Featuring a series of performances and stories, De La Salle Innersoul,  the premier vocal performers' group of De La Salle University (DLSU), exhibited their passion and purpose through an online concert in celebration of their 25th Anniversary called “Lights Off: Beyond the Stars” on Nov. 12 via Youtube live. 

The production captured the life and journey of the vocalists and showcased it through several songs ranging from pop, jazz, R&B, rock, and gospel music. The two-hour-long pre-recorded concert highlighted the group’s experiences as student artists through interview-like snippets projected in between performances. Notable Innersoul alumni from the organization Soulstice also reminisced their days in the green limelight and shared stories of their challenges in reaching their dreams and the journey of recalibrating themselves from setbacks and failure to finally achieve their ambition. 

For most current and alumni members of the group, Innersoul has been their home, catalyst for growth, and medium for expression. In an interview with The Benildean, Samantha Nicole Eguia, Innersoul’s Company Manager and Division Manager for Marketing, defined the group as her "solace," expressing that De La Salle Innersoul has been their source of comfort where they can express themselves freely through their passion, which is performing. “I regard Innersoul as my home away from home, where we can set aside our distress from academics,” she remarked.  

Harboring more than 400 viewers and spectators, consisting of students from De La Salle University and the general public, the event showcased the flawless and effortless harmonization of the group’s different voices. Despite the shift from the stage to screens, the student artists have demonstrated their technical proficiency, solid intonation accuracy, and great musicality. 

A medley of Sara Bareilles’s “Brave,” Taylor Swift’s “Change,” Katy Perry’s “Resilient,” and Kelly Clarkson’s “People Like Us” are a few among the many songs they performed. But what stood out the most was the group's latest iSoul Original, “Haplos ng Ulan.” It is a song written by Ms. Franz Louise Santos, DLSU's Student Media Office Director, and arranged by the group’s very own director, Mr. Vincent Mallari. The song was sung by DLS Innersoul's outgoing Executive Board during the event. 

Reaching the destination

For the finale, the group performed their rendition of “Just Sing” from Trolls World Tour while featuring clips and photos of memories of their alumni for the past 25 years. The show ended with Mr. Mallari expressing his thanks for the unwavering support given to De La Salle Innersoul. 

Having witnessed everything from scratch until the final output, Eguia shared, "It is indeed more complicated to prepare a full online production than a face-to-face show! Pero noong pinagsama-sama ko na 'yung mga edited videos, I knew that all the tears shed dahil sa pagod were all worth it.” I really do hope that, as much as the show inspired me as a student artist, the viewers felt the same through the message of our production.”

Truly, the concert has left a mix of overarching feelings for the audience through the group’s beautiful rendition of songs, heartfelt singing, and passion and purpose-filled performing.

Check out DLS Innersoul’s Facebook page for more of their upcoming events.