“THE winner takes it all, the loser has to fall,” goes ABBA’s iconic hit The Winner Takes It All. But in a pageant where grace, purpose, and character take center stage, every victory tells a deeper story of growth, courage, and the journey that led there.

Last Jan. 16, candidates from SBCA’s co-curricular and extracurricular organizations vied for the coveted Mr. and Ms. San Beda (MMSB) crowns. Competed this year are representatives from the Bedan Information Technology Society, Junior Bedan Engineering Society, Junior Bedan Marketing Association, Junior Bedan Law Circle, San Beda Alabang Debate Society, Bedan International Studies Association, Beda.Comm, Bedan Psychological Society, Teatro Bedista, Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants, and the Junior People Management Association of the Philippines.

The coronation night was not the end, but the beginning of their story as Mr. and Ms. San Beda 2026. The crowd held their breath as all eyes turned to the two who would soon carry the crown and the honor of representing San Beda. Under the glittering stage lights, Angelo Cedrick Narvasa of JPMAP was crowned Mr. San Beda 2026, while Alyssa Colleen Lusande of Beda.Comm took home the title of Ms. San Beda 2026. 

Heavy Lies the Crown

For Angelo Narvasa (III-BSBA HRM), the journey to the crown began when he was tapped by his organization’s president in early September, joining the pageant with no expectations of winning and aiming only to step out of his comfort zone. The first rehearsals tested his confidence, teaching him to trust himself and embrace every challenge along the way. 

“As Mr. San Beda, my goal is to show that being vulnerable is okay. We all go through challenges, and I want everyone to know this is a shared experience—that they’re not alone in their journey,” he shares, emphasizing his vision of leadership centered on Benedictine values, where humility and service are lived with authenticity.

Alyssa Lusande (IV-BACMS), crowned Ms. San Beda 2026, reflects on a journey shaped by guidance, support, and tough choices. She credits Sir Gino Antonio Rivera III, chair of the  Communication and Media Studies Department and moderator of Beda.Comm, for persuading her to join the pageant after much encouragement.

She shared that balancing the MMSB rehearsals and training with the Bedanz dance troupe was challenging, but the support she received from the organizations that she was part of made every step possible. “If there’s a saying that goes, ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ then for us, it took a village to go through the entire Mr. and Ms. San Beda journey. The win was not just for me—it was for the whole team,” she said. 

Beyond the crown, Alyssa’s advocacy drives her next steps. She hopes to use her platform to promote quality education for the young women of Marillac Hills, a center for survivors of domestic abuse, child trafficking, and sexual exploitation. She strives to help these young women continue their studies, despite the many challenges they face. For her, being Ms. San Beda is about going beyond the Bedan community — serving, uplifting, and reaching more communities through purpose-driven action.

When the Crown Slips

While the crown rested on the winners’ heads, others stood just one step away, their own journeys no less meaningful. Louise Andrei Garcia (I-BSA) of JPIA and Iva Angela Santiago (II-BSBA MM) of JBMA carried themselves with determination and grace, each earning the title of first runner-up for MMSB. Their journey was not defined by winning or losing — it was about rising, learning, and carrying forward what the crown alone cannot measure. 

For Garcia, he entered the pageant initially for the incentives, but the experience quickly became much more meaningful. After the pre-pageant segments, he found himself genuinely enjoying the process — especially the chance to showcase his traditional wear. 

As a first-time pageant participant, the experience shaped his confidence, especially during the Question and Answer (Q&A) portion, where he learned to face difficult questions with clarity and passion. Being named first runner-up, brought both fulfillment and quiet disappointment as he reflected that a stronger Q&A performance might have changed the outcome.

          Louise shared that, “In the pursuit of triumphs, there will also be times where I will fall and I will rise, but in this scenario, I may have failed in others’ eyes but I still rise above others and showcased what I can do as a Bedista.” Being named first runner-up may have meant falling short of the crown, but it affirmed that winning extends far beyond the stage and the title. 

For Santiago, the journey to the stage was about challenging the ordinary and using the platform for service and meaningful change. She saw the pageant not just as a competition, but as an opportunity to represent a Bedan who leads with heart, speaks with purpose, and values compassion. Through it all, she credits her organization, JBMA, whose relentless support and sacrifices became her greatest source of strength. Walking away with her special awards, she felt deeply grateful, realizing that success isn’t defined by a single title — because from the moment she chose to stand and represent, she had already won. 

Does the loser really have to fall? Or is true triumph found in rising anyway, in learning, in growing, in carrying forward what the crown cannot measure? Iva, despite being hurt, allowed herself to feel the ache of coming so close to the crown, but when she heard the cheers of her JBMA family, something shifted — it reminded her that everything unfolds in God’s perfect timing. “More importantly, I didn’t lose. I gained clarity, confidence, and a deeper sense of purpose. Some victories aren’t placed on your head; they’re carried with you. And that is the kind of win that stays,” she shared.

Who Really Takes it All? 

And yet, in a world that counts crowns and titles as proof of triumph, in the halls of San Beda, the truth is more complex. Angelo and Alyssa may have walked away with crowns, yet Louise and Iva showed that standing just a step away doesn’t mean defeat — it means resilience, growth, and purpose that outlasts any title. 

Real triumph isn’t held on a pedestal or pinned to a sash; it lives in courage shown, lives touched, and lessons carried forward. As the cheers fade and the stage empties, one thing is certain: for these Bedans, the journey never ends. The world may celebrate the victor, but true victory lives in what lasts beyond the crown.