets to feel that AB Week has officially started,” he said, adding that the program would feature performances by both faculty members and students, as well as interactive segments.
While retaining legacy events such as Indak ng Masa: Cypher, AB Glaucup, Mr. and Ms. AB, and Athena’s Cup, ABSC tweaked its formats to place greater emphasis on student narratives and advocacies.
This year’s Cypher and Mr. and Ms. AB competitions will incorporate timely social advocacies to allow participants to reflect on issues through performance and presentation.
Societies and organizations will also mount booths during ABazaar 2026: Artlets for All, All for Artlets, each inspired by iconic and nostalgic television shows, ranging from noontime programs to primetime dramas.
Sports events will return with the opening of SIKLAB: Athena’s Cup 2026 on Feb. 13 at the IPEA Practice Gym B and C, featuring volleyball, basketball, and badminton tournaments.
The celebration will culminate on Feb. 14 at the UST Field and Grandstand with a full-day ABazaar and “ArtLET’S SHOWTIME! The Grand PasiklABan,” featuring performances by Artlets talents and special guest performers.
‘Execution over duration’
Despite differing views on the shift from AB Month to AB Week, some students said the celebration’s effectiveness depends more on preparation and student engagement than on its length.
Behavioral Science senior Juliana Gabaldon said the extended duration did not translate into sustained engagement as regular classes made it difficult for students to fully immerse themselves in the activities.
Because of this, Gabaldon said, the celebration majorly “felt like it was in the background” throughout the month.
“In a way, turning it to AB Week makes it feel more special,” she said.
Journalism junior Carl Adrian Cruz said the shift initially surprised some students, as AB Month had been the norm in previous years. However, he argued that limited time and academic responsibilities often prevented students from participating in the events.
“Sometimes, it doesn’t really feel like AB Month because we still have classes, and most of the time I can’t attend the events,” Cruz said, adding that the celebration was often overshadowed by regular classes.
For Economics junior Luigi Jesse Alonte, the change in format is secondary as long as the celebration upholds the faculty’s identity and purpose.
“Changing it from AB Month to AB Week is not a matter of concern for me as long as it does not give dishonor to our faculty,” Alonte said.
“What matters is that it’s well prepared, advertised and celebrated,” she added.
UST is home to the country’s oldest liberal arts college. Founded in 1896 as Facultad de Filosofia y Letras (Faculty of Philosophy and Letters), the academic unit was rebranded to the College of Liberal Arts in 1926 and was renamed into the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters the following year. It eventually merged with the programs of the defunct College of Liberal Arts, and was given the name Faculty of Arts and Letters in 1964. F – with reports from Yvonnah Michaella Julian
