SEEKING TO FOSTER global competence, San Beda University (SBU) inaugurated the College of Accountancy and Business (CAB) last October 14 at the Jonathan Sy Auditorium, featuring discussions by esteemed alumni from the former accountancy and business cluster of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
Opening the event, the University Rector-President, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. A.Maranan, OSB, highlighted its “monumental significance,” expressing how this establishment serves as an expansion of the University’s mission as a Catholic Benedictine institution.
Atty. Michael Daguinod, the Chairperson of the Department of Legal Management served as the event’s master of ceremonies. In attendance were the University’s administrators, Integrated Basic Education Department (IBED) students, and students from the current Accountancy and Business Cluster of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS).
“This is not merely an ‘academic milestone’, shall we say, but an institutional commitment to purposely contribute to tradition-building and in contributing to the business and academic landscape of our beloved nation,” he said.
Fr. Maranan then announced the appointment of Prof. Jacqui D. Moreno, DBA, CPA, as the officer-in-charge during the College’s transitional period, and will soon serve as the founding Dean of CAB. She also served as the V.ice Dean of the business and accountancy cluster of CAS.
Dr. Moreno, alongside Dr. Divina M. Edralin, the Vice President for Academics, will organize all other offices of the new college.
Marking its pinnacle, the seal of the College was also unveiled, which is an amalgam of illustrations of a handshake, the CAS uniform’s necktie, a bar chart, an open book, and a red lion, with Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat as the centerpiece to represent the Benedictine identity of the institution.
This was followed by a video recorded message by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of San Beda College Alabang, Chairman and co-founder of Reyes Tacandong & Co., Mr. Roman Felipe S. Reyes CPA, which highlighted the importance of nurturing those who wish and are taking the paths set in accountancy and business.
Soon after, select alumni, such as Mr. Enrique Pablo O. Caeg and Mr. Mark Enriquez Cruz, imparted inspirational messages to the attendees, attesting to the skills and knowledge that they have gained from their collegiate journeys in San Beda.
The closing remarks were then given by CAS Dean Christian Bryan Bustamante, who offered the full-fledged support of his College to the flourishing of the CAB.
In an interview with The Bedan attendees of the soon-to-be CAB expressed their thoughts on this new expansion.
Julien Kyle Lopez, a third-year Legal Management student and Secretary-General of the Junior Bedan Law Circle (JBLC), explained a lingering concern in relation to her position at her professional organization.
“As an officer of a constituent organization under the newly established college, particularly one handling administrative duties, it is in my best belief that systems governing the organization’s most crucial operations especially those involving funds and related processes must be clearly defined at the earliest possible opportunity, well before the commencement of the second semester,” she said.
In addition to this, she stated how this upcoming change has filled her with confusion more than anticipation, yet she remains faithful that this change will meaningfully impact her fellow Legal Management students, as it will strengthen the integration of the department’s business aspect and not just primarily confining it to its legal aspect. JBLC President, Denise Jewel Diaz, shared similar sentiments in welcoming such change as she recognized it to have the purpose of providing “quality education with a more refined approach on the nature of business programs.”
“The establishment of CAB signifies a new era dedicated to cultivating the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and legal professionals,”. she added.
On the other hand, Francis Gabriel L. Gaw, a senior from the Department of Accountancy and Taxation and President of the San Beda Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (JPIA) views this. Change as “an organizational restructuring meant to better support and represent the business programs.”
He explained that while the programs under the business and accountancy cluster are already excelling in their respective fields, this will give way to an opportunity where such programs will be strengthened by a business-centered formation.
Sharing the same sentiments with other students, he expressed a common concern, saying, “Well, for me, it’s really the changes in room assignments for the new offices, and the setup for the CAB Student Council. Since there will be a new student council specifically for CAB, I’m curious to see how the traditional events will be handled moving forward. Other than that, I don’t really see any major issues.”
CAB is expected to take partial effect at the beginning of the 2nd Semester of the A.Y. 2025-2026, in January 2026 while its full implementation will take place next A. Y. 2026-2027.
(with reports from Jake Ellis Evangelista)