THROUGHOUT my four years in the Tertiary halls of San Beda College Alabang, many things have come and gone: faces, friends, and traditions, all weaving together into that premium Bedan experience. It is there, in those moments of shared laughter, nervous greetings, and collective excitement, that something deeper blossoms: a unifying experience across generations.

Among those traditions, one stands out as our silent initiation, our collective “welcome home”: Integration. Because integration isn’t just an event. It’s our living, breathing Bedan legacy. 

The bonds of today

In San Beda College Alabang, Integration has always been more than just an event. It’s the campus heartbeat, it is a tradition that binds upperclassmen and freshmen in one shared space of energy, excitement, and identity.

Every year, it marks a symbolic beginning. For the new Bedans, it’s a doorway into the culture they are about to join. Often dismissed as a mere performance, Integration proves to be fundamentally formative — shaping both social bonds and work ethic.

In hindsight, for us seniors, it’s a look back at how far we’ve come. An annual reminder of restless months of preparation and last minute feats. To some, it is even a marker of pivotal moments in their lives. Integration blends the formality of initiation with the informality of festivities: a day where classes blur, boundaries soften, and the red spirit reignites.

Tracing down the roots

Before Integration evolved into its present form, it began as a simple welcome activity organized by different departments and the student executive council.

In the early years of SBCA, going as far back as 2004, Integration mirrored the Manila tradition – a rite of passage that helped freshmen understand the ideals of Fides, Scientia, et Virtus: physical activities of the nitty gritty, along with the “basaan” which it is famous for. 

While San Beda University’s (SBU) recent revival of Integration after five years – as reported by The Bedan in “CAS ushers in the revival of Integration after half a decade” (2025) – reintroduced the event to the Mendiola campus, Alabang’s Integration never truly faded. 

Integration finds its footing

Somewhere along the timeline, Integration at SBCA began to take on rhythm, literally!

Some time between 2010-2019, dance became its core language. Departments began staging choreographed numbers that embodied their spirit and unity. Each group sought to interpret the Bedan identity through movement – adopting varying themes across the years. From Disney soundtracks of the past and present, to OPM Jukebox hits, the sound of the lions’ passion bow down to no domain.

For many, this shift represented more than entertainment. It was a metaphor – every step, every beat a reminder that unity is found in harmony, and that our diversity finds order through shared rhythm.

Integration through screens

Then came the pandemic, a silence that muted even the loudest cheers. Integration, like most campus traditions, was forced to pause or go virtual.

Yet, in true Bedan resilience, the essence persisted. Online orientations, digital meet-and-greets, and virtual games replaced field activities. Though physical gatherings were lost, the idea of belonging endured. In the quiet hum of computer screens, the message remained clear: once a Bedan, always a Bedan.

Tomorrow’s yesterday

In yet another quickly passing year, the Freshmen Integration for S.Y. 2025-2026 will be celebrated tomorrow, Oct. 11. The competitive spirit is alive as classes hum with the energy of identity: voices claiming the trophy echo in the humid atmosphere of SBCA, and giddy motions of practice fill the halls.

This year’s theme of household Filipino films has us itching to see how each performance adopts its assigned soundtrack and plot. Themes evolve, performances innovate, and yet the heartbeat remains the same. Integration continues to symbolize the unity that binds generations of Bedans – from freshmen just finding their way to seniors preparing to leave their mark. And as the music fades and the lights dim, one truth endures: Integration isn’t just a performance; it’s a passing of the torch, the heartbeat of Bedan identity that continues to echo through every generation that walks these halls.