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After 14 years of continuous service and presence within the School of Computing (SoC), the League of Outstanding Programmers, better known as LOOP to its home community, has dissolved and will cease operations starting in the academic year of 2025-2026. This was formally announced to the public on May 31, 2025 through their official Facebook page, thanking their members for being part of their journey within the community of Foxes.

Cause for dissolution

Seane Karl S. Garcia, the outgoing LOOP President, had sent a letter of explanation regarding this matter on May 21, 2025 to SoC dean Dr. Marlon I. Tayag, LOOP adviser Ms. Arcely P. Napalit, the College Student Council – School of Computing (CSC-SoC), and The Access Point to provide transparency on the organization’s status, following a request from the CSC-SoC on May 18, 2025. Garcia stated in the letter that LOOP had officially been dissolved on April 14, 2025, which was the final date for accreditation of student organizations set by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). He adds that the main reason for the student group’s dissolution was due to a lack of members “expressing intent to run for leadership positions”, which did not satisfy the minimum number needed for accreditation. Garcia notes that the general membership of LOOP would be formally notified after respective processes and procedures have been completed and finalized. 

As a requirement, all student groups (SGrs) must be annually accredited by the Office of Student Affairs before the start of a new academic year to retain certain privileges. These student groups include student government organs, student publications, and student organizations, both at the university and department level. Failure to acquire accreditation from the office could result in a denial of privileges or a loss of recognition by the university administration. 

Garcia, on behalf of LOOP, also expressed in the letter their sincerest gratitude to the SoC community in supporting them throughout their tenure despite this occurrence. “We are incredibly proud of the projects we’ve completed, the skills we’ve developed, and the community we’ve built. We hope the spirit of innovation and collaboration that defined LOOP will continue to thrive within the School of Computing and among its students”, he iterates. 

LOOP back in time 

LOOP has been one of the student groups exclusive to the School of Computing, mainly catered towards BS Computer Science students and those who are specifically interested and in need of assistance in programming. This has been its identity since its establishment in 2011 in the then-College of Information and Communications Technology (CICT).

In an exclusive interview with Yohanna Decilio and Randel Yumul, the outgoing LOOP Internal and External Vice Presidents respectively, they shared their insights on LOOP as a working organization within SoC as well as its characteristics leading up to the group’s dissolution. According to them, the organization had a consistent number of around 100 students from across SoC programs registering for membership every year. They also highlighted LOOP’s trademark activities such as review sessions for SoC students before every major exam, specifically for subjects like LOGPROG, DSAL, OOP, and DMATHS among first- and second-years, as well as their annual events like the Code-To-Death and Debug-a-Thon competitions during College Days. 

Decilio and Yumul both personally cited preparations for large-scale events involving LOOP as their memorable activity within the organization, with Yumul explaining, “[s]a preparation kasi namin parang doon nabuo yung connections sa iba…Makikita mo din gaano ka-dedicated yung mga officer and staff na nag-prepare sa programs, makikita mo sila na lagi silang nandiyan.” Decilio and Yumul also pointed out that the organization’s numbers in membership proved to be both its strength and weakness. “Strength ‘yun kasi tulong-tulong kami, maraming pwedeng tumulong. Minsan, nagiging siyang weakness kasi maraming hindi nagiging available and minsan, same people lang din ang gumagawa”, Decilio expounded. 

When asked about the events leading up to the group’s dissolution, Decilio stated that “[n]a-overwhelm bigla sa sobrang dami, and konti lang talaga ‘yung napush-through namin”, pertaining to the numerous amounts of ideas and events being proposed by LOOP in their plan of activities (POA). Yumul, identifying the narrow schedule for event conduction as another factor, also said that “[e]very semester, may six weeks tayo, tapos ilang days din walang pasok…dahil sa sobrang daming events, hindi alam kung anong dapat i-focus.” They also elaborated on the reason stated in the letter of explanation, stating that the organization gave out forms to junior members for incoming leadership positions yet nobody expressed interest for the presidency. “Medyo na-stuck din kami, since kaming mga VP hindi na namin kayang i-take yung role since magiging busy na nga kami [for third year]”, Decilio adds.

Nevertheless, both of them remain hopeful for the possibility of a LOOP revival or an emergence of another student organization focused on programming and catered for BS Computer Science students within SoC in the future. Yumul emphasizes, “Feel ko possible pa naman siya ma-revive, depende if ‘yung batch and students mismo naging dedicated sila na gumawa ng org, kasi wala talagang gusto mag-step up para mag-handle ng org.” 

By Clark Roque