01/03/2026
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𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 | At 79, NCF Rings the Bell Again: A Return to High School Life
High school is more than a phase. It is a collection of firsts—first friendships, first heartbreaks, first dreams declared out loud.
From February 26 to February 28, 2026, the Naga College Foundation, Inc. (NCF) transformed these familiar memories into a vibrant stage production titled “Back to School,” a musical play staged at Tanghalang Melchor as part of the institution’s 79th Founding Anniversary and the 45th anniversary celebration of the Sentro ng Sining at Kultura (CAC).
Set against the theme “Back to School,” the musical revisited the colorful, chaotic, and courageous world of high school life—reminding audiences that growth often happens in classrooms far beyond academics.
In an interview, production director Dr. William M. Espejo shared that unlike previous grand-themed stagings, this year’s musical was intentionally simple and relatable.
“Wala namang espesyal, okay lang naman kasi regular production namin ito. Kaya lang, parang timely lang [para] sa estudyante, ’di ba?” Espejo said.
Rather than aiming for spectacle, the production chose sincerity. There were no attempts to overpower the audience with elaborate technicalities or exaggerated drama. Instead, the focus remained on experiences that feel familiar—awkward classroom moments, shifting friendships, silent crushes, and the quiet lessons learned between bells.
“It’s a reminder of mga nangyari sa atin noong high school tayo. We give honor to our teachers, to the parents, at sa lahat ng mga naging friend natin na naging bahagi ng ating journey life,” he emphasized.
And perhaps that is what made it special. Because in choosing to tell an ordinary story, the production honored extraordinary truths—the silent battles students face, the friendships they cling to, and the identities they slowly begin to understand.
For Romeo Enrique Selga, who portrayed Dennis, stepping into theater for the first time meant embracing authenticity over perfection.
“Just to be their selves at all times. Kahit na maglagay po kami ng character sa sarili namin, you have to make it natural, you have to make it human,” Selga shared.
Selga’s perspective on authenticity is shared by his fellow cast member, Ira May Napili, who portrayed Amy. While he emphasized staying natural in every role, she echoed the same sincerity while encouraging students to witness the production themselves.
“Worth it siya, so please watch. Once in a lifetime time lang ito and for sure ma-e-encourage rin kayo na mag-join sa theater because it’s a very big and wonderful experience for us because it’s also our first time po for this,” Napili said.
Further, they also admitted to facing challenges—balancing rehearsals with academic responsibilities, and time management. Yet through the process, they also discovered confidence they did not know they possessed.
"So please watch this because it will help you reflect on your high school lives and also to boost your confidence,” Napili added.
More than inviting students to watch the show, they encouraged them to take part in it—to explore theater, to try something new, and to believe that talent sometimes reveals itself only when given a chance.
For Grade 12 student Gyp Niño Garcera, the experience was as meaningful as it was entertaining.
“Super entertaining since maganda po kasi 'yung show nila—parang full of music. Nakakabighani po kasi 'yung prinisent po nila, nangyayari po talaga sa school especially sa mga kabataan,” Garcera expressed.
In a storyline centered on high school dynamics, the audience found reflections of their own experiences—reminders that growth is rarely linear and that relationships require patience.
“Ang pagkakaibigan po ay hindi lang po siya about sa dreams, nakakagawa rin po siya ng panibagong achievements,” he added.
As NCF marks 79 years of educational service and 45 years of artistic excellence through CAC, “Back to School” becomes more than a commemorative production. It is a return— to shared memories, to formative years, and to the lessons that shaped who students once were and who they are still becoming.
In choosing to tell a story rooted in everyday high school life, the institution did not simply stage a musical. It revisited a chapter familiar to many and honored the quiet transformations that happen between classroom doors and ringing bells.
At 79, NCF rings the bell again— not only to celebrate a milestone, but to remind its community that growth begins long before graduation, and that some lessons stay long after the final bell fades. | via Sarea Shikah Al Naqbi, Literary Editor
