Rohaina's Blog

  State of the University Address Delivered by President Macaayong By Rohaina Dansal   Photo by Mindanao State University Mindanao State University System President, Dr. Habib W. Macaayong, successfully delivered his State of the University Address on October 27, 2021, at the International Convention Center of MSU Main campus and through Facebook Live. As the 7 th regular MSU System President, the State of the University Address signifies the last term of President Macaayong as he laid down his accomplishments and legacy for the past six years of being in service to the MSU Main campus and the thirteen MSU System campuses.  President Macaayong presented the MSU System’s accomplishments beginning with his academic reforms and development. He talked about the recruitment, ranking, promotion, and awarding of tenure to the faculty in the fourteen MSU campuses. He stressed that there were nearly 900 faculty who garnered their deserved promotions over the past six ye...

First Hybrid Graduation MSU held its 56th Commencement Exercises By Rohaina Dansal   Photo by Mindanao State University History was made as Mindanao State University-Main Campus held its 56th Commencement Exercises, the first-ever hybrid graduation ceremony, at the International Convention Center and through an online platform on August 9, 2021, with the  theme: “MSU in the Digital Age, Leading Brilliantly through Excellence in Innovation and Service against Odds and Challenges.” MSU System President, Dr. Habib W. Macaayong, kicked off the event by introducing Honorable Lord Allan Velasco as the guest speaker of the 56th Commencement Exercises. Mr. Velasco is the current speaker of the House of Representatives and he expressed virtually his congratulatory message to the candidates for graduation. “As the youngest speaker of the House of Representatives of this millennium, I aimed to bring dynamism and innovation in the process of lawmaking while at the same time, h...

MSU Distributed Five Hundred Laptops during ICT Modernization Program Phase 1 By Rohaina Dansal Photo by Mindanao State University Mindanao State University-Main Campus made history for the realization of the ICT Modernization Program and the successful conduct of its Phase 1 - the distribution of five hundred laptops to the faculty members of the different colleges in the university. Based on a published article in the Manila Times, the national government allotted P2.5 billion in funds to realize a modernization program to enhance the institution’s Information and Communications Technology. Five hundred laptops were partially distributed to the faculty members of the university’s different colleges during April and May this year. Phase 1 of the project is worth around P1.5 billion and this also covers the installation of fiber optics, the upgrade of the WIFI access point, the establishment of the data center, and closed-circuit television cameras around the campus. The distribu...

  The Missing Colors in the Rainbow of Change By Rohaina Dansal Photo by  Zeyn Afuang  on  Unsplash Desiring change for society is trivial and less meaningful if some will be left behind in the process of achieving it. It’s like a flock of birds migrating to another destination but as soon as they arrived, some were left behind without even noticing. Promoting inclusive governance and civic engagement in Mindanao is crucial because it will give hope to the vulnerable stakeholders of the community, specifically, the youth and indigenous people in Mindanao. Inclusive governance takes place when governance successfully serves and engages all people in society. It’s like that flock of migrating birds. The birds portray the members of society and they want to migrate to a new destination called change. But as soon as they arrived, they failed to realize that some were left behind, and those are the marginalized and vulnerable stakeholders of our community. Some of tho...

MSU Transformational Entrepreneurs Seizes National and International Competitions By Rohaina Dansal   Photo by Team BioPhil Student innovators or transformational entrepreneurs represented MSU Main Campus in national and international competitions, fostering social entrepreneurship and social transformation with their innovative business ideas and innovations. Some of these competitions were the Enactus-Unilever Topic Competition, the Enactus Business Idea Innovation Challenge, the Singapore International Foundation, and the Hack for Youth Competition. The project “N’ditarun Tano” champions the Enactus-Unilever Topic Competition in May this year. It is a social enterprise that supports different youth sub-sectors in Lanao del Sur by providing educational and other assistance through peace-building activities and social interventions. The project aims to preserve the Meranaw culture by promoting shirts with authentic Meranaw designs. The project team is composed of Mohammad Shor...

  Newly Installed MSU System and MSU Marawi Officials By Rohaina Dansal   Photo by Mindanao State University Mindanao State University - Marawi Campus graced spontaneous turnover ceremonies this year to the newly installed MSU system and MSU Marawi officials. On April 6, 2021, a turnover ceremony was held for the outgoing Executive Vice President, Prof. Macabangkit P. Ati, who passed the position and responsibility to Engr. Rasid M. Paca, the outgoing Vice President for Planning and Development. Engr. Labimombao A.D. Macabando, the outgoing Director of the Division of Student Affairs also accepted the responsibility as the new Vice President for Planning and Development from Engr. Rasid M. Paca during a turnover ceremony on April 7, 2021. Accepting and taking also the position and responsibility as the new Division of Student Affairs Director from Engr. Labimombao A.D. Macabando is Dr. Juhary B. Pangandaman, the former Director of Cultural Affairs Office. Further n...

US Presidential Elections 2020: Joe Biden’s Historic Win on Presidency against Donald Trump By Rohaina Dansal   Photo by  Brett Sayles Joseph R. Biden was elected the 46th president of the United States of America, defeating and ending the term of President Donald J. Trump. Despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans still managed to practice their right to vote in their presidential election on November 3, 2020. The election results revealed that Biden, from the Democratic party, has garnered 306 electoral votes which is 51.1% or 80,117,578 of the population while Trump, from the Republican party, has garnered 232 electoral votes which is 47.2% or 73,923,495 of the population. Biden’s victory in the state of Pennsylvania, declared on November 7th, four days after Election day, made him the projected president-elect of major media networks in the United States as he garnered more than 270 Electoral College votes which is necessary for a presidentia...

  MSU 59th Founding Anniversary: Celebrating Foundation Day in the New Normal & Unveiling New Administration Building By Rohaina Dansal Photo by Mark Laurente  The usual celebration of Foundation Day that MSUans tend to imagine has always been fun with those colorful parades, convivial cheers, and showcasing of talents, sportsmanship, and skills between the different competing colleges of the university. Yet this year has been different with the unprecedented change of fate caused by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This predicament has transitioned the way we live our normal life into the so what we call as “new normal.” Amidst this new normal, Mindanao State University has remained resilient and celebrated its 59th founding anniversary on September 1, 2020, along with the launching of the newly built administration building with the theme “MSU @59: Relentlessly Forging Ahead in the New Normal to Blaze New Paths through Quality Education.” What made this event...

Supreme Student Government in Action Towards Stranded Students By Rohaina Dansal   Photo by MSU-Main SSG     The Supreme Student Government of Mindanao State University under the leadership of Mr. Nurbani Bin Jamel C. Macaraya, the prime minister, conducted their series of efforts to reach out and help the stranded students inside the campus during the immediate implementation of enhanced community quarantine. The national and local governments strictly implemented the enhanced community quarantine as an immediate response to the sudden strike of the coronavirus. This extraordinary event which became a global crisis, affected every sector of society including the education of the students. Classes were suspended in the middle of the 2nd semester for school year 2019-2020 and students had to come back to their respective home provinces to ensure their safety from the deadly virus. However, not all students were able to go home to their respective provinces beca...

Search for Datu and Bae of MSU 2020: The First Datu and Bae of MSU are from CBAA By Rohaina Dansal Photo by Mohammad Shoraym Casanguan A fever of enthusiasm and excitement veils the atmosphere of the four-cornered avenue of this momentous event. The Search for Datu and Bae of MSU is not your typical beauty pageant that focuses more on an individual’s talent and brain or wearing formal gowns and suits. It focused rather on the beauty of culture and showcasing diverse cultural heritage in Mindanao. Mindanao State University, through the Supreme Student Government, initiated and made possible the first-ever search for Datu and Bae of MSU last March 7, 2020, at the Dimaporo Gymnasium with the theme “Culture: The Missing Link on Youth Empowerment.” This year’s titled Datu and Bae of MSU are from the College of Business Administration and Accountancy. The first titled Datu of MSU representing the Iranun tribe was Mr. Mohammad Shoraym T. Casanguan, a BS Business Administration student. ...