EVERY October, a month-long celebration is held for the International Studies (IS) community, and this year marks the first full face-to-face return after having it online due to the pandemic. With the theme, “Global Citizenship: Discovering Interconnectedness and Celebrating Diversity,” the Bedan International Studies Association (BISA) organized events throughout the month to encourage students from all three majors to participate, recognize, and commemorate the comradeship formed by the IS community.

Last Oct. 12, IS Month formally commenced with the IS-LYMPICS Quiz Bee at  Bellarmine Hall. Three rounds featured questions from World Geography, History, and General IS Trivia. The Quiz Bee was a tight race from all the participants, with Jom Samsom (I - BAIS TOUR) being the second runner-up, Camille Loyola (I - BAIS APS) as the first runner-up, and Elijah Guinto (I - BAIS PGER) bagging the championship title. 

Moreover, a talk about French culture and its opportunities was held at Rosendo Herrera Hall on Oct. 14 entitled, “To Greater Heights: A Talk on French Culture and Opportunities in France''.  Mr. Paulo Udani, Manager of Campus France,  an agency under the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia, was invited to talk about the experiences he had to guide students if they ever wanted to pursue a career in France. Mr. Udani laid out the reasons why students should study in France and why it is not just for academics, “You get to see France beyond its romantic gesture,” this goes to show the country's idea of sharing culture and its cuisine with the people. Throughout the talk, Mr. Udani explained how France is culturally dense and diverse as “Every corner and street will have a performance,” 

Meanwhile, Ms. Ma. Keren Happuch Arroyo, the Chairperson of the IS department gave her closing remarks and thanked the guest speaker, “I hope you leave here with a renewed sense of purpose and a clear vision of what your future in France could hold,” and encouraged the flame of curiosity of the students to keep burning. 

The following week, a panel discussion was held entitled, “entitled, “Making Waves: A Panel Discussion on the West Philippine Sea” which exposed students to relevant issues that the country is currently facing. “Ignorance is not bliss,” said Dr. Rosario Mielmia Aquino, Dean of the School of Arts Science and Education (SASE), which prompts the students to listen, learn, and participate in issues that need to be talked about. Ms Keren Arroyo was the moderator of the discussion and was joined by Prof. Joseph Fabian and Prof. Francis Isaac as the panelist, and Maria Yssabel Magsino (III- BAIS PGER) as the student panelist. All of the panelists shared how the Philippines won the arbitration ruling last 2016 with the Permanent Court of Arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and how it is greatly affecting the fisheries and its community. 

Last Oct. 27, The Great IS Challenge was presented as a culmination of the knowledge they gained as IS students to test what they know in a fun-filled activity. There were three groups from all levels from all three majors who participated in the game. The game showed their competitiveness while displaying their camaraderie and sportsmanship. Chris Lazaro’s (IV - BAIS APS) team got the last place, while Zophia Espinosa’s (III - BAIS APS) team followed, and Aika Aguilar’s (I - BAIS TOUR) team bagged the championship. 

To conclude the IS Month, The Mr. and Ms. International Studies 2023 was held on Dec. 7 at the St. Maur Auditorium to showcase the beauty and wit of the representatives of the students for each block. Dr. Rosario Aquino, Mr. Jerome Pedernal, and Ms. Zea Awatin were the judges for this year’s pageantry. Ashlei Evardome (I - BAIS TOUR) and Miguel Vergara (I - BAIS TOUR) were the first-year level representatives, Lana Ermitano (II - BAIS PGER) and Antonio Lazatin (II - BAIS TOUR) for the second years, Margarette Faltado (III - BAIS TOUR), Hediaki Usman (III - BAIS PGER), Trisha Fallarme (III - BAIS TOUR) and Lance Marquez (III - BAIS TOUR) for the third years, and Claudia Francisco (IV - BAIS PGER), Jedi Estanislao (IV - BAIS APS), and Edgar Cariaga (IV - BAIS PGER) for the fourth year students.

The participants were introduced through their Casual and Formal Wear, and they got to present their advocacies, ranging from animal rights, education, mental health awareness, tourism, and world peace. The Question and Answer portion was headed by Julianna Marie Quiambao (III - BAIS TOUR). Through this, the judges got to know the contestants by how they answered questions about current events and general IS knowledge. 

Lazatin and Ermitano won the People’s Choice Awards, while Mr. and Ms. Congeniality was awarded to Lazatin and Faltado as they competed with the best sportsmanship. Mr. and Ms. International Studies Second Runners-Up are Estanislao and Evardome, and the First Runners-Up are Cariaga and Fallarme respectively. This year’s Mr. International Studies is Lance Marquez, and Ms. International Studies is Claudia Francisco.