WITH Integration 2024, the Tertiary Schools pay tribute and honor the National Heroes of the Philippines with the theme, "Pagyamanin ang Pamana: Ang Pinaglaban mo, Itutuloy ko!" The freshmen were welcomed with blasting cheers last Aug. 30 at Fr. Bellarmine Baltasar Gymnasium.

     The event's hosts were Marciana Valle (III-BSBA-MM) and Julianna Quiambao (IV-BAIS), who introduced each program. While they paraded their respective national heroes–with Legal Management representing Melchora Aquino, Accountancy with Jose Rizal, Psychology with Lapu-Lapu, International Studies, Communication and Media Studies, and Education (ICE) teamed up to portray Gabriela Silang, Marketing and Human Resource Management with Apolinario Mabini, Financial Management and Entrepreneurship with Emilio Aguinaldo and the School of Engineering and Technology with Andres Bonifacio. 

     "Nawa'y magbunga ng pagkakaisa at pagkaka-unawaan ang Integration 2024," said Dr. Andres Ignacio C. San Mateo, Jr., Vice President for Academic Affairs, in his opening remarks. He also expressed his gratitude to the alumni attendees for their endless support and to the organizations who invested their time and effort in the event. 

     For battle cry performances, each program had to integrate the Indian Yell and the Bedan Chant, while for the sing-and-dance competition, they had to showcase their assigned national hero. Intermissions between performances from the Bedanz Dance Troupe Alabang, Himig Bedista, SBCA Athletes, Pep Band, and Senior Varsity Cheerleading Squad kept the energy and excitement of the audience. 

     Juliana Ragandan, Arianne Laca, and Ceasar Ramos are the judges for this year's integration. 

     Before the announcement of winners, special awards honored programs whose efforts were beyond their performances. For the Best Booth, held last Aug. 23 at the Covered Court with the participation of co-curricular and extracurricular organizations, Accountancy reigned as the winner. For Best Set Design and Best Live Vocals, Psychology clinched both awards. 

     The individual talents of the freshmen from their Singing and Dancing performances were also recognized and given special awards. Grecian Santos (I-BSLM) and Miguel De Guzman (I-BSP) won Most Outstanding Performers for their enactment of Melchora Aquino and Lapu-Lapu, respectively. Following this, the Most Outstanding Leads went to Johnpaul Consunji (I-BAP) and Mosela Medina (I-BSA) for their prominent performances as supporting characters. 

     Engraving their manifestations for a three-peat, Psychology triumphed as the champions again for the Battle Cry competition, with Accountancy as the first runner-up and ICE as the second runner-up. For the Sing and Dance Competition, Psychology took home another trophy as Champions, followed by Legal Management as the first runner-up and Marketing and Human Resource Management as the second runner-up. 

     "I think it's really about the bonds that I formed during this event," Consunji affirms in an interview with THE BEDAN HERALD when asked what he gained besides the trophy. He was also very thankful to everyone who had played a role in attaining their victory and felt blessed to have worked with them.

     Atassia Soliveres (IV-BAIS), co-project heads with Bea Talayaratne (II-BAIS), both from the Student Executive Council (SEC), feels satisfied with how the event concluded, especially since this is Soliveres’ first time organizing the Tertiary Schools Integration. She further hopes that through the event, the history of the Philippines and the sacrifices of the National Heroes will be remembered and immortalized. “Importanteng alam natin kung paano natin nakamit ang estado natin ngayon,” Soliveres emphasized.