University of Santo Tomas-Legazpi
The Premier Dominican University of Bicol
The Premier Dominican University of Bicol
The holiday season at UST-Legazpi has taken on a magical note, thanks to the creativity and passion of Ms. Edelyza Julie C. Belleza, from the College of Health Sciences. Her composition for the University’s Christmas Jingle Contest, titled, “Regalo Ngayong Pasko” was chosen as the official Christmas ID of the year, embodying the spirit of the season and uniting the Legazpi Thomasian community through music.
As a third-year Nursing student, she describes her journey as both challenging and rewarding. Balancing academics, clinical duties, and her passion for music taught her discipline, resilience, and time management. Writing and composing the UST-Legazpi Christmas ID became a dream come true, merging her love for music with her connection to the Thomasian community.
Music has always played a significant role in her life. She shared that her love for singing began as a child, and she later honed this passion by joining school chorales. Her interest in songwriting evolved over the years into a meaningful form of self-expression. She says, “Music has always been part of my life as it is something that brought me joy and comfort throughout the years.”
Despite the demands of Nursing, she has successfully balanced her two passions. Time management became her key strategy, enabling her to focus on her studies while enjoying music as a way to unwind and manage stress. “Nursing requires a lot of focus and dedication. My love for music helps me stay balanced; parang na u-unwind po ako, nakakawala siya ng stress kapag nakaka-overwhelm na po ang studies,” she explained.
The Inspiration Behind the Song
Her decision to join this year’s Christmas Jingle Contest was fueled by a desire to create something meaningful for the UST-Legazpi community. Inspired by the theme, “Thomasian Hope: It’s Giving,” she crafted a song that reflected the true essence of Christmas—joy, happiness, togetherness, love, and hope.
She began her creative process by allowing these emotions to guide her, developing a catchy and uplifting melody that could resonate with the entire community. The inclusion of interactive elements, like clapping sounds in the bridge, added a dynamic touch designed to bring people together. She made it a point to incorporate the contest theme directly into the lyrics so that the message of hope was felt by all.
When she learned that her song had been chosen as the University’s official Christmas ID, she was filled with joy and pride. She described it as a culmination of her efforts and passion, knowing that her work would bring people together to celebrate the Christmas spirit.
Through her song, she hopes to convey the emotions of joy, love, and hope— values significant to the spirit of Christmas. She also wants it to serve as a reminder that true happiness lies in supporting one another, rather than in collecting material things. Her composition is a celebration of the bonds that bring the community closer, even during these challenging times.
From Performer to Composer
For Edelyza, winning the Jingle Contest is the latest milestone in her UST-Legazpi journey, which also includes performing at the 2022 Paskuhan Concert. She fondly remembers the experience, describing what it felt like to perform before a large audience as a first-year student. “I didn’t expect everyone to sing along; it felt like my own concert,” she reminisced.
Earlier this year, she also wrote a song for her batch’s capping and pinning ceremony, another milestone that highlighted her ability to enliven important occasions through music. “That experience, along with this year’s Christmas ID, has inspired me to keep creating music that marks important milestones,” she said.
She has taken on a new role—one that allows her to create something timeless that represents the Legazpi Thomasian community. She also cherished the collaborative aspect of composing the Christmas ID, working with the arranger, co-performers, chorale members, and others to bring her vision to life.
Music will continue to be an integral part of her life, even as she pursues her career in Nursing. She believes in the power of music to inspire and connect people, which she sees as an essential component in providing genuine care for patients. Whether through singing at events or creating a calming environment for patients, she plans to keep music close to her heart.
Edelyza considers the opportunity to grow holistically as the most rewarding part of being a Legazpi Thomasian. The University has provided her with a strong academic foundation while nurturing her passion, enabling her to contribute to meaningful projects like the Paskuhan performance, the capping and pinning song, and this year’s Christmas ID. Balancing her love for nursing and music has been fulfilling, made even more special by the support and encouragement from the UST-Legazpi community.
She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to God, her family, friends, mentors, and the University for their support. This feat, she believes, is a reflection of the love and encouragement she has received. Her story reminds us of the power of passion, perseverance, and Thomasian hope!