ABM Month: TRIDENT Ascent

Two days after returning from Christmas break, TRIDENT kicked off 2026 with a surprise—a quest to find the stolen spirit of ABM in the Lost City of Atlantis!

The ABM Area launched its new yearly celebration, now titled “TRIDENT Ascent.” TRIDENT stands for Thinktankers, Researchers, Investors, Developers, Economists, Networkers, and Traders, positioning the department as the home of future nation-builders. 

This vision is embodied in its theme: "TRIDENT Ascent 2026: Igniting the entrepreneurial spirit in every Manresan, leveraging Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Organizational Management, and Business Ethics as the core pillars to drive sustainable growth and communal prosperity."

The journey began by introducing three core categories: the ART of business, the SCIENCE of business, and VALUES in business. These categories featured groundbreaking competitions that sparked a competitive fire within the Senior High School department. But the event didn't stop at Grades 11 and 12; the improved ABM month "ascended" beyond its limits to include aspiring Grade 10 students!

The journey continued with the TRIDENT Dialogue, conducted via Zoom. Selected Grade 12 students shared insights on their eco-friendly businesses from their Entrepreneurship classes, inspiring the next batch of students to prioritize Laudato Si in their entrepreneurial endeavours. Following these discussions, the Senior High School community put their skills to the test at the Manresa Bazaar. Now in its second year, the bazaar featured unique business booths from each section, transforming the pathway in front of the Junior High School Building into a vibrant, buzzing business street.

The month reached its climax with the ABM Holiday. In a single day, a series of events were held for both Senior High School and Grade 10 students. The day kicked off with the ABM Race “Last Group Standing Edition,” where 14 mixed-grade teams tackled seven stations testing their teamwork and critical thinking through games rooted in ABM core subjects.

Next was the Trident Hunt Game, where Grade 10 "passport holders" explored the "Lost City of Atlantis" inside the Senior High School building to solve a secret puzzle. Students and jurors also voted for their favorite Manresa Bazaar stalls and the best artworks in the ART of Business competitions as they toured the stores and the ABM Hub exhibit. Afterward, students attended the Big and Small Talks ABM Seminar Series, where three guest speakers discussed real-world applications of Accounting, General Business Finance, and Taxation.

The Investing Venture: Stock Market Trading Competition concluded its 10-day trading period a few days after the ABM Holiday, encouraging students to practice their investing skills in the Philippine Capital Markets using the PSE Academy’s stock simulator.

To cap off the TRIDENT Ascent competitions, students participated in the TRIDENT Booster, a high-energy general business quiz bee designed to boost their scores for the "Company of the Year" title.

The celebration concluded with the TRIDENT Descent, a closing program filled with icebreakers, talent showcases, and the much-anticipated awarding ceremony:

• 1st Place (Company of the Year): “Lots of Luke” (Grade 12 - St. Luke)

• 2nd Place: “IGNA’84” (Grade 11 - St. Ignatius)

• 3rd Place: “FromMATT2You” (Grade 12 - St. Matthew)

In the end, the spirit of ABM was restored and Atlantis descended, leaving new champions in its wake. This event was made possible by the TRIDENT Council (ABM faculty), BOSS club members, and the stewardship of Mr. Jolex “Ivan” Acid.

Congratulations to everyone who joined the quest to discover the mysteries of Atlantis! We’re excited to discover more worlds through the next TRIDENT Ascent!

Make it BOSS, Make it ABM!

Article by: Martha Jenelle Jomilla / Photos by: Angelina Jazmin Vito Cruz and Phoenix