Lived Experiences of Non-Catholic Students at St. Vincent’s College Incorporated During Lambigit Festival

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of non-Catholic students participating in the Lambigit Festival, a Catholic faith and cultural celebration at St. Vincent’s College Incorporated in Dipolog City, Philippines. Using a transcendental phenomenological research design guided by Amedeo Giorgi’s method, the research aimed to uncover the essence of participation among non-Catholic students within a predominantly Catholic academic setting. Ten purposively selected participants, all non-Catholics who actively joined the Lambigit Festival during the 2023–2024 school year, were interviewed through semi-structured sessions conducted in English and Filipino, depending on participant preference. Social Identity Theory served as the theoretical lens to examine how group affiliation, identity negotiation, and intergroup dynamics influence the students’ experiences. The conceptual framework centered on the participation of non-Catholic students and identified interconnected themes: their festival experiences, motivations, emotional responses, significant moments, and participation in relation to personal beliefs. Key findings revealed that non-Catholic students experienced inclusion, joy, curiosity, and respect while maintaining personal faith boundaries. Their involvement was shaped by academic motivation, cultural learning, social interaction, and interfaith dialogue. This study highlights how inclusive religious-cultural events like the Lambigit Festival can foster interfaith understanding, respect for diversity, and a deeper sense of belonging among students of different beliefs, enriching both personal development and community harmony. The study concludes that the Lambigit Festival serves as an effective platform for interfaith engagement, fostering social cohesion and mutual respect among students of diverse religious backgrounds. Through the lens of Social Identity Theory, findings suggest the festival promotes an inclusive superordinate identity as "Vincentian students" while allowing participants to maintain distinct religious identities.