Written by Jerson Bugat and Ace Lordhene Cabato
The University of Baguio – Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants (UB-JPIA) from the School of Business Administration and Accountancy proudly showcased its members’ exceptional talents and competitive spirit during the highly anticipated SBAA Day and Night 2025 held on October 15, 2025, at the University of Baguio Gymnasium. The event brought together students from various organizations, providing a platform for participants to demonstrate their skills in music, performance, and pageantry.
The morning program of the Day and Night highlighted the vast range of talents and skills. UB-JPIA delegates got top podium awards in all categories, creating a roaring start to the entire event:
- Solo Singing: Ace Lordhene Cabato captivated the audience and judges, securing the Third Runner-Up title.
- Duo Singing: Meier Castilla Denna and Joshua Roberto showcased their musical chemistry and earned Second Runner-Up in the Duet category.
- Icons, Lipsyncing: John Patrick Torres impersonating Vhong Navarro together with Justine Payumo and Arelle Valdez emerged as the Champion through his outstanding performance and stage presence.
- Battle of the Bands: The official band of the delegation, HighWaist Overload with Jim Zara, Lanz, Zibeon, Joshua Roberto, Joshua Chua, and Jim Carlo delivered an electrifying performance that earned them the Championship title.
The highlight of the evening couldn’t have been more remarkable than the event dedicated to searching for Mister and Miss SBAA 2025, which spotlighted the minds, swag and ethics of its participants. UB-JPIA’s are on top of the very famous pageant taking the top spot for their goals in the runway. Alip challenged the audience suggesting that “Competency without integrity is like a boat without a paddle” to push upcoming corporate leaders to go beyond the interests of a single party, while Cabato appealed in the same vein, emphasizing the need for absolute accountability and that accountancy students will have the ability to understand the long-term social impact of each financial transaction.
- Mister SBAA 2025 Gian Carlo Alip, a second year BS Accountancy student, with his burgundy suit standing tall, wowed the audience by his confidence, wisdom, and insights into leadership.
- Miss SBAA 2025 First Runner-Up Ace Lordhene Cabato, a third-year student in the BS Accountancy, stole the judges’ hearts with grace and sophistication.
The success of UB-JPIA during SBAA Day and Night 2025 goes beyond trophies and titles, as it reflects the organization’s contribution to the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education. This goal promotes inclusive and equitable quality education that develops learners not only academically but also socially and personally. Through their participation in various competitions, UB-JPIA members were provided with opportunities to strengthen their creativity, leadership, communication, critical thinking, and confidence, competencies that are essential in preparing responsible and well-rounded future professionals. The event served as a platform where students could apply their talents, discover their potential, and experience learning beyond the classroom.
Moreover, SBAA Day and Night 2025 embodied the principles of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by fostering unity, collaboration, and mutual support among students, organizations, and academic departments. The event brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds in a shared celebration of talent, excellence, and school spirit, strengthening relationships within the university community. It also promoted SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being by providing students with a healthy avenue for self-expression, personal growth, and social interaction. Through activities that encouraged participation, teamwork, and positive engagement, the event helped create an environment where students could thrive emotionally, socially, and academically while contributing to a more inclusive and empowered student community.
As these individuals spoke and sang, and as they won in competitions, their future leaders demonstrated that solid institutions start with a broad, values-based education and that UB-JPIA is making the principled business leaders of tomorrow.
