Five Sagradan Visionary students copped third place out of the 56 competing schools in the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) national business case competition, marking the first time Montessori De Sagrada Familia Inc. (MDSF) entered the contest.
Joshua Marcel Garcia, Kyle Matthew Dela Peña, Iriz Loreto, Railyn Kim Cruz, and their team leader Keara Danelle Pantalunan emerged as victors in the final round of the UA&P Mission I.M. competition last Saturday, November 9, after previously securing a spot in the preliminary round’s top 10.
According to Cruz, it was her team’s commitment and confidence that allowed them to place third, unlocking the opportunity for the team to learn from industry experts through an integrated marketing boot camp hosted by UA&P.
“When somebody is asked what made you win, it is sure for them to answer that it was their hard work and dedication that helped them secure their spot. However, I strongly believe it was our team’s confidence in our skills and capabilities that led us to win […] We attended the boot camp and competition with our hearts ignited,” Cruz stated.
UA&P also held a boot camp for the top 10 qualifiers last Friday, November 8, aiming to teach students about ethical and effective marketing, incentivizing them to think creatively with teamwork and prioritize their consumers.
“It then opened the doors for us to hear advice and lectures from three distinguished business people […] Personally, attending the one-day boot camp ignited the flame in my heart to do business in the future. I realized that business is just not about buying and selling, instead, it is being thankful to your consumers for choosing your brand,” she said.
Additionally, Cruz stated that Mission I.M. allowed her to learn and explore new topics with the contest intending to challenge students in solving real-world problems through strategic marketing, allowing her team to place MDSF on the national stage.
“We were thankful, not only because of the cash prize but because we had raised the flag of the Sagradan community. Our hearts were filled with joy knowing that we are the pride of Montessori de Sagrada Familia in a national competition, a bonus because we secured a place in the podium,” she expressed.
“Enlightening talks. Respected people. New faces. Uncharted territories. Good food. Core memories. These are the six phrases that perfectly describe my experience as a Sagradan representing MDSF in the UA&P competition […] We will graduate from Sagrada with core memories made with our team adviser, Sir Lance, and the team members, Keara, Iriz, Joshua, Kyle, and yours truly, Kim,” Cruz shared.
Written by: Anthony Khalil Bagolor