IN A GRAND culmination of the daily challenges during the Integration week, students from the College of Arts Sciences (CAS) took part in the highly-anticipated revival of the Integration Rites held last March 22 at the San Beda University (SBU) football field, marking its return after a five-year hiatus.
The most-awaited rites featured a series of challenges organized by the CAS Student Council (SC), consisting of an inflatable obstacle course, wire crawl, and a final obstacle relay prior to the Red Baptism to officially awaken the Bedan spirit amongst the CAS community, from the freshmen down to the seniors.
The traditional activity officially kicked off with an early-morning Integration of the integrators composed of various student-leaders from both the professional and non-professional organizations of the Student Organization Circle (SOC) who later facilitated the rites. Following this was the Integration proper, which saw the participation of all CAS students in the obstacle courses and relay challenges.
While awaiting the completion of the obstacle courses by the other departments, the rites came alive with a dynamic performance by the SBU Band, marking its revival as part of the CAS’ SOC. The celebration also included an electrifying dance presentation by the Bedan Dance Theater (BDT) as well as a special exhibition from members of the Red Corps.
Following this, students eagerly gathered near the fire trucks stationed at the edge of the field, ready to embrace the long-awaited Red Baptism that would officially mark them as Bedans. Afterward, they marched to Mendiola street for the exhilarating Mendiola Run, culminating at the SBU Driveway where they proudly joined voices in singing the Bedan hymn.
The CAS Prefect of Student Activities and the SC’s moderator, Prof. Marvin Reyes, PhD, expressed his “contentment” over the return of the Integration Rites—emphasizing how its restoration was a “product of planning and brainstorming” first initiated by the former SC three years ago. The Prefect later shared how, amid restrictions influenced by the pandemic, the uncertainties of the weather, as well as the University’s embracement to Laudato Si’, the 2025 Integration Rites have eventually properly transitioned to its current fashion—one that incorporated tradition with the values adhered by the University.
As such, in spite of the difficulties in preparing for the overall event, Dr. Reyes commends the SC’s “creativity and willingness” for the event to push through. “It’s a good thing [that] the SC has a creative mind and talagang nakakapag-adjust agad,” said Dr. Reyes.
In talking of the rites itself, Dr. Reyes underscored the significance of the challenges, particularly the Red Baptism and the Mendiola Run, in shaping the identity of the Bedan community as it delivers a distinctive factor and tradition within the institution. “These are all symbols, and these things really contribute a lot in establishing the identity of a Bedan,” he noted.
Moreover, Dr. Reyes highlighted the students’ genuine enthusiasm and participation in the event, saying “I’ve been experiencing Integration leaning to 11 to 12 years, and this is the first time nakita ko talaga—hindi ‘yung sabik, kun’di ‘yung authenticity of happiness.”
On the whole, Dr. Reyes left the newly-integrated CAS community with a statement: “You are very lucky because you experienced the tradition, and I hope that this will serve as an inspiration for you to stay and be instilled with your status being a student of San Beda University.”