The School of Accountancy and Business (SAB) inaugurated its much-awaited SAB Week 2025 on October 11, 2025, with a significant focus on ecological commitment, positioning the Mr. and Ms. SAB candidates as central figures in this environmental endeavor. The launch, which took place at the Upper Magsaysay Reforestation Site, centered on a Tree Planting Activity preceded by an Ecological Mass for the Care of Creation. This collaborative effort, orchestrated by the SAB Central Council (SABCC) with partners including the University Community Extension and Indigenous Peoples Studies Center (CEIPSC), MARIAN RISE, the Campus Ministry Office, and the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Office, aimed to deeply embed a sense of environmental stewardship among the SAB community.

The early morning occasion began with a solemn Ecological Mass, presided over by University Chaplain Rev. Fr. Nemesio Nuesca, CICM. Drawing from Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Laudato Si, Fr. Nuesca delivered a homily that emphasized humanity’s sacred duty and moral obligation to protect the environment, highlighting the spiritual link between faith and ecological care. Immediately following the religious service, the participants, including the hopeful pageant candidates and first-year SAB students enrolled in the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) codes 9023 and 9024, diligently engaged in site clearing and planting. The Mr. and Ms. SAB candidates actively planted their own seedlings, making a visible commitment to sustainable and ecological practices and symbolizing their pledge to contribute to the restoration of Mother Earth. Their engagement powerfully demonstrated that the pageant seeks leaders defined by their dedication to genuine community and environmental advocacy, beyond merely possessing glamour or intelligence.

This community outreach initiative effectively modeled several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), connecting local action to worldwide sustainability targets. Specifically, the event promoted SDG 4: Quality Education by providing experiential learning that instilled environmental awareness and responsibility into the core of a holistic education for students, particularly those in the CWTS program. The physical act of tree planting was a direct contribution to SDG 13: Climate Action, serving as a concrete step towards climate mitigation and forest restoration. Furthermore, the explicit focus on reforestation and the restoration of Mother Earth at the Upper Magsaysay site directly supported SDG 15: Life on Land, upholding the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and the preservation of biodiversity. The successful kick-off, led by Mrs. Sheryl A. Baria and Mrs. Claire L. Guinomon , set the tone for SAB Week, affirming the school’s dedication to merging academic rigor with community engagement and ensuring that its premier social event began with a tangible, green legacy.