By: Alyszah Angela Beltran
Photo by: Zabrina Hong / The LANCE
Imagine stepping out of the classroom, and into a space where industry-professionals share their first-hand experiences, insights, and advice.
An event designed for Tourism Management students, titled, “Ignite the Night: Where Passion Meets Excellence”, turns that vision into reality, connecting students with the world beyond their lessons in the classroom.
Through a mix of seminars, recognition rites, and networking, held at the SC Auditorium and St. Thomas Grounds, preparing aspiring professionals to navigate the fast-paced industry with confidence and competence.
The Making of Ignite the Night
La.Memoria is the official student events management formed under the College of Business Administration and Accountancy (CBAA) Department, for 3rd year tourism students’ course on Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Events (MICE).
La Memoria said, “The main goal of this event is to recognize Tourism Management students in Letran with their achievements and workshops attended. This event also paves a way for our community to bond with each other, in a way where it is all driven by our passion in Tourism.”
The team found it rather difficult at first, during the planning stage. Initially, they opted to have it as a workshop and then an awarding. However, with the help of their Manager and their Course Adviser, it led them to decide to turn it into a seminar proper. The speakers were carefully selected as their goals for the speakers were: (1) familiar; and (2) interesting sectors in the industry.
The speakers, Mr. Benji Barodi, and Mr. Wendell Imperial wholeheartedly shared their journeys in the industry—the challenges they faced, training, and the lessons they learned along the way. Moreover, they offered students guidance as they prepared to step into their professional lives. It was clear that the experiences shared reminded students that growth comes from resilience, passion, and genuine love for the industry.
Lastly, La Memoria would like to remind tourism students that, “ the Tourism industry will be awaiting us—young professionals—who are passionate, determined, and consistent. The community you have now may be small but trust that it will be your training, to make you learn how it is to become adaptable and social for your future careers in our industry.”
Bridging Learning and The Industry
Behind every strong academic program is a leader with a vision. Through the eyes of Inst. Jeleet Tiongson, MBA-THM, CTMP, the Chairperson of Tourism Management, her insights reveal the heart of the community.
Inst. Tiongson said, “In a discipline like Tourism Management, where service delivery and value creation through experience design involve significant collaboration with stakeholders, interacting with industry professionals becomes particularly relevant. For M.I.C.E. Students' exposure to practitioners is critical because events are about real-time decision-making, client interaction, and coordination of operations executed to industry standards,” highlighting how essential hands-on industry experience is in shaping confident and competent tourism students.
Beyond the classroom, experiences such as this gives students a glimpse into real challenges and lessons in the industry. It is in these moments—planning, attending, and connecting with fellow students and professionals—that students begin to shape their own professional identity and gain the needed confidence to pursue their future careers.
Moreover, Inst. Tiongson added, “Exposure to the industry will ensure that our students do not just learn about tourism and events but learn how to work within them, confident and with realistic expectations about industry demands.”
More than just a seminar and gala, it serves as a transformative experience where students discover their strengths, and learn the true value of teamwork and leadership in the industry. This event reflects the program’s commitment to shaping industry-ready professionals.
“It [Ignite the Night] is truly indicative of the pedagogical goal of bridging classroom learning with real-world practice. Through this event, the students show core values of professionalism, leadership, and service that are characteristic of Letran's academic identity. They have to conceptualize, coordinate, and deliver a full-scale event as would be expected of an event planner, coordinator, or tourism practitioner,” Tiongson said.
“In essence, Ignite the Night is more than just a class requirement; rather, it is a testament to how the Letran Tourism Management program prepares students to be competent leaders in the tourism and events industry.”
Ultimately, the event stands as a testament to the program’s commitment to preparing students not just to enter the industry, but to lead it with skill, confidence, and passion.
Guided by Passion
Through the lens of a graduating student, the journey from classroom lessons to real-world experiences come alive.
Aira Sapio, a 4th year Tourism Management student said, “I was able to see professionals in our industry on stage share their experience and give tips and advice to us on what to do when you have unexpected problems and how to solve them in a professional manner. It opened my eyes on how demanding the industry is and how much of a professional you have to be.”
Sapio’s reflection shows the role of industry exposure in truly understanding the profession. Being able to see professionals share their experiences reveal the dedication and professionalism that is required in the industry.
“As a graduating student, I see different perspectives from different people that deeply shape the way I view the industry. My everyday interactions with a lot of different people are a constant reminder that the field I am pursuing now isn’t so far from my everyday life. Seeing professionals constantly train and refine their skills motivates me to have the same level of commitment and dedication as them. I like how our curriculum lets us plan, organize, and handle an event with minimal supervision under our MICE course,” Sapio shares.
“Not only that, we also have TESDA assessments relevant to our profession. This first hand experience is more than what you can learn inside a classroom. You know, our industry is very demanding and competitive, that's why I’m a little nervous after graduation. But, just like what I’ve said, the training, preparation, and competition we have in Colegio helps me calm my nerves because I know we have enough experience under our belts, we just need to maximize it to our full potential,” she added.
Her journey shows that it’s not just skills she has gained, but also passion and dedication that her experiences have nurtured. Further, it is inspiring to see how the program has not only prepared their students for professionalism, but also instill in them a sense of courage and dedication towards their future.
Sapio said, “One thing is: you can learn to be a professional, but it’ll be hard if it doesn’t come from the heart.”
Her words serve as a reminder that true professionalism is more than skills or knowledge, but it is driven by passion, dedication, and genuine love for what you do.
It is a reminder to approach every challenge, and opportunity with sincerity, and letting the heart guide one's actions. In this way, the lessons learned and the experiences gained becomes not just a preparation for a career, but also a journey full of growth and purpose.