CARRYING THE THEME “Peace with Creation: Advocating Human Dignity Through Ecological Education and Action,” the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) joins the Bedan community in commemorating San Beda University’s (SBU) second year of commitment to the values of Laudato Si’.
Last October 4, 2023, SBU made history by formally becoming a Laudato Si’ University, solidifying its commitment to the value of stewardship. Since then, the University has continually reaffirmed its dedication to the mission echoed by Pope Francis in his encyclical. Now in its second year of embracing the ideals of Laudato Si’, CAS, once again, took part in the series of activities organized by the Institution.
Opening Activities
Officially beginning the celebration, students, faculty, and administrators gathered along the streets of Mendiola for the annual Laudato Si’ walk, carrying banners and placards that echoed their collective call to care for the environment. Contents of said placards included: “Oils kill life beneath the wave,” and “Life in plastic, not fantastic,” to name a few.
This was then followed by a Eucharistic celebration held at the St. Placid’s Sports Center, presided over by the University Rector-President, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. A. Maranan, OSB, who emphasized the call to care for the environment.
Afterwards, the program proper opened with an invocation led by Marie Sophia Aguirre from the Integrated Basic Education Department (IBED), followed by the Philippine National Anthem performed by the San Beda Musika Medisina.
Following this, in his opening remarks, Rev. Fr. Aloysius Ma. A. Maranan called on the Bedan community to be living witnesses of St. Francis’ Laudato Si’, enjoining everyone, especially student-leaders, “to make Laudato Si’ a vehicle of our service to our common home. And let us not just be pretending leaders with beautiful words of blame.”
Soon after, Mr. Froilan Alipao, MCD, the Director of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Simbahayan Community Development Office, took stage to deliver his message to the community. In his message, he lauded SBU for its achievement of being a Laudato Si’ University. With this, Mr. Alipao further underscored the necessity to “promote ecological justice” considering the reality marred by “climate emergencies.”
“Ecologic conversion is needed to usher a new awareness that mother earth cries out for justice. And her cry, is as urgent as the cry of the poor for social justice,” Mr. Alipao added, emphasizing the urgency to live out the mission of Laudato Si’.
The program progressed with the submission of the Laudato Si’ Accomplishment Report for the Academic Year 2024-2025 led by Dr. Divina Edralin, Vice President for Academics, and the University Rector-President, culminating in the blessing of the Laudato Si’ Photo Gallery at the ground floor of the Jonathan Sy Building.
CAS efforts
Coinciding with the day’s festivities, the CAS Student Council organized a Laudato Si’-themed event titled CAREATION: A call to care, curate, and create—enjoining Bedans to promote sustainable practices and commit to the call of Laudato Si’ through pot and vase painting, herb planting, and flower curation at the Montserrat Grounds. Participants who brought their own tumblers received limited-edition personalized bags.
Shara Chrisly Esteba, the SC Secretary-General as well as the activity chairperson for CAREATION, told The Bedan how the event was grounded by Sustainable Developments Goals 1, which is no poverty, and 6, water and sanitation.
“So, we focused on water [and sanitation] kaya nagkaroon kami ng tumbler bags na project. And then ‘yung sa mga plants talaga, we just wanted talaga rin na, ma-inculcate sa mga students ‘yung pagkakaroon ng idea about caring for plants, caring for flowers,” she explained.
Although faced with time limitations that prevented the originally planned tree-planting activity, and a shortage of materials and plants, Esteba nonetheless assured that “CAREATION is actually just the first part of our Laudato Si’ projects,” hinting at more sustainability-driven activities that council hopes to launch in the future.
Ultimately, in connection to SBU’s second-year anniversary of being a Laudato Si’ University, Esteba held the notion that, while steps have been made, “sana in the future, mas grass-rooted ‘yung mga ginagawang practices ng San Beda, para hindi lang siya, parang in a Gen Z term, performative…So, I think nagagawa naman ng San Beda, but there are many, many more chances or many, many more rooms for improvement towards this initiative.”
(with Benedict Asher Ugaddan)