The South La Union Campus on Thursday, January 13, celebrated DMMMSU’s 41st Founding Anniversary, marking over a four-decade legacy of its thrust to serve public interest through providing accessible quality education to the Filipino youth, especially in the amianan part of the Ilocos region.
In a ceremony in the Jose D. Aspiras Hall, the SLUC administration honored outstanding employees who have served the Campus for decades as well as students, researchers, board topnotchers, past administrators, alumni, benefactors and other stakeholders. While SLUC Chancellor Dr. Joanne C. Rivera recognized how far SLUC has come over the past 41 years, she would also like to pay tribute to the past administrators and people behind the success of DMMMSU-SLUC. During a separate interview, the chancellor recalls how SLUC has transitioned from a being a small teacher training school to what it is now as one of the region’s leading teacher education, science and technology, and agricultural and fishery educational hubs.
“Today, we reflect on the very early days of the institution and how far we have come. Thanks to the past chancellors, and other officials who started this legacy,” she said. Dr. Rivera especially honored the labor of the past administrators who worked hard to establish DMMMSU-SLUC. And told how the Foundation Day gives a sense of purpose as a campus and a university.
“Celebrating DMMMSU’s foundation anniversary makes us not forget the vision of the people who established it. So, it is also fitting to remember all those who have served to make DMMMSU-SLUC what it is now. We owe SLUC’s past chancellors Dr. Amelia Bacungan O. Bacungan, Dr. Rogelio E. Tangalin, Sr., Dr. Inocencio D. Mangaoang and Dr. Floribeth P. Cuison, and other past administrators for what we are today,” she added.
Major awards were also conferred to the following teaching and non-teaching personnel: Mr. Ronald B. Bustos (Faculty of the Year), Dr. Eduard M. Albay (Researcher of the Year), Prof. Victoria N. Malaya (Extension Worker of the Year), Ms. Maria Shiela D. Dulay (Office Worker of the Year), Mr. Marlon U. Ibabao (General Service Worker of the Year), Ms. Irene M. Mendoza (IGP Leader of the Year), Dr. Anabella G. Valdez (Technology Achiever of the Year), Mr. John Patrick G. Paneda (Student Leader of the Year). Likewise, the College of Arts and Sciences were named the Best Academic Unit- Hall pf Fame. Majority of honorees during the celebration are long-time faculty and staff of the University who received the Loyalty Award, the longest of which have been working for DMMMSU for 40 years now. Posthumous awards were also conferred to SLUC’s dearly departed while still in service, led by the late Associate Professor Dr. Diego S. Waguey, and ABEL Program Chair Dr. Grace V. Garcia. Dr. Rivera emphasized that as the university soars higher and brighter, SLUC remains at the heart of of this institution’s thrusts in building resilience and sustaining excellence— devising new technological inventions, researches and commodities in the field of education, agriculture, fisheries, computer science and arts and sciences.
“The Innovation Laboratory will soon be constructed and will be regarded as a model of innovation in higher education—that can connect to the Internet at highest speed possible, and SLUC will soon find itself among the best in the region in student and faculty analytics with the laboratory in the campus”, she said.
Likewise, the Media and Communication studio is to be set up this first quarter with cutting edge technology that will soon house world-class TV and radio facilities. The Chancellor promised “to be true to our mandate— that even in the face of a global pandemic, SLUC provides passionate, transparent and honest service to stakeholders, because we have vowed to commit ourselves to render service that will contribute to the welfare of the people, community and country”. (Jesus Rafael B. Jarata)