Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University celebrated its 41st Foundation Anniversary on January 13-15, 2021. The University was founded under Presidential Decree 1778 on January 15, 1981.

Themed “DMMMU@41: Overcoming Challenges, Building Resilience, Sustaining Excellence”, this foundation anniversary is a tribute to how DMMMSU has managed to transcend the many challenges posed by the pandemic and how it maintains the quality of service it offers to its stakeholders.

During the President’s Report in the University Awards and Recognition Ceremonies on January 14 at the Ortega Memorial Center of DMMMSU-NLUC, Dr. Jaime I. Manuel Jr. sought the continued support of DMMMSU personnel and conveyed a message of courage in facing the future despite uncertainties.

“University will transcend all forms of challenges through the University’s ‘high intention, thoughtful planning, focused effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution.’

Veering away from its traditional audience-packed celebration, DMMMSU made a more intimate yet meaningful way to commemorate this very special moment through a series of campus-wide and university-wide events.

The first day of the celebration was capped by the inauguration of the SRDI-DMMMSU NLUC Road and the awards and recognition ceremonies in the different operating units of the University.

During the University awards and recognition which was held in the Ortega Gym, Bacnotan, La Union, Regular Awards, Hall of Fame Awards, Awards for Board Topnotchers, Special Awards, Awards for Paper Presentations, Research Publications, and Intellectual Property Registration, and Awards for Benefactors and Past Administrators were presented.

DMMMSU – South La Union Campus romped away bagging eight (8) major awards.

The College of Arts and Sciences of DMMMSU-SLUC was adjudged Hall of Famer as Best Academic Unit for five consecutive years.

Prof. Ronald B. Bustos, Prof. Eduard M. Albay, and Prof. Victoria N. Malaya were named as Faculty Member of the Year, Researcher of the Year, and Extension Worker of the Year, respectively. Meanwhile, Prof. Anabella G. Valdez was Technology Achievement Awardee and Mr. Marlon U. Ibabao was hailed as General Services of the Year. Mr. John Patrick G. Paneda was recognized as the Student of the Year.

The Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering program of the North La Union Campus was adjudged as the 2021 Best Board Program of the Year.

Besides CAS as a Hall of Fame Awardee, other Hall of Famers are Dr. Cynthia M. Rodriguez as the Former Vice President for Research & Development and Dr. Honorio C. Buccat as the Former Vice President for Academic Affairs. Both served the University for more than 10 years as Vice Presidents.  

Meanwhile, the Mid-La Union Campus’ Ms. Jennifer R. Vergara, reaped the Office Worker of the Year Award.

Topnotchers in 2021 Licensure Examinations were also awarded. They are:

  1. Monica E. Gacayan who ranked fifth (83.08%) in the Veterinarian Licensure Examination administered in Aug & Sept 2021,
  2. Denver G. Frigillana who ranked 9th (82.18) in the Veterinarian Licensure Examination administered in Aug & Sept 2021, and
  3. Bustamante F. Molina who ranked 8th (84.50) in the Agriculturist Licensure Examination administered in November 2021.

Here are the other awardees:

Another highlight during the awards and recognition program is the awarding of ISO 9001:2015 Year 1 Surveillance Audit Certificates to DMMMSU as a University and to all the other major units of the University. Besides that, the Certificate of Recognition on HR-PRIME was also awarded.

The celebration culminated with Wreath Laying, Thanksgiving Mass, and Motorcade on January 15, 2022. (Jerald Saculles)