CHARTING NEW HORIZONS upon commemorating its first year as one of the pioneering Laudato Si’ universities in the Philippines, San Beda University (SBU) presented its Laudato Si’ Year-End Report, sharing the progress of its commitment to realizing the vision of Pope Francis’ encyclical on caring for our common home last October 4.  

Rooted in the spirit of dialogue, SBU took its initial steps toward such a commitment on September 8, 2023, when the University’s religious and lay administrators convened to develop a course of action responding to the call for sustainable development. 

As a result, the SBU Laudato Si’ Action Plan 2023-2024 was formulated and officially submitted on October 24, 2023, to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, solidifying SBU’s pledge to “advancing ecological transformation.” 

Through further evaluation of the action plan, the Oplan Tugon operational plan then emerged, a robust control mechanism requiring interventions to attain its envisioned targets. 

The 2023-2024 Laudato Si’ report, authored by the Vice President (VP) for Academics, Dr. Divina M. Edralin, PhD, the College of Arts and Sciences’ (CAS) Dean, Prof. Christian Bryan S. Bustamante, PhD, and the Graduate School of Liturgy (GSL) Dean, Dr. Josefina M. Manabat, EdD, SLD, alongside groups of notable academic contributors, under the stewardship of the University Rector-President, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. A. Maranan, OSB, outlined the Institution’s strides toward integrating Laudato Si’ principles into “actionable programs within and even beyond the Bedan community.” 

Some of the key environmental measures implemented on campus include improved waste segregation through color-coded bins, a shift to digitalized systems to reduce paper use, and a “Bring Your Own Tumbler” policy, coupled with the installation of water fountains and dispensers to foster “eco-conscious behavior” among students, faculty, and staff. 

SBU also intensified its energy conservation efforts by instituting scheduled shutdowns of lights, air conditioning, and computers, complemented by an Efficient Energy Audit Program that utilizes LED lighting that is monitored through systematic maintenance protocols.  

Rainwater collection systems have also been optimized through the introduction of a piping distribution network, ensuring effective water reuse and conservation. 

Moreover, the University’s sustainability initiatives extended beyond campus boundaries, with active participation in local and global efforts such as the International Ecological Sustainability Advocacy Conference and the Annual International Coastal Cleanup.  

Furthermore, Academic units administrators and faculty participated in the “Laudato Si’ Circles of Discernment” sessions from September 18, 2023 organized by the Office of the VP for Academics and facilitated by Fr. Ranhilio Aquino, Dean Jo Manabat, and Fr. Ricky Pacoma, with the objective of deepening the understanding of faculty and administrators on the matter and to reflect on “aligning its goals into programs.” 

Educational and extracurricular initiatives have also been a cornerstone of SBU’s sustainability framework. The Student Organization Circle (SOC) 2024-2025 have actively conducted campaigns and activities in support of this cause such as the San Beda College Alumni Foundation’s (SBCAF) Katutubong Puno, in collaboration with the CAS Student Council (SC), San Beda Junior Marketing Association (SBJMA), and Kapisanang Agham ng San Beda (KASB), starting a discourse on, “The Role of Native Trees in Building a Laudato Si’ Community”  last October 22. 

In the same vein, the College of Medicine (COM) hosted impactful symposia, such as “Safeguarding our Common Home: An Interactive Symposium of Laudato Sí’s Impact on Healthcare” last October 4, 2023, and “Beyond Borders: One Planet, One Health” last January 26 explored the critical intersection of health and environmental issues.  

The College of Law (COL) also took part by organizing the symposium, “Green Justice: Addressing the Triple Planetary Crises through Laudato Si’ and Legal Reform,” emphasizing the role of legal reform in sustainability last September 11, 2023 alongside communal initiatives such as the “One San Beda Laudato Si’ Advocacy Fun Run” last January 21 and the “Ride and Roar 2 – Lakbay para sa Kalikasan” last January 28, generating funds to transform SBU’s Sabater Garden into an ecological Laudato Si’ space. 

In research and policy, SBU has established interdisciplinary teams dedicated to ecological studies, resulting in the publication of the Institutional Laudato Si’ Manual and the launching of campaign programs in social media by the Office of the VP for Academics, utilizing platforms like RedCanvas and the Bedan Research Journal website, to promote clean and sustainable energy and responsible water use and consumption. 

Despite commendable progress however, the report acknowledges the challenges that remain, noting the “limited financial resources, lack of access to technical expertise, and gaps in stakeholder awareness which require sustained efforts and strategic adaptation.” 

To reflect the sentiment of the student body, Second-Year Level Representative, Beige Campbell concurred that while progress has been achieved, there remains ample opportunity for improvement expressing.  

“Ang kailangan natin sa Laudato Si’ is isa-ugali natin siya, parang make it a religion. We need to be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” he added, calling upon his fellow Bedans to embody the institution’s evolving core values. 

Echoing this demand for greater efforts, Jestony Lumabi, President of the Bedan Pastoral Ministry (BPM), underscored the critical need for action, saying that “the groundwork is there, but proper implementation remains lacking.”  

As SBU’s sustainable practices reflect efforts to establish a framework for long-term environmental stewardship, Lumabi emphasized the need to discern the deeper purpose of Laudato Si’, stating, “The Laudato Si’ serves not just as a social, moral, and environmental doctrine of the Church, but also as an element for igniting our activism, awareness, and progress in the name of healing our common home before it’s too late.” 

(with Samantha Calderon and Prince Piolo Tagarino)