Two students from La Consolacion College Bacolod emerged among the Most Outstanding Tourism Students of the Philippines in the 2025 National Competition organized by the Junior Tourism and Hospitality Management Association of the Philippines (JTHMAP), held online on October 10, 2025.
April Ann Obando, a third-year Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management student, was ranked Top 1, while Katrina Angelica Braganza, a fourth-year BSTM student, earned the Top 8 spot. They were selected from among 21 tourism students representing colleges and universities nationwide.
The announcement of winners took place during JUANDERCON 2025, the annual Tourism Marketing, Hospitality, and Management Conference held on October 23–24, 2025, at Valle Verde Country Club, Pasig City. The event gathered tourism professionals, educators, entrepreneurs, and student leaders under the theme “A Benchmark of Excellence: Hospitality and Tourism Champions of the Philippines.”
According to JTHMAP’s official guidelines, participants in the Most Outstanding Tourism and Hospitality Students of the Philippines must be bona fide JTHMAP members who are incoming or current third- and fourth-year students without any failing grades or derogatory records. The selection process included portfolio evaluation, panel review, individual presentation, and interview assessing communication skills, leadership, and passion for the field.
LCC Bacolod President Sr. Flolyn S. Catungal, OSA, congratulated the students for bringing honor to the college, saying, “April and Katrina’s recognition is a proud moment for LCC Bacolod. Their achievement exemplifies the Augustinian values of excellence, service, and faith that guide our mission to form globally competent and compassionate professionals.”
Ms. Joanne Villasis-Ricablanca, program faculty member and adviser of the Traveler’s Society, commended her students’ dedication. “Both have consistently shown diligence and leadership in their academic and extracurricular pursuits. Their success reflects the quality of tourism education and mentorship we continue to strengthen at LCC Bacolod,” she said.
The recognition highlights LCC Bacolod’s continuing commitment to academic excellence, leadership development, and nation-building through tourism and hospitality education.