Society of Hospitality Management Students

𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙋𝙔 𝘽𝙄𝙍𝙏𝙃𝘿𝘼𝙔, 𝙁𝙍𝘼𝙉𝘾𝙄𝙎! 💙

Happy birthday to a hardworking and goal-driven leader of SoHMS! Even as a student, you already show discipline, determination, and the drive to grow not just for yourself but also for your family and the people around you. You inspire others with the way you plan, lead, and give your best in everything you do, whether in academics, events, or organizational work.

May this year bring you closer to your dreams, and may you keep learning, improving, and building a bright future step by step. Enjoy every moment of your special day, Francis!

𝐁𝐒𝐇𝐌 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 | 𝐀.𝐘. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓–𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM) Program of the College of Business Administration officially kicked off the second semester of A.Y. 2025–2026 through a virtual Program Orientation held on January 23, 2026, via Google Meet. Spearheaded by the Society of Hospitality Management Students (SoHMS), the activity served as an essential starting point for students as they prepared to navigate the academic and professional demands of the semester ahead.

The orientation focused on aligning students with the program’s academic direction by laying out key policies, expectations, and learning guidelines relevant to hospitality education. The program began with a motivating message from Dr. Edeliza S. Gonzales, CBA Dean, who reminded students that excellence in hospitality begins with discipline, responsibility, and a strong professional mindset. To further establish guidance and approachability, Dr. Suzette C. Quico, BSHM Program Head, formally introduced the BSHM faculty, reinforcing a sense of community and mentorship within the program.

Ensuring the program’s smooth flow were the event’s emcees, Chaira R. Medida and Yasmeen Dhareem S. Fresnido, whose energy and coordination kept participants engaged throughout the session. A series of discussions followed, led by faculty members who addressed crucial aspects of student life and learning. Dr. Ma. Joy G. Soriano, CBA Associate Dean, presented the program-related activities; Dr. James T. Antonio discussed the proper Hospitality Management uniforms; Dr. Sharon L. Binoya explained the grading system; Dr. Nowa Cyhryl C. Balderas introduced the learning modalities and utilization of the USeP Virtual Environment (UVE); Dr. Argie Roy G. Busalla emphasized proper classroom etiquette and professional conduct; and Dr. Elisa E. Braganza, OSAS College Coordinator, presented the Hospitality Management facilities and laboratories available for students’ experiential learning, including proper procedures for booking and utilization to maximize hands-on training opportunities.

ClaroVista Phil, Ediphi, and Lakbay Davao Travel were also given the opportunity to present their PowerPoint presentations, allowing them to introduce their organizations and highlight the internship opportunities they offer to BSHM students. Through these presentations, students gained valuable insights into industry practices and potential career pathways in hospitality and tourism. The BSHM community extends its appreciation to these internship partners for sharing their time, expertise, and industry perspectives with the students.

An interactive Open Forum followed, providing students with a platform to raise concerns, seek clarifications, and actively engage with faculty and organizers. The program concluded with the closing remarks of Dr. Quico, who encouraged students to remain resilient, committed, and open to continuous growth throughout A.Y. 2025–2026.

The success of the orientation was made possible through the hard work and collaboration of the SoHMS officers and committees, including the Technical and Attendance Committee composed of Francis Miguel D. Isip, Anthony Joseph B. Diang, Lyka Grace C. Gabatilla, Arienne Patricia I. Gato, and Jay Clint T. Busog; the Creatives Committee composed of Pearlie Grace U. Aupe and Marhea Sherisa L. Pedral; the Productions Committee composed of John Mark Anthony B. Quino; the Secretariat Committee composed of Karelle Jane V. Bustamante and Kimberly Charm G. Traya; the Logistics Committee composed of Lorin Mary A. Intong and Joshua B. Ruaya; and the Floor Manager, Xenia Mae R. Bagasina.

This orientation highlighted the College’s commitment to student-focused learning, academic excellence, and holistic growth. Congratulations to the SoHMS officers, BSHM faculty, and organizers for a meaningful and impactful program.

𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙋𝙔 𝘽𝙄𝙍𝙏𝙃𝘿𝘼𝙔, 𝙅𝘼𝙉𝙉𝘼! 🎉

Happy birthday to our inspiring SoHMS 3rd Year Representative! Your empathy, pro-activeness, and strong work ethic show how serious you are in reaching your goals. You lead with purpose, stay focused on what truly matters, and consistently push yourself to grow and improve for yourself and for the people you serve.

May this year bring you new opportunities, fulfilled dreams, and more reasons to be proud of how far you’ve come. Have a wonderful birthday, Janna! 💙

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐔𝐒𝐞𝐏 𝐁𝐒𝐇𝐌 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚

The Fourth-Year Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM) students of the University of Southeastern Philippines conducted an International Educational Tour (IET) 2025 from 04–11 November 2025, traversing selected learning sites in the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. The program was conceptualized as an experiential learning intervention designed to operationalize theory-to-practice integration in hospitality, tourism, and service management education.

The domestic component of the tour commenced in Manila and Laguna, where students undertook an industrial exposure visit to Gardenia Philippines. This engagement enabled participants to observe contemporary automated production systems, quality assurance frameworks, and food safety governance structures in high-volume manufacturing environments. Complementary learning activities were undertaken at the National Museum of the Philippines, Intramuros, and Fort Santiago, reinforcing critical reflection on the role of heritage conservation and historical narratives in sustainable tourism development and destination positioning.

Professional exposure was further enhanced through a technical and operational seminar conducted by MacroAsia Catering Services, which highlighted inflight catering logistics, aviation service protocols, and service quality management systems. Observational and reflective learning continued through hotel facility familiarization exercises and gastronomic tourism modules in Binondo, emphasizing the value of food heritage as a dimension of cultural tourism and entrepreneurial practice.

The international phase of the program was implemented in Seoul, Republic of Korea, beginning with an institutional exposure visit to Seoul National University. The visit functioned as a comparative academic lens through which students examined curricular internationalization, campus-based hospitality services, and global standards in higher education tourism-related programs. Applied learning was reinforced through a site-based analysis at Everland, where students engaged in structured observation of theme park management models, visitor circulation systems, and guest experience engineering.

Cultural immersion was positioned as one of the main elements of the program. Key learning sites included Nami Island, Petite France, and N Seoul Tower, which served as empirical contexts for analyzing destination branding, experiential tourism frameworks, and urban visitor mobility. Heritage-based learning was further highlighted through engagements at Gyeongbokgung Palace and the National Folk Museum of Korea. Participatory workshops, including kimchi production and traditional hanbok wearing, were integrated to advance intercultural competence, embodied learning, and service empathy formation.

Contemporary urban tourism dynamics were examined through structured field observations at COEX Starfield Library, K-POP Star Road, Seoul Forest, and selected commercial and youth-oriented districts. These environments functioned as living laboratories for analyzing creative tourism, popular culture commodification, and the spatial organization of leisure economies.

The International Educational Tour 2025 demonstrates the strategic value of transnational field-based learning in hospitality and tourism education. The program contributed to the development of professional reflexivity, cross-cultural literacy, and operational awareness among participants, while reinforcing the institutional internationalization agenda of the College of Business Administration. The successful completion of the tour affirms the role of experiential learning in producing globally competent hospitality and tourism graduates.