THE COLLEGE OF Arts and Sciences (CAS) welcomes the freshmen Class of 2030 on July 22 through the “Roar & Shine: Freshmen Welcoming Day 2026” at the MVP Gymnasium, marking the college’s first official welcome after the collegiate split.
Aiming to equip incoming students with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate university life, the CAS Guidance and Counseling Office first conducted the Freshmen Orientation Day (FOD) at the Jonathan Sy Auditorium on July 17. CAS welcomed the freshmen together with their parents, reintroducing the College’s academic services, student support systems, and campus resources available throughout their stay in CAS.
The orientation featured discussions from various offices under CAS, familiarizing students with academic policies, student services, and opportunities for involvement within the institution before the start of the academic year.
In celebration of the Freshmen Welcoming Day (FWD), CAS included students from the College of Education (COE), with freshmen being entertained by various acts and performances. Interactive booths featuring mini-games were also set up, giving freshmen opportunities to engage with fellow students.
The program was followed by a campus tour, where first-year students were introduced to the University’s facilities and history. They then had the opportunity to participate in a meet-and-greet with their respective professional organizations.
The celebration concluded with a bonfire as freshmen, joined by upperclassmen, gathered and ran around the flames, symbolizing the beginning of their journey as members of the CAS community, welcoming Batch 2030 into the University.
CAS Student Council (SC) President and Activity Chairperson Beige Benedict Campbell, said that this year’s welcoming was anchored on the theme of Roar and Shine. The CAS-SC, along with the rest of the CAS Student Organization Circle (SOC), aimed to transform the University into a symbolic dreamland. “We want them to feel that San Beda may not be their first choice, but it is a school where we are honed,” Campbell said.
According to Campbell, the event aimed to introduce freshmen to the sense of community that defines San Beda, stating that, “we are not separated by race nor any gender classification, but we are united as one Bedan community.”
This year’s celebration, however, marked the first FWD following the separation of CAS and the College of Accountancy and Business (CAB), resulting in a noticeably smaller gathering compared to previous years. Despite the reduced number of participants, Campbell said the separation allowed the College to create a more distinct experience for CAS freshmen.
“We made this event of CAS more distinct in a way…as one community, kahit na onti lang…separated kami, divided in numbers, we stay as one community—a tight-knit community where everyone feels home, safe, and [that they] belong,” he said.
Capping off the event, Campbell expressed his wishes for the new entrants of the Bedan community. “For the freshies din to be familiarized kung anong klaseng community ang meron sa San Beda…where students are molded not only by academics, but also by full development as a person,” Campbell said.