𝐉𝐇𝐂𝐒𝐂-𝐒𝐁𝐌 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝟖𝐭𝐡 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐨 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

The School of Business and Management (SBM) of J.H. Cerilles State College (JHCSC) successfully hosted the 8th General Membership Caravan on Halal Concepts and the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence (FBSE) on August 28–29, 2025, at the JHCSC-HRM Hostel. With the theme “Advancing Halal and Filipino Brand of Service Excellence in Tourism and Hospitality: Elevating Global Standards and Opportunities,” the two-day caravan gathered educators, industry practitioners, and stakeholders from across the Zamboanga Peninsula to promote collaboration and global competitiveness in the tourism and hospitality sector.

The caravan, initiated by CTHEZP and hosted by JHCSC-SBM, under the leadership of Dr. Julito V. Mandac, Dean of the School of Business and Management (SBM), and CTHEZP President Prof. Jan Jacob Solon. It aimed to deepen understanding of halal concepts and the Filipino brand of service excellence while fostering stronger partnerships among higher education institutions (HEIs) to produce a competent workforce ready for both national and international industries.

Notable attendees included Dr. Patricia D. Bahian, Pagadian Campus Director; Dr. Jose Vicente Regalado, CHED ROIX Education Supervisor; Prof. Dancedale P. Calago, Regional Trainer for FBSE; Prof. Bernayda P. Hassan, THM Department Head of Sulu State College; Prof. Llanevie Niez, Council Secretary and SBM Course Professor; and Prof. Althea Nicole Paradiang, Council PRO and SBM Course Professor. Also present were delegates from more than 18 institutions, including Jose Rizal Memorial State University, Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University, Zamboanga State College of Marine Technology, Mindanao State University–Buug, Sulu State College, Universidad de Zamboanga, Saint Columban College, and Philippine Advent College, among others.

In his message, Dr. Julito V. Mandac emphasized that the caravan highlights collaboration over competition. “We are not competing as to skills and talents, program offerings, and school-based achievements, but all HEIs present are collaborators and partners in delivering quality education among students in Zamboanga Peninsula. Let us build one community and be a part of the growth of HEIs to develop competence, shared visions, and extend Halal concepts and FBSE to the learners for the tourism and hospitality community,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Prof. Jan Jacob Solon, CTHEZP President, highlighted the significance of inclusivity and shared responsibility. “By focusing on Halal concepts and the Filipino brand of service excellence, we recognize the growing importance of respectful, diverse, and globally oriented service frameworks in today’s tourism and hospitality. May this caravan inspire innovation, unity, and purpose as we move forward in shaping the future of tourism and hospitality education in the Philippines,” he said, underscoring the event’s role in curriculum development, industry alignment, and institutional synergy.

The two-day sessions featured discussions on the importance of halal foods in the globalized era, fundamental principles of halal foods, and halal critical points in food and beverages, alongside an overview of FBSE training. The sessions on Halal Concepts were facilitated by Dr. Mandac and Prof. Hassan, who served as the key trainers. Initial dialogues of partnership were also initiated with SIDLAK Technology Business Incubator (TBI) and between CTHEZP and CHED ROIX, witnessed by invited dignitaries. The program concluded with a Q&A, sharing of best practices, and the giving of awards.

One of the major highlights of the caravan was the recognition of academic excellence and leadership in the field of tourism and hospitality. 𝐃𝐫. 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐨 𝐕. 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐜 𝐉𝐫. 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, affirming his groundbreaking contributions to research and innovation. Alongside him, 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟. 𝐋𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞 𝐀𝐳𝐞𝐥 𝐙. 𝐍𝐢𝐞𝐳 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐫, a testament to her unwavering dedication to teaching, leadership, and the formation of future industry professionals. Their distinctions not only brought pride to JHCSC but also highlighted the Zamboanga Peninsula’s strong presence in shaping the future of tourism and hospitality education in the country.

The caravan closed with a reaffirmation of its purpose: strengthening collaboration among HEIs and reinforcing their role in producing a competent national and international workforce. By advancing halal concepts and the Filipino brand of service excellence, the JHCSC-SBM and CTHEZP emphasized their united commitment to raising global standards and building opportunities in tourism and hospitality education across the Zamboanga Peninsula.