In an era when education often struggles to keep up with the demands of the real world, a small college in South Cotabato is proving that learning doesn’t have to stop at the four walls of a classroom. On November 7, 2025, Santo Nino College Foundation, Inc. (SNCFI) held its annual BizQuest (Business Day) 2025—a one-day immersion that turned theories into action, ideas into ventures, and students into young professionals in motion.

Organized by the Business Administration Department, the event gathered students from the Bachelor of Science in Office Administration (BSOA) and Bachelor of Science in Accounting Information System (BSAIS) programs for a day-long celebration of enterprise and creativity. The usually quiet Barangay San Vicente Gym transformed into a lively showcase of innovation, where booths brimmed with student-made products, competitions tested business acumen, and performances highlighted leadership and teamwork.

But behind the laughter, cheers, and presentations was a deeper purpose. BizQuest was never meant to be just an event—it was a statement. It affirmed SNCFI’s belief that education must go beyond memorization and move toward transformation. Every challenge and activity was designed to push students to think critically, act decisively, and work collaboratively—skills that define the modern entrepreneur and leader.

Through activities like the Amazing Race: Business Edition, business role plays, and product expos, participants learned the rhythm of real business—its unpredictability, creativity, and demand for strategy. What seemed like play on the surface was, in reality, a sophisticated exercise in decision-making, communication, and resilience. Faculty mentors guided students as they bridged the gap between what is taught in textbooks and what awaits them outside the campus gates.

The spirit of the event aligned naturally with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. By promoting quality, inclusive, and experiential learning, BizQuest 2025 reflected SDG 4: Quality Education. By cultivating entrepreneurship and innovation, it echoed SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. And by fostering collaboration among educators, students, and the local community, it embodied SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

More than a celebration, BizQuest 2025 was an awakening—a realization that education can be both practical and purposeful. It reminded students that business, at its heart, is about people: how ideas serve communities, how innovation sustains livelihoods, and how leadership inspires progress.

Santo Nino College Foundation’s motto—Best Service. Good Students. Better Life.—felt particularly alive that day. In the laughter of students, the energy of competition, and the pride of faculty members, it was clear that BizQuest was not only about producing future accountants or administrators. It was about shaping responsible citizens capable of leading with intellect, empathy, and vision.

As the lights dimmed and the applause faded, what remained was a quiet conviction: that learning, when lived and experienced, can change not only careers—but lives.