Saint Louis College of San Fernando, La Union (SLC-SFLU) once again demonstrated its growing commitment to internationalization as students from the College of Business and Accountancy (CBA) and the College of Arts, Sciences, Technology and Education (CASTE) successfully completed the 𝐕𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐇 𝐍𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 & 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, an international short-term program organized by Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Surabaya, Indonesia, from June 29 to July 10, 2026.
The SLC-SFLU representatives comprised students from CBA—Mary Franz Ivy H. Drequito, Bachelor of Science in Internal Auditing (BSIA); Erick Enzo Palis, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA); Janelle J. Alegre, Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM); and Titus A. Alatas, Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management (BSTM)—and the CASTE, represented by Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) students Elise Alexandria V. Mora, Althea Gezelle P. Milgaso, Mike Toren Basila, Keriena N. Ochoco, Yexzheel Zyrhie F. Casilla, Rhea Star Dampulay, and Amberly Jonne Perillo. Together with participants from various countries, they took part in the two-week virtual mobility program, which deepened their appreciation of Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage through its urban legends, folklore, traditions, regional diversity, and immersive cultural activities, while fostering intercultural understanding and global collaboration.
The program commenced on June 29 with an Opening Ceremony and a Virtual Campus Tour of ITS, setting the stage for an engaging cultural journey. Throughout the first week, participants explored the linguistic and cultural diversity of Indonesia through a series of virtual excursions covering Surabaya City, East Java, Central Java, Sumatera, Nusa Tenggara, Kalimantan, and Maluku. Sessions featured interactive cultural presentations that provided deeper insights into the historical, social, and cultural foundations of each region.
Building on these experiences, the second week expanded participants’ understanding of Indonesia through explorations of Sulawesi, Papua, and Bali, while delving into the country’s fascinating urban legends and horror stories—an integral aspect of Indonesia’s rich oral traditions and cultural identity. The latter half of the program shifted toward collaborative project development, where international participants conceptualized creative outputs inspired by the knowledge and perspectives they gained throughout the exchange.
The program culminated in a Virtual Project Exhibition on July 9, where participants presented projects that reflected their appreciation of Indonesian culture while demonstrating creativity and cross-cultural communication. The successful completion of these presentations highlighted the participants’ ability to transform intercultural learning into meaningful outputs. The international exchange formally concluded during the Closing Ceremony on July 10, celebrating the accomplishments of participants and reaffirming the value of global learning experiences in preparing students for an increasingly interconnected world.
SLC-SFLU’s delegates distinguished themselves through exceptional performance, earning prestigious recognitions that underscored the College’s commitment to excellence and global engagement. 𝐑𝐡𝐞𝐚 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐲 garnered the 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 while 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐳 𝐈𝐯𝐲 𝐇. 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐨 was honored with the 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘝𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘰 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥. These exemplified creativity, effective communication, and intercultural understanding.
Meanwhile, 𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐀. 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐬 was recognized as the 𝘉𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘵, a distinction awarded to a participant who demonstrated exemplary engagement, active participation, leadership, and excellence throughout the two-week international exchange. In recognition of this remarkable achievement, Ms. Alatas was granted a full scholarship to participate in the onsite CommTECH Insight 2027 in Surabaya, Indonesia, providing another opportunity to represent the College on the international stage.
The achievements of the Louisian delegates reflect the College’s continued efforts to cultivate globally competent graduates through meaningful international learning opportunities. By actively participating in programs such as CommTECH Nusantara, SLC-SFLU not only broadens the global perspectives of its students but also strengthens its commitment to producing future professionals who are culturally responsive, internationally engaged, and equipped to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
