Into the Lion’s Den

INTO THE LION’S DEN
Pietro Boris Benedicto Bacani

The modern academic journey is a thrilling leap into a world of endless possibilities, yet it often comes with the fast-paced pressure of a digital-first generation. Amid the hustle of staying ahead, the greatest challenge for today’s generation of students isn’t just mastering a subject – it is finding a community that truly resonates with who they are.

Stepping into Treston International College (TRESTON) means finding a home within the “Lion’s Den.” Located in Bonifacio Global City, it is a fertile ground where diverse cultures and ambitious ideas converge. Through its credo, “Duc Omnia” (Lead all to the Right Path), TRESTON shapes not only capable professionals but also responsible, purpose-driven leaders.

Within this den, students are known as Golden Lions – individuals who embody the values of courage and excellence. They carry TRESTON’s colors with pride, balancing a fierce pursuit of success with a warm, inclusive spirit of community.

Here, education is a collective journey – one where every individual is given the space to flourish and the community to lean on.

TRESTON is both a place to grow and a place to belong.

Pioneering Transformative Education

Founded in 2009, TRESTON pioneered the first four-year BS in Culinary Management program in the Philippines, accredited by the American Culinary Federation. Beyond its culinary roots, the institution maintains a reputation for holistic excellence across its secondary and tertiary levels. Its diverse academic portfolio spans fields, offering undergraduate degrees in entrepreneurship, marketing, accountancy, tourism, hospitality, culinary, information technology, multimedia arts, sports science, and psychology, alongside a comprehensive selection of senior high school academic and technical professional tracks and electives.

• With persistence, TRESTON continues to be an institutional leader and pioneer in the culinary arts. In 2023, the Treston Culinary Team bagged gold in the prestigious Philippine Culinary Cup.
• TRESTON School of Technology and School of Business students consistently took the podium on the business and design tracks of the ICDL Asia Digital Challenge. In 2025, a total of four students competed in the grand final round held in Jiangsu, China, proving excellence beyond our shores.
• In the 2026 Regional Schools Press Conference, TRESTON Senior High School ranked 1st (champion) in the school paper and individual writing competitions, becoming the only private institution from Taguig City to do so with journalistic prowess during the year.

By fostering an environment that celebrates both individual growth and collective pride, TRESTON ensures that every student has the foundation to succeed on the world stage while always having a home to return to.

However, innovation does not end in simply securing awards and distinctions; it extends to a commitment to meaningful growth and transformation through flexible programs and learning opportunities:

• This Academic Year 2025-2026, TRESTON served as a pilot school for the Strengthened SHS Curriculum, equipping students and educators with forward-looking opportunities. With resounding success, a full implementation of the curriculum is underway in the next academic year.
• Beyond multi-year commitments, TRESTON likewise offers a flexible nine-month intensive program in Pastry & Bakery Arts, as well as a 12-week Pastry Course through APCA Philippines.
• The TRESTON Technical Vocational and Livelihood Center offers short-term courses and certifiable training programs.

A Den of Red and Gold

To truly flourish, a student needs more than just a curriculum; they need an environment that mirrors their ambitions and supports their well-being. TRESTON approaches this by treating its campus as a canvas for student potential, ensuring that every corner serves as a place that breathes life into passion. They are the supportive backdrop where theory is transformed into lived experience.

TRESTON’s specialized kitchens blend intimate classroom focus with high-stakes industry energy. As the foundation for the Philippines’ first four-year Culinary Management program and a premier arena for prestigious competitions, these spaces push students to test their grit and creativity in a professional setting.

Likewise, the Show Room and Club Room stand as arenas of hospitality’s gold standard. These are the grounds where theory meets practice – where service is lived, rather than performed.

TRESTON’s Business Forum Halls and high-tech labs provide the entrepreneurial and creative tools needed to turn ideas into reality. These professional-grade spaces serve as a premier launchpad, offering every resource necessary to bridge the gap between classroom theory and global achievement.

Furthermore, the “golden glow” of TRESTON extends far beyond the rigor of academics, reflecting a deep commitment to holistic development. The institution believes that nurturing a leader requires caring for the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – ensuring that every student has the resources to thrive well beyond the classroom.

To support this well-rounded growth, TRESTON offers a curated selection of facilities designed for complete fulfillment:

• For the Mind: The library serves as a sanctuary for intellectual growth, featuring Librarika digital integration and a diverse collection of The ASEAN Magazine, resources to meet the evolving academic needs of every learner locally and abroad.
• For the Body: With over a decade of service, the Treston Health Club fosters physical vitality by balancing high-energy training with restorative rejuvenation through its modern gym, spa, sauna, and steam bath.
• For the Spirit: The multi-purpose hall stands as the heart of the vibrant campus community. It is a space where memories are made, fostering the social connections and joy that help students feel they truly belong.

Through blending world-class facilities with a heartfelt commitment to holistic development, the institution aims for every student to be equipped to face the challenges of a new generation with both skill and soul.

Our BrightSide

Beyond pioneering programs and global awards, TRESTON believes that true excellence is rooted in equity, ensuring that the “lion’s den” is a place to belong for every type of learner. This vision comes to life through the TRESTON-BrightSide Academy (TRESTON-BSA), which serves as a specialized place to grow for neurodivergent learners.

Established in 2023, TRESTON-BSA circles a culture of happiness, optimism, and kindness. It caters to children and young adults on the autism spectrum, offering inclusive and targeted learning as its maxim.

Partnering with Center for IDEAS to include occupational speech and language therapy, TRESTON-BSA is equipped with certified special needs coaches, ensuring that all essential services and interventions are within comfort’s reach – assuring parents of complete care in one place.

Using the 3D approach—Discover, Develop, and Display—specialists provide a nurturing environment where students can express themselves freely. In this safe space, learners build the self-confidence, purpose, and healthy habits essential for lifelong growth.

It combines gentle teaching with a behavioral approach to help learners reach their full potential while keeping in mind that kindness, above all, matters for the teacher and the student to effectively achieve the learning goals.

At TRESTON-BSA, the goal is to ensure that no learner is ever defined by their challenges, but rather by their infinite potential. By creating a nurturing sanctuary where kindness is the primary language, the academy proves that when students feel safe and understood, they can truly find their voice. This commitment to inclusivity completes the TRESTON goal: to be a community where growth is accessible to everyone and where every individual, regardless of their path, finds a lifelong place to belong.

To The Right Path

TRESTON’s pioneering spirit reaches beyond simple accolades and decorations. Leading on the world stage and progressive in its abode, TRESTON bears the emblem of red and gold.

With its rich selection of learning experiences, spaces, and inclusive measures, TRESTON leads inside and out. In Transformation, Respect, Excellence, Self-Leadership, Teamwork, Optimism, and Nurture – Golden Lions pride themselves as TRESTON.

The mission is clear: to inspire positive change in society – one student at a time – by developing the whole person: heart, mind, body, and spirit. Beyond academics, it is a journey of character, resilience, and purpose where support turns potential into excellence.

Above all, TRESTON remains a place to belong, ensuring that every individual is anchored in a community that values their unique journey as much as their ultimate success.

Admissions for the academic year 2026-2027 are underway. May you be an incoming senior high school student, or an aspirant of the flagship tertiary programs, TRESTON welcomes you with open arms as a fellow golden lion.

A campus, a stage, and a home in one; the lions’ den leads all to the right path.

See you at TRESTON!

Pietro Boris Benedicto D. Bacani, 18, is a BS Information Technology freshman at the School of Technology of Treston International College in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. His previous essay appeared in The ASEAN Magazine in 2025.

Bacani represented the National Capital Region in the 2024 National Schools Press Conference as a columnist. In February 2026, he was one of the fellows to the inaugural Philippines Graphic Literary Workshop. He currently serves as the editor-in-chief of Treston Pride, the official student publication of Treston International College

In the Ad: Jether B. Palomo is a BSBA major in Marketing Management student who was part of the Top 10 Finalist in Mister Global 2025. He was also hailed as Mister Global Philippines 2025; winner of Century Tuna Superbods 2024; and 1st Runner-up, Mister Tourism World 2023.