THE 44th edition of Padunungan, the flagship academic and cultural competition of the UP Subol Society, held on January 9, 2026 at the Narciso Sports and Civic Center in Lingayen, brought together students from across Pangasinan who engaged in intellectual, cultural, and social discourse.

This year’s event had for its theme “Limata: Dismantling Unfreedoms Through Education,” which organizers said was aimed at raising youth awareness amid what they described as a continuing education crisis in the country.

Ruvic Hondrado, president of the UP Subol Society, explained that Limata is a Pangasinan term that means “opening the eyes,” which he said goes beyond physical sight and refers to understanding reality, making informed decisions, and recognizing existing forms of unfreedom in society.

Emjo Ydia, Padunungan 2026’s Question and Mechanics Head, said education should not be reduced to grades or diplomas alone, but should encourage critical thinking and social awareness among students.

A total of 65 schools from across Pangasinan participated this year, including 31 junior high schools and 34 senior high schools, marking the largest number of participating schools in the competition’s history.

Padunungan 2026 features nine major competitions, including essay and poetry writing, extemporaneous speaking and spoken word, junior and senior high school quiz bees, Tug-Sayawit (music, dance, and song), and policy and research proposal presentations focused on education.

As a key development this year, organizers included the Ilocano language as a medium in select competitions, in addition to Pangasinan and Filipino, in a move aimed at promoting inclusivity and the use of the mother tongue in learning.

The Intercampus Quiz Show for senior high school students also returned, with teams formed randomly from different schools to encourage cooperation rather than purely competitive engagement.

Debuted in 1997, Padunungan began as a small quiz competition and has since grown into one of the longest-running academic competitions in Pangasinan. It is organized by Pangasinense students of the University of the Philippines Subol Society Baguio Chapter, now in partnership with the UP Diliman chapter counterpart. (Ahikam Pasion)